A new semester in looming in the near future and, as daunting as it may seem, we can get ahead of it. As I am sure you can relate, summer break has really done some damage to my motivation. Sure, I’ve been to work and cleaned some, but I really haven’t done much else. So, here are my top 8 productivity tips for the new semester!
- Stop Making ToDo Lists. I know, I sound crazy! Lock me up (but not until you finish reading my post). Sometimes, when we make lists, we fail to take into account how long each task will take, creating a completely unrealistic goal that we’ll never accomplish in our time frame. Don’t get me wrong, I love lists as much as the next girl, but they are not efficient in the least. Leaves those lists for the grocery store!
- Make a Schedule. However, if you make a schedule instead of a list, you can create time blocks and are much more likely to get everything done! This will help you keep a realistic idea of how your day will go.
- Keep a “Done” List. Don’t kill me, but I have an exception to my list rule. Keeping a list of things that you have accomplished will motivate you to keep on top of your schedule and give you a sense of pride in having been productive.
- Turn Your Phone Off. This sounds like a no-brainer, but, as a society, electronic addiction has become a serious problem. There are stories of people having full on anxiety attacks when they have to separate from their phone or if it dies. If you are uncomfortable putting your phone up or turning it off, try putting it on airplane mode. You can still receive phone calls and important notifications, but you won’t be bothered with pesky and distracting notifications such as Facebook or Instagram.
- Do NOT Work on Your Bed. This should be obvious, but to some people it isn’t. It is important to be comfortable while working (such as homework or writing a blog post), working somewhere as comfortable as your bed will only cause you to be sleepy!
- Get Enough Sleep. Speaking of your bed, getting enough sleep is crucial to being productive all day and having enough energy to get through all of the tasks you have planned. Make sure you are getting 7 – 9 hours of sleep per night and you’ll be golden.
- Don’t Multitask. It sounds like a great way to get multiple things done at once, but the truth is you cannot do one thing great if you are trying to do multiple things good. This is actually good life advice I got from my Freshman Orientation professor in college, and is definitely applicable in different aspects of life.
- Exercise a Little. You don;t have to go run a marathon, but some stretches or a few jumping jacks in between tasks will definitely wake you up and get your blood flowing.
I am actually guilty of all of the above, but am working on staying motivated and productive in the New Year. I have started applying these and they are really helping! I hope you can apply some of these tips, and improve your productivity for this new semester. As always, if you like this post, follow my blog and thanks for reading! I hope you have a wonderful semester!
ZOEE COFFMAN 