GET STUFF DONE!

GET STUFF DONE!

Your Guide to Smarter Study with Digital Tools

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Welcome to Get Stuff Done!

This resource brings together a range of digital tools that can make studying easier, more organised, and a lot less stressful. You’ll find free, built-in, and licensed software available through Queen’s, all designed to help with common study challenges — from staying focused and managing time to improving your reading, writing, and wellbeing. Each section includes short, practical explanations of what the tools do and where to find them, so you can explore what works best for you. 💡 How to Use This Resource Navigate your way through using the buttons at the top of each page: 🏠 Home – takes you back to the main cover page. 📋 Menu – opens the index so you can jump to any section. You can also move through the slides using the arrows on the sides of each page.

Let's Get Started!

Index

Organisation + Notes

Focus + Procrastination

Reading + Research

Time Management

Revision + Memory

Writing + Productivity

Wellbeing + Balance

Explore More

Organisation + Note Taking

Why is organisation important?

Cognitive load refers to the amount of mental effort your working memory is using at any one time — and being organised helps to reduce it. Structuring your notes with headings, bullet points, and diagrams breaks information into manageable chunks, making it easier to understand and remember. When your materials are well organised, your brain can focus on learning rather than wasting energy trying to figure out what’s important or how ideas connect.

+ Tools

Focus + Procrastination

Why can’t I just focus?!

It’s not just you — focus is part of something called executive function. That’s your brain’s control centre: it helps you plan, start, and finish tasks, stay organised, and resist distractions (yes, even your phone). When your executive function is running low, it’s harder to stay focused or even process what you’re reading. That’s why structure, breaks, and the right tools can make such a difference. Executive function and attention work together like a tag team — one keeps you on task, the other keeps out distractions — so your brain can actually do what you want it to do.

+ Tools

Time Management + Planning

Why does time management matter?

Because it’s the difference between calmly hitting submit and pulling an all-nighter. Managing your time helps you meet deadlines, stress less, and (bonus!) usually leads to better grades. Set goals so you know what needs done first and how long things will take — it’s basically a roadmap for your brain. And don’t forget motivation: give yourself little rewards when you finish something. Even a five-minute TikTok scroll or coffee break counts. Small wins keep you moving.

+ Tools

Reading + Research

How do you actually remember what you read?

Ever reread the same line five times and still thought, “what did I just read?” That’s your cognitive load maxing out — your brain’s basically buffering. Cognitive load is how much mental energy your brain’s using at once. When there’s too much going on — confusing language, distractions, or info overload — nothing sticks. Try simplifying what you’re reading: highlight the key stuff, ignore the filler, and use tools that read aloud or summarise. The less clutter your brain deals with, the more it can actually learn.

+ Tools

Writing + Productivity

Getting started is the hardest bit.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank page for hours, you’ve met procrastination and perfectionism — the ultimate writing roadblocks. When something feels massive or high-stakes, your brain hits avoid mode. The trick? Break it down. Make the first step ridiculously small — like “open Word” or “write one sentence.” Small wins build momentum. And perfectionism? Ignore it (for now). Your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to exist. Progress beats perfection every time.

+ Tools

Revision + Memory

How do you actually make revision work?

Let’s be real — cramming the week before an exam = stress, panic, and not much memory retention. The smarter move? Spread it out. Doing short bursts of revision over time helps your brain lock in information way better than last-minute binges. Then add active recall — things like quizzes, flashcards, or testing yourself without notes. It’s proven to boost memory and understanding.Think of it as “training your brain” instead of “panicking your brain.” Small, regular practice = way less stress and way better results.

+ Tools

Wellbeing + Study Balance

Keep your brain (and you) in balance.

Studying is important — but so is having a life outside it. When that balance tips, stress and burnout sneak in, and both your grades and your headspace take the hit. Mindfulness can help you find your calm again. It’s not just a buzzword — research shows it actually improves focus, motivation, and even grades. You don’t need to meditate for hours either. Try a short breathing exercise, a guided session, or a few affirmations. Apps like Headspace or Calm make it easy to switch off, recharge, and come back ready to study smarter.

+ Tools

Explore More

Resources + Support

Pick a topic, explore the tools, and see what helps you study smarter.

Study Skills + Organisation

Using AI at QUB

Reading + Understanding

Support + Wellbeing

Digital Skills + Accessibility

Digital Study Tools

Need a hand choosing the right tools?Contact the Assistive Technology Coordinator Visit the Assistive Tech Hub

Digital study tools

Assistive & Licensed Tools

Accessibility Tools

Digital Study Tools

Learn about tools that make studying easier for everyone, from screen readers to read-aloud and dictation features.

Find guides and app suggestions to help you plan, focus, and manage your work smarter.

Explore the assistive software available through Queen’s, including licensed study tools like Read&Write, MindView, Genio, and Scholarcy.

digital skills + accessibility

Microsoft AI Skills Fest

Apple Accessibility

Microsoft AI Fluency

Microsoft Student Hub

A free pathway that explains AI concepts in plain language — great for beginners.

Join short, beginner-friendly sessions to build your confidence in AI and digital literacy.

