Mastering the intricacies of virtual learning is one thing, but juggling a functional schedule of academic productivity, actual fun, and extracurriculars is on a whole other level.
This week’s webinar is a thematic continuation of a previous webinar topic: online school management. We’re pumped, you can never get enough motivation to implement healthy habits! Run by Navya, Managing Your Time to Shine is more suited towards a lifestyle of schedule organization and time optimization.
Navya is a pre-IB, Gr 10 student who loves computer science and business. She's a computer science tutor and social media coordinator for IntegraYouth. She's also the marketing executive in her school-run HOSA and science clubs. She's passionate about photography and hopes to have a career in web-developing!
Topics covered in Navya's webinar include a deep-dive into the stats and facts of time management, how to work efficiently, and how to prioritize tasks with a method that has its own acronym!
Time management
Time management is the effective use of time- when you get tasks done with quality and a minimum of procrastination. This definition is one to remember, and not replace with situational alterations.
Essentially, if you’ve blown away 2 hours of work time on 6 episodes of a void-filling sitcom after sitting down to work on an extra credit math assignment, don’t kid yourself and say the sitcom taught you empathy, comedic timing and the dangers of screen addiction. You didn’t manage your time wisely. You can then gently and purposely take note of this area in which you could use improvement! It’s tough transitioning out of the rigors of parentally controlled schedules into situations where you, singular, are the boss. The learning curve is steep and the hours wasted are many but try your best to stay truthful to yourself.
Once having identified time management as an area for improvement, the following points can be considered desirable objectives:
The ability to create conducive environments (areas in which studying is easy and minimally distracting)
How to effectively prioritize between tasks
How to put a pin in “un-prioritized” tasks
How to set S.M.A.R.T. goals
How to create habits
The mentioned objectives are key but are also brain power wasted without agreeable time-slots in which to get actual work done.
Scheduling is important! Navya gives an example of one of her preferred scheduling aesthetics whose principal can be transferred anywhere, from Google calendars to paper agendas.
Navya also includes some fascinating stats that should be sure to wrangle in any on the fence skeptic who hasn’t resonated with the need to improve their procrastinating bliss.
Prioritizing tasks and working smart
Studying, ideally, does not come first in a day’s priorities. To stay sane, it’s wise to squeeze in some adequate sleep, hydration and a preferred form of DPA, (Daily Physical Activity, like in elementary school!!) before sitting down and getting to work.
Once it’s time to work, tasks can be filtered through SMART goals: objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. They can also be ordered using the priority matrix, in which they are colour-coded for visual aid and ranked by importance and urgency. These prioritized tasks should be kept on track with manageable time allocations. You can use some existing study techniques like the fifteen minute method, (where you work for consistent stretches of time with 15min breaks) or the Pomodoro technique, (which similarly ensures frequent and periodic pauses).
Let’s continue going down the checklist. Your tasks are prioritized, your schedule set up, your body rested, energized and filled with liquids, now you can look back to a previously mentioned objective: creating a conducive environment. To do so, all major distractions have got to go. This includes unnecessary devices, hobby or entertainment supplies and distracting people, pets or plants. Phones and other devices seem to be the loudest most deadly siren call so Navya suggests that you trick your brain before it tricks you. Give your device to someone else, set regulatory apps on it, put it in places you don't like, like your freezer.
Adhering to general set-up rules like these embodies the concept of working smart and not unnecessarily hard. Without breaks, rhyme or reason, you might cram intensely for six hours in a foul mood. Starting from square one in an attempt to cover all necessary content, you may allot time improperly to different points and skimp out on the topics that actually require your undivided attention. And because this study session is hellish and you’re just trying to muscle through, you may overwork yourself and still feel unprepared for whatever you’re studying for and incapable of retaining information properly.
Apps that redefine smart work
If you’re all about that 21st century, slick modern usage of tools then you can absolutely turn to apps as a way to organize your life more! If you’re more of a holistic, cottage-living, screen-time-shunning individual you can stick to physical day planners or bullet journals. Here are Navya’s app recommendations:
-Notion (has tools which can be used to maximize knowledge or project management and note-taking)
-Calm (a sleep schedule aid with components like guided meditation and bed-time stories)
-Minimalist (a minimalist to-do list!)
Final thoughts
Quoting Jim Rohn, Navya comes to the end of her webinar cautioning us to, “Either run the day or the day or the day runs you”.
She reminds us to maintain responsibility for implementing improvement in our own lives and to have fun while setting goals, prioritizing and managing our time better!
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