When one thinks of “productivity,” organization is a common association that will come to mind. However, even though organization may be a large part of productivity, components such as one’s mindset and ability to stay on task also play large roles in determining how efficiently a student can work.
Organization:
In all classes, both academic and elective, it is essential to stay organized and keep track of assignments, tests, and projects. These good habits make maintaining excellent grades easier and provide students with a boost of self-confidence.
Keeping an organized binder or folder is one of the many ways students can stay organized. Instead of jamming that last-minute homework assignment into your backpack and struggling to rummage through your belongings when the time comes to hand it in, simply designating a binder or two to specific classes with binder dividers and plentiful loose leaf paper will allow students to manage their belongings and find all of their assignments in an instant.
Agenda Usage:
Do you have that agenda lying around your house that you never used this year? Freshman student Aahana Anupam felt the same. “I didn’t realize how useful agendas were until I utilized them for school. At first, I thought that they were unnecessary, but when I started using them, it helped me with being less stressed and overworked, especially since the transition from middle school to high school was tough,” they said.
Agendas are key organizational tools that often get overlooked. Learning to utilize an agenda allows students to keep track of their assignments and designate sufficient time to complete all of their assignments to ensure that nothing will be missed or unnecessarily turned in late.
Staying on Task:
Another vital component of productivity is staying on task. Many teenagers struggle to provide their full attention to a specific task as a result of increased distractions such as social media, notifications from cell phones and multitasking with multiple digital devices. Before starting their study sessions, students should strive to put away their cell phones and part with any other electronic devices to eliminate distractions and hone in on their work. Making sure that one is focused and fully engaged in their work improves the quality and clarity of their work, resulting in a high grade.
Goal-setting:
Students should also get into the habit of setting goals for themselves, both personal and school-related. Setting goals allows one to get their priorities straight and get a sense of what their day looks like to plan ahead and efficiently manage their time.
An effective method for approaching goal setting is to make daily to-do lists that encompass all of the tasks that an individual wishes to accomplish in a day. Gradually completing all the tasks on the to-do list and checking them off gives students a sense of accomplishment that bolsters their confidence and motivates them to stay on task and keep working until they have accomplished all of their goals.
Mindset:
Furthermore, one’s mindset, or their way of approaching a task greatly influences their productivity as well. Maintaining an optimistic and motivational attitude towards a workload allows students to work for long periods of time without getting distracted and complete work without feeling overwhelmed or lethargic after finishing small amounts of work. It is imperative for students to approach their work with a positive mindset to achieve their academic goals without developing unnecessary stress.
Effective ways of setting the tone for studying include listening to music only if it improves your concentration and adjusting your workspace to ensure that it is well-lit and ergonomically comfortable to maintain concentration.
Evidently, mastering productivity requires a combination of organizational skills, focus, goal setting and a positive mindset. By adopting these strategies, students can competently manage their workload, reduce stress and sustain academic success while building beneficial habits that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