Discover built-in Apple tools that support focus, reading, hearing, and communication.

Learn new digital and AI skills through free, self-paced student courses from Microsoft.

reading + understanding

Free Tools Every Student Should Know About

Reading, Writing & Summarising

Explore tools that support reading, comprehension, and academic writing across all subjects.

A quick guide to free tools that make reading faster, easier, and more accessible.

support + wellbeing

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Neurodiversity

International Students

Practical tools and strategies to support focus, organisation, and learning for all kinds of thinkers.

Helpful translation, communication, and study tools to make learning at Queen’s easier and more inclusive.

Explore mindfulness apps, study–life balance tips, and tools to manage stress and stay motivated.

Tools for writing + productivity

Microsoft Co-Pilot

Microsoft Dictate

Goblin Tools

Immersive Reader

Available in Microsoft Word and OneNote on Windows and web versions. Use your voice to turn speech into text — perfect for quick notes, lectures, or hands-free writing.

Available across Microsoft 365, Copilot helps you plan, draft, and refine essays. It can suggest ways to strengthen your arguments and check grammar, flow, and structure.

An AI-powered site with six clever features to make studying easier. It can break big tasks into steps, check the tone of your writing, and help you plan your workload

Built into Word, OneNote, Teams, Outlook, and Microsoft Edge. Use the read-aloud feature to spot mistakes, improve flow, and make reading easier.

Tools for Revision + Memory

Quizlet

Microsoft Co-Pilot

A go-to revision tool for making study guides, flashcards, and practice tests. Create sets from your own notes to memorise info faster and make revision less stressful.

Available across Microsoft 365 apps like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Edge. Copilot can create quizzes, summaries, and study prompts from your notes and readings — perfect for revising smarter, not harder.

Tools for focus + procrastination

Flora

Focus Modes

A focus timer that grows trees while you study. Set a timer, pick a tree, and stay off your phone while it grows — if you leave the app, your tree dies. Stay focused and you’ll build your own digital forest! You can even team up with friends for group study sessions.

Available on both Microsoft and Apple devices, Focus Mode helps you block out distractions and stay on task. Set timed focus sessions, limit notifications, and customise your screen so only what matters gets through. On Microsoft, you can even link tasks from To Do and play background music while you work.

tools for reading + research

Safari Reader View

Microsoft Co-Pilot

Immersive Reader

Goblin Tools

Clears away ads and clutter so you can focus on the text. Perfect for distraction-free reading on Apple devices.

Available across Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot breaks down long articles or PDFs into quick, simple summaries and can read them aloud.

Available across Microsoft tools like Edge, Word, and OneNote, Immersive Reader reads text aloud.

An AI-powered site with six handy features to make studying easier.

Tools for Wellbeing + study balance

Oak

Smiling Mind

Finch

A free mindfulness app designed to help you relax, focus, and sleep better. Choose from guided meditations, breathing exercises, and calming sounds to unwind and recharge.

A free wellbeing app that helps you manage stress and build healthy habits. It offers guided sessions, daily routines, and tips on mindfulness, relaxation, and releasing tension — all designed to boost your mood and focus.

A self-care app that turns your to-do list into something fun. You’ll look after a cute digital pet bird who grows and earns rewards as you complete tasks. It also includes daily affirmations and check-ins to keep you motivated and mindful.

Tools for organisation + Note taking

NotebookLM

OneNote

Dictation

Your AI study buddy! It can summarise notes, build mind maps, make quick audio recaps for walking or commuting, and turn your content into interactive quizzes and flashcards. Perfect for revising smarter, not harder.

Think of it as your digital notebook for uni life. Create sections for each module or topic, add pages for lectures, and mix typed notes with handwriting, images, tables, and files. Everything stays organised and in one place — no more lost notes or messy folders.

Hate typing? Just talk. Dictation in Word or OneNote lets you speak your notes instead of writing them — perfect for lectures or quick ideas. You can even use Microsoft Copilot afterwards to tidy up or summarise what you’ve said.

study skillls + organisation

Notetaking & Writing

Organisation & Planning

Reading & Writing

Tips and digital tools to plan your time, manage deadlines, and stay on top of uni life.

Tools and techniques to simplify information, improve focus, and boost comprehension.

Tools like OneNote, Genio and Dictation to help you capture ideas, write clearly, and keep everything organised.

using ai at qub

Using AI Safely and Smartly at QUB

QUB AI Hub

QUB AI Support For Students

Quick guide to using Copilot and other AI tools responsibly for your studies.

Explore how AI is being used across Queen’s — from teaching and research to digital skills.

Step-by-step student resources on using AI effectively for learning at Queen’s.

Tools for Time management + Planning

Timetree

Finch

A colourful shared calendar that keeps your life together. Colour code events, set reminders hours or days ahead, and add a widget to see your week at a glance. You can even share calendars with friends or family to sync plans and deadlines.

A self-care app that turns your to-do list into a little adventure. You’ll get your own digital pet bird who grows and earns rewards every time you complete tasks. It’s packed with cute affirmations and daily check-ins to keep you motivated and feeling good.