10 Tips for staying on top of school

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great 2019 so far!

As us students enter our second semesters of school, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of homework and exams. Let's all be honest- it can be overwhelming! However, I have a few tips for all of you striving to be more on top of school this semester.

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1. Buy a planner, and write all of your homework and upcoming assignments in it.

My planner has made my life so much easier! The satisfaction of crossing out a completed assignment always motivates me to get ahead on my homework. Plus, this will ensure that you never forget any assignments and end up doing it the night before.

My personal favorite planners are the ones by Lilly Pulitzer. I find them so organized and adorable! Here's a link to their website: https://www.lillypulitzer.com/

2. Organize all the papers on your desk into a neat pile.

This may seem really simple, but it actually helps! It's proven that having an organized environment will allow you to perform more efficiently while you complete any assignments.

3. Set reminders.

I set reminders ALL the time- without them, I'd be a total mess! Reminders help you stay on top of your work, assignments, and planned events for the day. I typically use the "Reminders" application on my iPhone and laptop, since I'm always checking my phone! I recommend using Google Calendar as well in regards to upcoming events.

4. Get ahead on any work you have for the week.

I really emphasize this piece of advice to everyone. One of the #1 things that allows me to stay organized and (relatively) less stressed during the week is completing as many assignments as possible ahead of time. This frees up space throughout the week for me to do other things that I may not have had time for.

5. Set an evening routine for yourself.

This is also very important! In creating a nightly routine, you will be able to work more efficiently and stay on top of your work. Keep in mind that this doesn't have to be an overly meticulous routine- just keep it simple! Here's my afternoon routine for those of you who want to get an idea:

5-6: tennis

6-7:30 : shower and take some time to relax

7:30-8:00 : dinner

8-9: SAT prep

9-11:30 : homework

As I'm sure you guys can see, my schedule isn't all that complicated! It's just generally nice to have your evening relatively planned out so that you can stay more on top of your work.

6. Allow yourself at least 30 minutes each day to spend some time to yourself.

As you can see in my schedule, I always take time to relax on my bed for at least 30 minutes after showering, so that I have the time to relax my mind and body after a long day of schoolwork and exercise. We all have short attention spans, so it's very important to be taking breaks like this on a daily basis!

7. Focus on one task at a time.

Don't waste time trying to multitask- that won't work when it comes to assignments that require your full attention. Fully complete one assignment before you move on to another.

8. Break down large tasks into smaller tasks.

This is very useful and can help reduce the time you spend working on, say a big essay. You can split that assignment of writing an essay up into different segments:

1. Write outline

2. Write introduction

3. Write contention #1

4. Write contention #2

5. Write contention #3

6. Conclusion

If you split up the work evenly before it's due, I assure you that you will complete it at a much more efficient and faster rate.

9. Don't wait until the night before it's due.

I can't stress this enough! Leaving it to the night before will result in a VERY late night, stress, and an assignment that may not be your best work. Instead, manage your time so that you finish what needs to be done before the night before.

10. Work over the weekends.

"Uuugh". Yup, I know, this does not sound very appealing, but let me tell you, this makes a huge difference. Doing work over the weekends will clear up time throughout the week and will allow you to remain on top of your schoolwork and less stressed!

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I hope that you found these tips useful! Contact us if these tips worked for you.