Busy, Busy Bee

It has been forever since I last talked to you guys. Okay, maybe it was only two weeks again but still, that is not acceptable! With the start of a new lacrosse season, a yearbook to wrap up, and the senior edition of the newspaper coming out soon, I guess you could say I've been a busy, busy bee. 
With all the outside of school activities I do, it's hard not to become a little disorganized and out of things. Here are a few of my tips for handling time management.

Make Lists

Write as much down as you can. If you don’t carry a planner or notebook already, start. Personally, I’ve always preferred a small, simple, white-lined notebook because you aren’t restricted by the various boxes and lines of the average planner.

Make Use of Your Down Time

Use walking, driving, showering, or otherwise “dead” times to plan. Think about what your goals are for that day or the next. Which goals are the most important? Prioritization is the key.

Reward Yourself

Whenever you accomplish something, especially the important things, make sure to take the time to reward yourself.

Concentrate on One Thing

The human mind works more efficiently when it is focused. As we’ve seen before multitasking is actually a disadvantage to productivity. Focus on one thing and get it done. Take care not to bleed tasks into each other. At times, multitasking may seem like a more efficient route, but it is probably not.

Avoid Procrastination at All Costs

When trying to be more productive and trying to save time, procrastination should be avoided like nothing else. It is the ultimate productivity-killer.

Set Personal Deadlines

Nobody likes deadlines. They cause stress, aggravation, worry, and, more stress. A guaranteed way to alleviate some of this stress is to set your own earlier deadlines. Be realistic but demanding of yourself. Challenge yourself and, referring to tip 3, reward yourself for a facing a difficult challenge. Not only will this save you time and make you more productive in the long run, but you will also have a buffer time with little to no penalties compared to those received for missing a real deadline. Of course, this tip has potential for abuse, so be sure to make your own penalties for missing your personal deadlines.

xoxo,

Jillian