Since the start of online school, students have been placed under more stress than usual. In school, we have friends and teachers to ask for help at a moment’s notice, but now we have to frantically text one another to get the help we need. The workload is increasing as the school year continues, and the stress levels keep rising!
If you find that you are struggling with the amount of homework you receive, try and break it up into chunks. Make sure to give yourself a break as toxic productivity will only induce more stress. For example, if you work for 1 hour, give yourself a 20 minute break. Incentives will motivate you to finish a task quicker and more efficiently. Additionally, breaking up homework, such as reading a little bit each day, will help you process the information. Instead of trying to get it over with, you want to absorb the knowledge and use it in the future.
Do not write full sentences while taking notes; create a key for yourself that you will understand. For example, highlighting in pink means symbolism, and yellow indicates that it is essential information. These types of tricks will help you skim over the “fluff” of the writing and get to the main topic faster. Writing bullet points is a more effective use of your time. Try to avoid filler words on assignments, such as “very” “really” and “seriously” because it adds on more time. You want to give yourself a significant amount of time to complete other assignments.
The popularity of TikTok, Instagram, and other social media apps decreases student productivity. As a student, you want to eliminate these types of distractions. If you know that you have a big test tomorrow and want to study for it, put your phone across the room and set a timer for the amount of time you want to study. Even 10 minutes without your phone can help you work faster so that you get your 5 minutes of rest.
One of the most important things to remember is getting an adequate amount of sleep each night. Teenagers and adults should be getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Being productive in the day will allow you more time to sleep. Sleeping is vital to stimulating the brain during the day, promoting cognitive and memorization skills, and it “recharges” our batteries.
Lastly, creating a schedule and sticking to it is the best way to manage a heavy workload. Getting into the habit of a daily routine is vital to your success because it helps you make the most of your day and maximizes production. Set aside a specific time to study and another time to rest. Routines often decrease stress because you feel in control of the situation. This also allows you to see how you spend your time and if you are being productive. Balance is crucial to help create a plan that makes you comfortable and can help you flourish in school.
Edited by Ally Chan.
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Tia is a sophomore in high school. She enjoys playing badminton and watching Netflix! Tia hopes that this article helps her fellow AP students out there more efficiently handle their classes!
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