Winter break is a time for students to relax and get together with family, enjoying the holidays and awaiting the new year. But it can also be a time of procrastination, with winter assignments forgotten until the last minute. Here are some tips on how to keep paced and stress free this break.
“Eliminating clutter and organizing your life will give you more energy, lift your spirits and make room for better things and experiences to come into your life,” said Jennifer Ford Berry, author of the Organize Now! book series. Sticking to being organized requires commitment and detailing; it also requires a “No Procrastination” policy.
Students should begin by making a list of assignments they need to complete. The list needs to include self-assigned due dates. If assignments are too large and require extra details, they can be broken down into subtasks and separate due dates.
The next step is organizing assignments for winter break by rearranging the list in order of priority. Prioritizing can be based on due dates, size of assignment or by subject – assignments for some subjects may be easier than others.
When putting together schedules for assignments, it is important for students to remember to leave time for family and friends. Parties, dinner outings and any possible activity that requires more than an hour of the student’s time should be included in the schedule.
“Turn off your phone,” said Berry. A quiet workplace is essential to being productive. The ideal workplace is a room with little to no distractions – such as TVs and game consoles.
Commitment is a key factor in staying organized and completing assignments during breaks from school. It’s important to start assignments as soon as possible. Students tend to make excuses and procrastinate.
When assignments are put off, they are more likely to be done last minute and turn out to be half the quality they have the potential to be. Another problem with procrastination is the decrease of desire to complete assignments. However, it’s a good idea for students to take short stretch breaks between tasks to clear their minds and reenergize.
A student who procrastinates will be freaking out the night before school starts, worrying about finishing every assignment and doing them correctly; a student who stays organized and does their assignments on time can enjoy their last day doing whatever they please.
“If you practice now, you’ll be better at it after you graduate,” Berry said.
