It is really important for me to put aside at least half an hour to do something for myself, whether it’s reading, watching TV, or anything relaxing. Not something productive, not homework, not studying – just relaxation. I found that by forcing myself to put aside this time each day, I will have something to look forward to, even if I know that I am going to be busy all day. This period of relaxation also gives me a second to take a breath. I often do it right before bed, so that instead of replaying each interaction of the day or mentally going over information for a test, I can relax as I go to sleep. The importance of self care is something I could write a whole other column about, but this one is about long-term planning. I swear they connect, just bear with me.
We find out about most of our assignments long in advance—especially tests, big projects, and essays. Yet many people, myself included, often leave things until the last moment, then lament the week or night before not starting sooner. Then, the next time an essay rolls around, we do the exact same thing. Over the course of my high school career, I have learned a few tricks to deal with this cycle of procrastination, but they all basically boil down to one thing: Do not rely on the fact that you will miraculously become a non-procrastinator. You have to be honest with yourself. Do you have trouble getting motivation to start something, but once you start are you locked in? Do you have trouble focusing on something for long periods of time? Do you feel overwhelmed when you have lots of assignments, then feel paralyzed, unsure where to start? These are all important questions to answer, because planning is not a one size fits all solution.
One strategy I love using to make sure I do not procrastinate is to lay out my entire week, or a couple of weeks ahead of me, with all of my classes, homework, tests, and projects. By doing this, I am separating myself from the panic and stress that will come from actually doing these assignments while simultaneously creating a road map for me to follow. I do this because I know that when I have a lot of assignments, I often get paralyzed. This gives me a checklist where I have to go in order, so that I always know what assignment I should be doing at any given time. It stops me from getting distracted or wasting time.
Another important tool that I use is my calendar. It helps me see when I will be free and when I will be busy. I put all of my commitments: extracurricular, family, and academic. Not only does it stop me from forgetting something (a pretty big problem for me), but it also helps me see when I will be free on any given day.
I also always make sure to ask teachers when they are planning to have assessments at the beginning of each unit and then I write this date down. By having it in front of me at all times, it lets me know what to prioritize. Moreover, I find that having this in my face stops me from procrastinating.
For big essays, it can be helpful to break things up into smaller chunks. That is how I work because I have trouble working for hours on end. I build smaller tasks into the larger project because it forces me to take breaks. It also makes me celebrate each bit of progress, which can keep me motivated when things seem hard or tedious. I also know that this does not work for everyone. For some people, they work best when they complete large chunks at once. The only thing I would say is that I would still create larger deadlines for when those large chunks of the project should be ready. It may also be necessary to block out those large chunks of uninterrupted time, which can be difficult to find.
I hope that with these strategies to manage your time, it will be easier to find time for yourself. My hope is that through the ability to manage your time and figuring out which style of working meshes well with the way that you think and act, it will be easier to find time for yourself. The more you are able to figure out the ways that make it possible to stay on top of your work, or even get ahead of deadlines, the more time you will have to relax, unwind, and relieve stress. If anyone has any other ways that they plan long term or keep themselves on track, I would love to hear them.
