Time Management Advice
BY N. RAZBAN '23
As a sophomore, I can confidently say that time management was not my forte last year. I struggled to finish long term projects, was constantly stressed by homework, and failed to turn in my best work. The mere thought of writing a paper would bring so much disquietude that I couldn’t even start, leading to a last-minute cram session, in which I would blast study playlists and frantically type away. As the clock ticked closer to morning, my writing would slowly get less intelligible. I would finally go to bed with a subpar essay, only to realize the next morning that I forgot a works cited page.
I now realize how much stress I could have reduced if I had avoided procrastinating, and I bet you could’ve too! So, join me, my friends, on a journey towards better time management.
Hustle culture is a term that’s been thrown around a lot lately. It defines good work ethics as working harder and longer without any breaks. We glorify the idea of “rise and grind” and proudly flaunt it through a lack of sleep and a heightened level of anxiety. But, this doesn’t lead to anything near the result we want, and it certainly won’t make you happy. So, what can we do instead?
Take better breaks for better work. Rather than embracing hustle culture, remember that breaks are important, and the type of break too. Last year, I would do my homework until 6 p.m. while “taking breaks” by watching random videos online. It felt like I was working for much longer than I actually was, due to these inefficient breaks. By the end of the day, I completed my nightly homework but left my big projects untouched.
This issue may seem small, but it easily leads to burnout. I’ve since learned that the trick to staying focused for a long time is actually to not stay focused for a long time. In the 1980s, productivity consultant Francesco Cirillo devised the Pomodoro Technique. He advocated for working in 25-minute intervals separated by 5-minute breaks. Setting shorter working periods keeps you motivated far longer than a four-hour study session.
The main point, though, is to take effective breaks. Good breaks leave you energized and ready to resume working. A walk around your neighborhood can do the trick. You could also eat a snack, or even stare at your wall. Whatever you do, don’t go on your phone. Trust me, it won't just be five minutes. You’ll quickly get sucked into the vortex of texts and TikToks.
Plan in advance for longer assignments. We’ve all been through the cycle of getting a long term assignment, promising ourselves to start immediately, and then not touching it until the day, the morning, or even the period before it’s due.
To effectively complete longer projects, the first step is to make a timeline the day the assignment is given. Break up tasks as small as they can go. For example, instead of designating “write essay” as a task, break it up into paragraphs! Then, break it down further: turn “paragraph” into “topic sentence,” “evidence,” “reasoning,” and so on. Finally, assign a mini-task to each day before the due date. Very quickly, your task of the day went from “write essay” to “write topic sentence.” That sounds much easier, doesn’t it?
Lastly, remember to set realistic goals. Give yourself more time than you think you will need, and don't expect to write a perfect introduction during the last twenty minutes of lunch (you won't, trust me).
Technology can be a tool. Some of us use it to relax, get rich through Bitcoin, or play Mario Kart (is this even still relevant?). Technology can be distracting, but it doesn’t have to be! Let me introduce you to the magical land of productivity apps.
In the Forest app, you set a timer and, for that period of time, a tree will grow. But once you exit the app, your tree will die. Apart from eliminating distractions, Forest also plants real trees! Save the environment and your grades.
The second is a more rigorous version of Forest called Freedom. In this app, you pick which apps or websites to block and for how long. Let's say you want to study for 45 minutes. If you block Instagram and Twitter, you won't be able to access them during that time.
The last app is called Hocus Focus and works well on devices that have multiple tabs visible. It hides tabs that you’re not using, so while you write your essay, you won't be tempted to switch to Reddit.
Music is also handy when studying. I, for one, have collected some music essentials over the years. My favorite is the study jazz BGM channel, especially their “Studio Ghibli Cafe Music.” For minimum distraction, try out nature playlists.
Learn to relax. Relaxing can be difficult when you’ve adopted the hustle culture mindset. But relaxation, just like everything in life, takes time to practice and learn. It's a good skill to master now, because at some point, there won't be any deadlines or upcoming assignments. You’ll have to simply relish each day.
