With the end of winter break comes the long journey from home to dorm. But when it comes to acclimating to the new semester, it may feel like there's so much to do in so little time. Here are five tips that will help you be more productive as you get back in the swing of things.
Prioritization Is Key
Juggling multiple tasks at once sounds like a good idea to lighten your load, but it's not. All it does is leave you scouring through folders and notebooks, struggling to decide what needs to be done first. Make a checklist of the assignments due for each class. At the end of the day, review your checklist and organize each task by importance. The more important the task, the more necessary it needs to be completed first.
Stay Distraction-Free
Emails, text messages, social media alerts. Distractions are everywhere you look and easy to succumb to. So before you get started on the assignments due for next week's classes, make sure you're in an environment where you can focus on getting your work done. Once you are settled in, activate the "Do Not Disturb" mode on your phone. If you need your computer to complete assignments, turn off the notifications features.
Be Sure To Get Plenty of Sleep
Do you have a major exam to take or an important presentation to give? Planning on doing some last-minute preparing the night before? If so, don't take all night to get ready. All it will do is leave you drained and unmotivated. A good eight to ten hours of sleep not only leaves you feeling refreshed in the morning but also improves your memory so you can focus on finishing the task at hand.
Maintain A Well-Balanced Diet
It may seem like a minor inconvenience, but you'd be surprised at how much eating three meals a day can maximize productivity. A balance of healthy fats (e.g. avocado, fish) and lean proteins (e.g. chicken, beans) will both keep your body healthy and help you stay focus in class. Avoiding snacks and soft drinks found in vending machines is a must for students who want to save money.
Don't Wait 'Til The Last Minute
Putting things off for a little while is okay. Putting things off until the day before something is due isn't. By avoiding the task at hand, you're more likely to hand in an assignment that your professors will see as mediocre and not carefully prepared. Take your time, but make sure whatever needs to get done actually gets done. Try completing the assignment into increments, taking short breaks that allow you to recharge before getting back to work.
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