On my YouTube channel, I like to tell stories, give lifestyle tips and even do what I can to give tips revolving around school. Recently for one of my Q&A videos on my channel, I was asked about how I'm able to manage everything I do so that I have enough time for each activity. This would include things like writing on Odyssey, keeping up with my channel, sports and all of my other clubs/extracurriculars. I feel like I did a decent job of answering this question in my video, but I also think elaborating would help out a lot more. Here are a few tips that have helped me with getting my work done efficiently and effectively!
1. Sleep a little later, and wake up a little earlier.
I'm not a morning person. I detest waking up early more than anything else in the world, but if I wake up earlier, I have more time in the day to get work done. Staying up late has always been easy for me, so I'm able to get lots of work done late in the day. Now don't get me wrong; though staying up late and waking up earlier helps to get more work done, sleeping is important.
Taking naps is a game-changer, so if you find that you have some time to spare, a nap would be highly recommended. I recently discovered that 30 minute naps are the most effective and beneficial naps you can take. When you sleep for too long, waking up is more exhausting than it is refreshing, so you will feel just as tired, if not more. Taking a nap longer than 30 minutes will hinder your productivity, so make sure you set alarms so you don't sleep too much!
2. Multi-task as much as you can.
This is certainly the most effective thing you can do. This is low-key gross, but I can't tell you how many times I've taken my computer with me into the restroom to get some writing or video editing done. It is the ultimate way to make sure you aren't wasting a second of your time! When every second counts, doing things like this really does save time! On some occasions, I'll take my meals into my room and eat while I work (as opposed to eating with my family) if I have an abundance of work to do.
It is important to remember to set limits though. If you find yourself juggling lots of tasks at once, take a step back and rethink how you want to approach the situation. If you're doing too many things at once, you may risk the quality of your work just for checking a box to say that you've completed something. It is crucial to watch the amount of effort you're putting into your work while you're multi-tasking. If you don't, you may end up creating something you aren't proud of.
3. Prioritize work over unimportant social events.
You were assigned a big project last month. It's due Monday, and you waited until the weekend before to even take a glance at the rubric. But you also have a party to go to that weekend! In these kinds of situations, it's important to take what's more important to you into consideration. I've had lots of situations like these where I would think that after going to a party that I'd be willing to come home and work, but the reality is that, after you get home from a crazy night, you will definitely be far too tired to get any work done.
After parties I usually like to shower and then immediately get ready for bed without even taking a glance at my backpack. If you know you have a grade that is crucial, it would be ideal to skip the party and complete your work. Keep in mind, you don't always have to skip social events. You only need to do this when you're in a serious time crunch!
For personal experience stories, tips, ukulele videos or just a smile, you can watch my YouTube videos here!
