How to Manage a Busy School Year!
It is hard to believe that we are now in the thick of fall. Leaves are starting to change, the air is getting crisper, and pumpkins seem to be everywhere we look. With the seasons changing, this time of year often is often accompanied by increased stress and workloads with school. What may have seemed like a “light” and easier September often gets busier by the time October rolls around with more tests, projects, HW assignments, etc. Not to mention how much this can be compounded by even busier schedules with sports, extracurriculars, college planning, etc. The lists sometimes feel never ending!
So what may have started out as a “fresh new school year” often becomes the “October-stressful blues”.
The best way to combat this type of stress is by making sure you have a plan to:
Handle the stress
The fall always seems to bring about new challenges with schedules, more responsibilities, new classes, etc. The shift from a new school year can definitely bring about stress (even if at first it does not look like it will). Procrastination can creep in early in the school year when everything seems easy, tasks are not as long, and due dates appear to be far away. The best way to combat the inevitable stress is to take part in some regular self-care such as exercising, going for a run, breathing exercises, organizing your desk/back-pack/home environment/papers, talking to friends & family, drinking lots of water, and eating healthy meals.
Make lists & goals
Making lists is a great way to lay out all your priorities (work, school, and home related). This is something I do with my students on a regular basis, and I do daily for myself! One of my favorite apps is Wunderlist -on this app, I’ve created several different types of lists in there: Today, This week, This Month, Work, Groceries, etc. You can create different categories of lists for yourself on dry erase boards, then set appropriate deadlines to make sure everything that you need to get done (yes, down to laundry, making meals, showering, and getting those projects done) get completed!
Use a calendar
One helpful way to make sure you are staying organized is by using some kind of calendar. In my house, we have a few! It may seem redundant, but I realize we use several different kinds because it’s a constant reminder and visualization of what is occurring in our schedule. I use Google Calendar, which I love because I can access from my phone and computer. But we also have a hanging monthly calendar in our kitchen - more for shared family & personal items. And then I have separate calendars for work schedules and personal schedules.
Decrease distractions
Okay, this is a more challenging one, but it is important to review your environment. Can you focus at your desk? The table? Are there too many sounds? Are you eliminating electronic distractions (phone, TV, tablet, computer, etc.). It’s not about NEVER engaging with these “distractible factors” but it is setting yourself up for success by building in time blocks so that you can get your work done efficiently without the constant buzz of your phone, or sounds from around home. To read more on this, feel free to check out our recent blog space on Work Spaces.
Schedule in YOU-time
One of my students once told me in a fit of stress during a session “I just feel like I have no ‘ME’ time”. And I get it; we all need time to unwind and relax, so that we can recharge and then refocus when we do need to get the work done. So yes, take time to do what makes you happy: reward yourself with a fun treat, a yummy snack, give yourself a timed-social media break, watch an episode of your favorite show, talk to a friend, go for a walk, etc.
Focus on your goals
A goal without a plan is just a wish. Sometimes setting smaller goals along the way can help you towards reaching that longer-term goal by allowing yourself to make some small-wins along the way. To make it more fun and visual, use a cork-board to pin up all your visions of success and hitting your goals this year. Hang it somewhere visible were you will see often as a reminder of what you are working towards.
Remember, when you start to feel overwhelmed, it’s okay to slow down and take a step back. The Brain Balancer is a great way to take all of your swirling thoughts in your head and release them onto paper. Sometimes we need to release our mental energy in order to create more clarity for ourselves so that we can actually focus on the task at hand. Once you have everything written down, then you start to make priority lists, or make different categories of lists, of the items that need to get done. Then take a step back - what can I accomplish right now? What can wait? What do I need to prioritize first? Start to organize yourself first so that you can have a plan of attack when things start to get stressful.