The old adage asks, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Here are some great ideas for making all those things you need to get done a lot more achievable.
Many thanks to author Maria Gracia for the basics of the list.
- GOALS– set realistic goals at the beginning of the school year (also semester, week, day, study period, etc). Write them down and keep them visible.
- AVOID THE RUSH– My dad always figures in “oops time” to every plan. If he thinks something will take 30 minutes, he’ll budget 45 minutes, in case something comes up unexpectedly. The same applies to time spent on homework and school projects. Plan for the unexpected.
- AVOID CLUTTER– At the beginning of the school year, there is no clutter yet. Don’t let it build up. Create separate folders for classes,for things that need to be signed,for tests and papers that have already been graded, etc. As things become outdated, move them to a separate file immediately. Avoid the paper build-up.
- MAKE TO-DO LISTS– Whether it’s a list of things to grab from your locker before you leave school, a list of what homework needs to be done that day, or a list of questions to ask your teacher about your math, lists help you to know exactly what you are doing and what’s still to do.
- EFFECTIVE STUDY AREA– Designate an area that is quiet and well-lit to do your schoolwork. If you can’t find a quiet place at home, go to the library. Study sitting at a table or desk, since getting too comfortable in a chair or on the bed may make you drowsy.
- AVOID OVERLOAD– While extra-curricular activities are a fun part of growing up, taking on too much may mean not having time to get everything done.
- USE A PLANNER OR CALENDAR– Write it down. Make sure that everything you need to do is on one calendar instead of separate social, school, and sports calendars to avoid the risk of scheduling conflicts and missed appointments. You may consider color-coding events such as marking all the tests in yellow, all the projects in blue and so forth.
- BREAK IT UP– Break up big assignments into smaller pieces that are more manageable. If you have 3 chapters to study, study one each day for 3 days instead of trying to do everything at once.
- EAT YOUR BROCCOLI FIRST– Eating your vegetables before dessert gives you something to look forward to. Likewise, doing the hard stuff first makes the rest of the work feel easier.