Friday, March 2, 2012

Stop procrastinating!: Top nine ways to get back to work

   When was the last time you said you’d stop procrastinating…tomorrow? Let’s face it: at Webb, it is not that difficult to stop procrastinating no matter how many AP classes you’re taking. Ever wake up from a nap at 8 a.m. that was supposed to last 10 minutes? I faced the same situation in the beginning of junior year. These days, I usually go to sleep at 11:00 p.m., while maintaining my GPA with four AP classes, along with the notorious Honors Spanish 3 class with Sr. Valera. 

Here it goes…

1. Wake up early in the morning if you did not finish your homework. It may sound painful (it is), but try to keep in mind why you are striving for the best and the reason why you came to Webb. Splash your face with water and wake up. Then sit down at your desk and finish your homework. Make sure you don’t blast distracting music, because it won’t help you focus, though it might pump you up.

2. The notorious morning free block… Finishing just two classes’ worth of homework during a free blocks will mean more sleep when you really need it. Just think about your friends who use their free blocks for sleeping and do homework the day before (or the day) it is due to motivate you.

3. After afternoon activities, we all know that there is an hour or two before dinner starts. Use that time. Bring an hour’s worth of homework to afternoon activities, and finish some work in the dining hall while waiting for food. When I have a speech or a writing assignment due, I only bring my iPhone, and work the magic. I find it easier to be creative after activities.

4. After dinner (which, by the way, should only take 20 minutes), there is another hour or two to finish homework study hours officially start. This takes away from socializing time and all that, but use the days when you’ve finished your homework to have fun and hang out without interruption.

5. There will always be those days when you end up staying up into the wee hours of the morning. Just give it all you got and when you crash, clear your mind of homework and fill your mind with images of your most recent crush. You’ll be out seconds. Remember to set your alarm clock!

6. Along with using your time efficiently on the weekends, it is not necessary sleep in until 11 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday morning and leave it all to Sunday night. Waking up at 8 a.m. or even 9 will not kill you or make your day depressing. I promise. You do not need 11 hours of sleep, not even as a junior or a senior!

7. Planning is key. It may sound cliché, but think about it: every goal that you set at the end of the day is like an exciting mission. Check off every homework assignment that you do on your planner and feel the satisfaction of accomplishing each mission. And let your final reward be a satisfying “A.”

8. This goes along with efficient planning: study for tests ahead of time. Webb life will become easier than ever.

9. If you have free time, do take some time to just hang out and enjoy yourself. Keeping well-rested is another key to success.

- By Thomas Kim 



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