By Courtenay K., Jean Y., Tara M., and Ela P.E.              

As we head into the final quarter, it’s a great time to review time management as you work your way through SOLs and finals.  Here are ten ways to organize your time

Set Goals

In order to reach your full potential, it’s essential to set goals for yourself. According to the Corporate Finance Institute, it’s helpful to set SMART goals. SMART goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Use Planning Tools

Purdue University Global explains that using an agenda or calendar or creating a list is extremely helpful for remembering your assignments. Longfellow has provided each student at our school with their own planner. They are very useful when trying to organize your work. Choose one place to record your tasks and assignments, so you don’t have to search for them. Students say that this has improved their grades because they know exactly what they have to do, and they don’t forget about it.

Eliminate Distractions

It’s tough to say no to your electronic devices when you are trying to get your work done. Your phone always rings when you are just about to start doing your work. Text messages from your friends, your social media notifications, and everything else on your phone keep on distracting you from completing a task. However, you have to say no. To do this, turn off your phone or turn on the focus mode. According to LucidChart, closing your door is also a good idea to ensure no interruptions. You can also close all tabs except the one you’re working on. It’s really hard to stay focused when you’re overwhelmed by a variety of distractions, electronic or not. 

Take Breaks Between Tasks

Everyone only has so much energy, and focus will eventually start to wane the longer you work. A way to avoid that burnout is to take small breaks between tasks. According to Lucidchart, taking breaks can lengthen how long you can concentrate and stay productive.

Don’t Multitask

Multitasking, despite often being thought of as a way to do things faster, can actually slow you down. Forbes explains that by multitasking, you can often become distracted and have a hard time staying focused on both tasks at hand. If you want to get your work done faster, just focus on one assignment at a time, and it’ll be done soon enough.

Don’t Procrastinate

Lots of people procrastinate their work, thinking, “I can do this later” or “I have enough time to get this done,” however, these are all just self-rationalizations. You need to stop justifying your procrastination. Yes, you can do your work later, and you still have time; however, it is harder to complete your work after taking a long break because you won’t want to go back to your assignments. Therefore, do your work before your free time, and don’t procrastinate.

Set Designated Times for Each Task

According to Lucidchart, setting times to complete tasks is a very useful way to make the best use of your time. It helps you be more efficient because it allows you to complete your work quickly so you can move on to the next task or assignment. To do this, you can set alarms, use a calendar, or even a daily planner. 

Prioritize Your Work

Prioritizing your time can help you efficiently complete your tasks. Try prioritizing your assignments to decide what order you should do them in. Take into account the importance of your work and the due date. Corporate Finance Institute suggests that the most important and urgent tasks should be completed first, while the less important tasks should be completed last.

Set time limits for your different tasks

By setting time limits, you can better plan how long things will take and when you do them, so you don’t put aside ten minutes for an assignment that ends up taking an hour. It also gives you a better overview of your schedule, increasing your motivation to get the work done. According to the Corporate Finance Institute, setting time limits helps you stay more focused and efficient. 

Set a reward system for yourself

The University of Georgia Extension explains that setting reward systems for yourself increases your motivation. To do this, you can set a number of assignments you plan to get done in a set amount of time. Then, think of a reward for yourself. Some examples are allowing yourself an hour of screen time or treating yourself to something tasty. Then, when the time is up and you have completed your goal, it’s time to treat yourself to something special! 

This year, try to manage your time more effectively. These tips and tools will help you organize your time and receive better grades in the second semester. 

Many students at Longfellow Middle School like to keep track of their assignments in a planner.

Sidebar- Organization tips from your LMS peers:

Eighth grader Zoe A. says she likes to use the notes and reminders apps on her phone to keep track of her assignments. She says she has noticed many benefits from this method, “ I haven’t procrastinated until the last day something was due and had to rush it one night before.”

Seventh grader Ana M. says she likes to set alarm clocks and title the assignments to manage her time. She also likes to write down the reasons she has to do assignments to keep herself motivated. In addition, she uses a reminder app on her iPhone to keep track of her work.

“If people have trouble remembering what they have to do, they could try writing it down,” says Aiyana M., an eighth grader at Longfellow Middle School.  

Indi M., another eighth grader, likes to stay organized by using her Longfellow planner and writing down assignments. This makes it easier to get your work done quickly rather than procrastinating. “And the dark prismatic abyss within them will sprout joy and vibe with perfection that someone will be better, so write down your homework, and then you’ll be fine,” she says.