If you're a college student, you are most likely busy all of the time. Managing schoolwork, friends, relationships, and work is a lot to handle and it can become extremely overwhelming. If you've been struggling with this balancing act or if you are having trouble making the most of your days, here are ten ways to help you maximize your productivity.
1. Make a to-do list. While this may not seem like a revolutionary idea, as you probably have made a to do list a time or two in your life, there are some ways you can vamp up your list-making methods to increase your organization. My main advice is to prioritize. Start your list with the most important tasks that absolutely must be completed that day. Create a separate section for things that you would like to get done but that aren’t mandatory. I also suggest making note of the time you would like to accomplish a certain task. For example, write an “M” next to a task to establish that you want to get it done in the morning, an “L” to signify that it is something you want to get done at the library, or “N” to give you an idea of what you want to dedicate time to work on at night. This can help you plan out your time in an effective manner, as you will be able to get a visual for the amount of things you would like to accomplish at various points throughout the day.
2. Block out your time. If it is eleven o’clock right now and you have class at two, but want to get lunch with a friend at one, make the conscious and responsible decision to utilize the two hours of time you have in between activities to accomplish something on your to do list. Sometimes when you work under a time constraint like this it can give you more of a push to focus, work hard, and get things done.
3. Create incentives. While it is important to dedicate time to schoolwork and responsibilities, it is also crucial to make time for the things you enjoy. By creating moments of leisure in between moments of studying or working on a project, it allows you to take a step back, relax, and then return to your work refreshed and ready to go. For example, you can create an incentive for yourself by working for a solid hour and a half on your essay but then knowing that at the end of that hour and a half you can take a 40 minute break to relax and watch another episode of your favorite Netflix show. When you work hard and accomplish things you feel a sense of achievement that allows you to more deeply enjoy the moment of relaxation that you allow yourself because you feel as though you have earned it.
4. Eliminate distractions to the best of your ability. When working on homework, try to find a location where you know you will be uninterrupted by friends or roommates. When doing anything that requires serious attention and focus, put your phone on silent and place it somewhere out of sight for the time being. Easier said than done, I know, but you’ll be amazed how much you can get accomplished with it out of sight.
5. Walk away. While this may seem counterintuitive, if you find yourself struggling, sometimes it really is best to take a step back and remove yourself from the situation. Take a walk, listen to a song, leave the room you're working in for a few minutes - do something that will allow your frustration to dissolve. You will return to your work with a calmer demeanor that will enable you to approach your task with a clearer mind and a more succinct focus.
6. Remind yourself of your goals. Keep them in the back of your mind when you find yourself struggling through the day. Use them as fuel to drive you towards making the most of your time, to getting one step closer to achieving what currently seems too far out of reach for you.
7. Keep things in perspective. Sometimes, it's just hard to find the motivation to attend to tasks that seem arduous or unappealing. However, if you approach each problem or assignment or adversity or soporific task in your life as an opportunity and not as a burden you'll find that the way you handle things will begin to change. When you consciously remember how fortunate you are and regard what occurs around you with this appreciative lens, those unappealing tasks may not seem so bad after all and that adversity you're facing may not be as monstrous as you're making it out to be.
8. Get out of your head. Oftentimes, you and only you are what stands in the way of accomplishing what needs to be done. Don't let yourself develop deleterious habits that will only heighten your laziness and diminish your ability to approach tasks in a driven manner.
9. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sometimes, we discourage ourselves before we even start. We criticize ourselves to a point where we believe throwing in the towel is the only solution, that we aren't capable, that we're inadequate. Consciously try to stop talking to yourself in this way. Instead, acknowledge your strengths and your accomplishments and gently work towards improving on the areas of your life causing you trouble.
10. Live each day with the goal of making the following day easier for yourself. If you actually apply this statement to your life, you will not be disappointed with the results. If you always stay on top of things and put forth a valiant effort to get ahead on others, it will only allow you to approach the future in a more relaxed and stress-free way. It will also heighten the productivity of your days and leave you feeling accomplished and satisfied with how you have spent your time.
There you go. Ten tips. Ten tricks. Ten opportunities to make your days more productive, fulfilling, and stress-free.
