By Krishaun Burns, JIF Fellow
It's that time of year again, you guys! I'm talking about the holiday season: Thanksgiving just passed, Christmas is next, and then - wait for it - the New Year! However, that's not all that is going on. For many people (ahem, students), it's also that time of year where college applications are being submitted, college admissions are rolling in, and scholarship/financial aid forms are being completed. I get it, I get it. It's a bittersweet time. (Food? Amazing. Writing essays? Eh, not so much.) Don't let the work get you all stressed out though. There are ways to be both productive and satisfied with your break.
1. Like on the ACT, select your "Personal Order of Difficulty" for your tasks.
This is an easy way to organize your tasks. By figuring out your personal order of difficulty, you will be able to expedite your tasks. Are the essays the hardest thing to do? Do that last! Is filling out those applications the easiest? Do that first! Knock out the easiest tasks as soon as possible so that once you are finished with them, you will have no option but to focus on the most difficult. You won't have any excuses to constantly push the most difficult task back. (Plus, once you finish the last task, you will feel really accomplished!)
2. Set designated days to do work and days when you won't.
Of course, you're a teenager, and it's "insert break here". You want to be able to sleep in, relax, watch TV, eat all you want, hang out with friends... am I right? All of that is possible, but don't forget you still need to get work done. By setting days that you will work and days that you will not will allow you to focus better. Do you and your friends enjoy going to parties on Friday night? Set this as your "no work" day. Are you usually bored on Tuesday and Wednesday? Make those your work days. (Remember to take mini-breaks on these days, too! If you don't, you'll wear out much easier.)
3. Have something to look forward to after working so hard.
I personally enjoy having something to look forward to while I do work. It motivates me to do my best and finish as soon as possible. It can be something tiny, like thirty minutes of television, or it could be something big, such as going ice-skating with your friends. Whatever it is, it will help motivate you to continue to work over your holiday break.
4. Whatever you do, do not wait until the tail end of break to do everything.
Waiting until the last few days or even the last week to do all of your work is so difficult! Unless this is something that is most convenient for your schedule, try to knock as much work out of the way during the beginning of your break. If you procrastinate and wait until the very end, it will be easy to keep dragging your feet because school starts up again the following week, and you'll probably want that week to yourself. Work smarter, not harder.
Have a happy holiday!
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