New Academic Year, New Start
Starting a new academic year on the right foot can set you up correctly, so that if anything doesn’t go to plan, you are already a step ahead. Here are some pieces of advice on how to manage your time and workload in the new year so you don't find yourself playing catchup by Christmas time!
Organise yourself
At the start of the year, make sure you know your exam boards, subjects and any other information that may help you for the year. It might also be useful to set up folders on your computer or other device for each subject, and put the specification, past papers and other documents from the exam board website that will make your life easier when revising.
Make a list
When things get busy and you've got loads to do, it can feel like a mountain of stress hovering over your head. The simple act of writing down everything you've got to do in small, manageable chunks will make everything seem much less stressful. Put the list somewhere where you can easily see it and cross out each task once you've done it. There's nothing more satisfying than a completed to-do list!
Prioritise
Sometimes it can feel like everything is super important and needs to be done right away. But take a step back and you'll realise that while some things will need doing right away, others can wait until you've got a bit more time. How you prioritise your things is up to you, you could colour code them in your diary or number them in your to-do list. A technique is to prioritise things into three categories; things that need to be done as soon as possible, things that need to be done but you've got a bit of time and things that have no deadline but you'd like to do them.
A little goes a long way
Sometimes you might not get started on something because you haven't got enough time to get it all done in one go. What's the point if you've only got ten minutes right? Actually, you'd be surprised by how much you can get done in ten or even five minutes; whether it's making a start on your revision or answering the first question in your maths homework. It might not seem like much, but it means that you'll have that much less to do when you come back to it. Even spending five minutes on the bus just reviewing what you studied in your last lesson can make a world of difference. Plus, it only takes five minutes!
Adjust your schedule to suit your needs
You might set yourself a workplan at the beginning of term with the best of intentions, but by half term, you find that things are getting on top of you and you're getting stressed. Stop. Having a good schedule is important, but the most important thing is that it works for you. If your needs change or for whatever reason, it's not working for you anymore, change it! If you find that your geography homework takes you way longer than expected, give yourself more time to do it. If you find that you work better in small chunks than in long stretches, change your workplan to suit that. If you're getting really tired by 8pm, stop working earlier and get some rest. Being able to change your work plan is just as important as having one in the first place!
Reward yourself
No matter how old you get, rewards are an excellent way of encouraging yourself to complete your work. Even something as simple as putting a sticker in your diary every time you complete your homework or do half an hour of revision can be a surprisingly effective reward system. The trick is to find a reward that you wouldn't otherwise get (so not watching tv!) but that's also sustainable (you can't give yourself a chocolate bar for every completed task!).
Romanticise your studying
By this I mean use colourful notes, folders and notebooks – make your studying aesthetic.
Get some rest!
It might sound counterintuitive, but the time you spend not doing work is just as important as the time you spend doing it! Whether resting involves hanging out with your friends, watching tv or just getting a good night's sleep, resting is vitally important to your mental and physical well being. I know it might be tempting to pull an all-nighter just to meet that deadline, but your work won't be as good and you'll feel pretty rubbish after! So definitely work hard and meet all your deadlines, but also make sure to schedule in some you-time as well.
I hope these tips will help you start the new year as you mean to go on, but if things get too much then, by all means, get in touch and I'll be more than happy to help!