Describe something you do regularly that helps you work and study better
You should say:
– What the activity is
– Where you do this activity
– Why you do this
MODEL ANSWER
(What the activity is)
Today I would like to describe something I do regularly to help me work more effectively, which is meditation. Meditation is a simple practice available to all, which can reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity and promote happiness. Despite my various attempts to discover a way to better concentrate on my delegated work both at home and at office, I was still lagging behind until I started meditating a year ago, as advice from my close friend. Since I adopted this method, my work performance has been remarkably enhanced.
(Where and when you do this activity)
Actually, this activity does not take up a great amount of time, approximately 25-30 minutes are enough for me to maintain the consistency of practicing it daily. It is very simple to do and I just need to sit relaxed and focus my attention on my breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. With mindfulness meditation, I train myself in remaining aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental manner. Consequently, distractions are less and less likely to sweep me away. Most often, I do it in my room in the morning and sometimes in the office. The beauty of the meditation is that I can do it anywhere, anytime.
(Why you do this) I have tried several ways to help me complete important tasks, including listing to piano music, reading a newspaper, watching news channels for a while, doing exercise and so on. However, meditation has proved to be an effective way to help me fully commit to my duties. Meditation
enhances the flow of constructive thoughts and positive emotions inside me, which benefits my productivity in work. Other people also use this practice to develop other beneficial habits and feelings, such as a positive mood and outlook, self-discipline, healthy sleep patterns and even increased pain tolerance. The popularity of meditation is increasing as more people discover its benefits.
Useful Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 2
1. clarity [n]: the quality of being clear and easy to understand
Eg: There has been a call for greater clarity in this area of the law.
2. delegate [v]: to give a particular job, duty, right, etc. to someone else so that they do it for you
Eg: Authority to make financial decisions has been delegated to a special committee.
3. lag behind [expression]: if one thing or person lags behind another thing or person, their progress is slower than that of the other
Eg: Britain still lags behind most of Europe in its provisions for women who want time off to have babies.
4. exhalation [n]: the act of exhaling
Eg: Inhalation and exhalation should be gradual and natural, not spasmodic.
5. non-judgmental [adj]: if a person or thing is non-judgmental, they do not judge or criticize
Eg: The organization provides a 24 hour, non-judgmental listening service for people who are considering suicide.
6. sweep sb away [v]: if you are swept away or swept along by something, you are so excited that you do not think clearly or you forget about other things
Eg: We couldn’t help being swept away by Bette’s enthusiasm.
7. constructive [adj]: if advice, criticism, or actions are constructive, they are useful and intended to help or improve something
Eg: She criticized my writing, but in a way that was very constructive.
8. self-discipline [n]: the ability to make yourself do things you know you should do even when you do not want to
Eg: You need a lot of self-discipline when you’re doing research work on your own.
9. pain tolerance [n]: pain tolerance is the maximum level of pain that a person is able to tolerate
Eg: Age and pain tolerance are relevant, especially in the elderly.
10. consistency [n]: the quality of always behaving or performing in a similar way, or of always happening in a similar way
Eg: They’ve won a few games this season but they lack consistency
