Benefits of a Study with Me Video

Have you ever heard of a Study with Me video? Not too long ago I was surprised and skeptical to learn about these personalized academic ambiance videos. While researching ways to boost motivation and community for my asynchronous learners, I stumbled across hundred of YouTube Study with Me videos, some of which had 18 plus million views. Completely curious, I sampled a few, and in all seriousness, I was revved up to work on my to-do list within the first few minutes. Why? The subjects in these videos were simply taking notes, reading, or typing on their laptops. There were no words or motivational phrases. Instead there was classical or jazz music or ambient music playing. How was this motivating me?

Before we unpack this phenomenon, let’s rewind a bit and talk about a few basics.

• There are a couple types of Study with Me videos: Livestream (for community building) and pre recorded (for on-demand academic ambience).

• Many are longer than one hour and have built in breaks

• Many are based on the Pomodoro Technique and have timers

So how do they help?

• Improve your time management

• Decrease the sense of isolation

• Improve motivation

What do you need to be cautious of?

• Overindulging and the tendency to just watch the video

• Over-doing your study session because the video is very long. Be leery of the hustle culture. Notice your intuition and honor your time.

• Hyper-focusing. Remember that this is just one of the many tools to choose from in your experience as a student. Eating whole foods and hydrating often, getting adequate, quality sleep, and connecting to loved ones are also part of a wholistic picture of your busy life.

If you are looking to try this technique, proceed with caution and good luck! Customize the experience and take away whatever serves you best. Happy studying!