So there you go, my productive little beans! Now you know how to lengthen your relaxation time and improve your overall health by using the simple tools of time management. Toodles!
I now realize how much stress I could have reduced if I had avoided procrastinating, and I bet you could’ve too! So, join me, my friends, on a journey towards better time management.
Hustle culture is a term that’s been thrown around a lot lately. It defines good work ethics as working harder and longer without any breaks. We glorify the idea of “rise and grind” and proudly flaunt it through a lack of sleep and a heightened level of anxiety. But, this doesn’t lead to anything near the result we want, and it certainly won’t make you happy. So, what can we do instead?
Take better breaks for better work. Rather than embracing hustle culture, remember that breaks are important, and the type of break too. Last year, I would do my homework until 6 p.m. while “taking breaks” by watching random videos online. It felt like I was working for much longer than I actually was, due to these inefficient breaks. By the end of the day, I completed my nightly homework but left my big projects untouched.
This issue may seem small, but it easily leads to burnout. I’ve since learned that the trick to staying focused for a long time is actually to not stay focused for a long time. In the 1980s, productivity consultant Francesco Cirillo devised the Pomodoro Technique. He advocated for working in 25-minute intervals separated by 5-minute breaks. Setting shorter working periods keeps you motivated far longer than a four-hour study session.
The main point, though, is to take effective breaks. Good breaks leave you energized and ready to resume working. A walk around your neighborhood can do the trick. You could also eat a snack, or even stare at your wall. Whatever you do, don’t go on your phone. Trust me, it won't just be five minutes. You’ll quickly get sucked into the vortex of texts and TikToks.
Plan in advance for longer assignments. We’ve all been through the cycle of getting a long term assignment, promising ourselves to start immediately, and then not touching it until the day, the morning, or even the period before it’s due.
To effectively complete longer projects, the first step is to make a timeline the day the assignment is given. Break up tasks as small as they can go. For example, instead of designating “write essay” as a task, break it up into paragraphs! Then, break it down further: turn “paragraph” into “topic sentence,” “evidence,” “reasoning,” and so on. Finally, assign a mini-task to each day before the due date. Very quickly, your task of the day went from “write essay” to “write topic sentence.” That sounds much easier, doesn’t it?
Lastly, remember to set realistic goals. Give yourself more time than you think you will need, and don't expect to write a perfect introduction during the last twenty minutes of lunch (you won't, trust me).
Technology can be a tool. Some of us use it to relax, get rich through Bitcoin, or play Mario Kart (is this even still relevant?). Technology can be distracting, but it doesn’t have to be! Let me introduce you to the magical land of productivity apps.
In the Forest app, you set a timer and, for that period of time, a tree will grow. But once you exit the app, your tree will die. Apart from eliminating distractions, Forest also plants real trees! Save the environment and your grades.
The second is a more rigorous version of Forest called Freedom. In this app, you pick which apps or websites to block and for how long. Let's say you want to study for 45 minutes. If you block Instagram and Twitter, you won't be able to access them during that time.
The last app is called Hocus Focus and works well on devices that have multiple tabs visible. It hides tabs that you’re not using, so while you write your essay, you won't be tempted to switch to Reddit.
Music is also handy when studying. I, for one, have collected some music essentials over the years. My favorite is the study jazz BGM channel, especially their “Studio Ghibli Cafe Music.” For minimum distraction, try out nature playlists.
Learn to relax. Relaxing can be difficult when you’ve adopted the hustle culture mindset. But relaxation, just like everything in life, takes time to practice and learn. It's a good skill to master now, because at some point, there won't be any deadlines or upcoming assignments. You’ll have to simply relish each day.
So there you go, my productive little beans! Now you know how to lengthen your relaxation time and improve your overall health by using the simple tools of time management. Toodles!