Posted on 28th October 2012

Make the Most of Your Day

The clocks went back today so we got an extra hour, hurrah! I’m always complaining that there isn’t enough time to get everything done, so I was particularly grateful for an extra 60 minutes today. But what about the days when we have the normal allocation, are we always making the most of the time we have got?

There are so many potential distractions that sometimes it’s hard to focus on one thing at a time. I know that I can be guilty of trying to do three things at once, which in the end probably makes me slower rather than faster. To help you get the most out of your day, we’ve got some tips here on being more efficient and making the most of the hours available.

Can you wake up a bit earlier? Try setting your alarm twenty minutes earlier than usual and use the extra time to do whatever extra you might need to do.

Go to bed at a regular time: If you get into a regular pattern of going to bed and waking up at the same time during the week your mind and body are less likely to get tired, so you’ll have more energy to get things done during the day.

Do one thing at a time: You’ll work better if you focus on one task at a time, rather than doing two or three things all at once.

Be more organised: Why not try making your packed lunch and packing your school bag the night before, rather than manically rushing around in the morning?

Make lists and prioritise tasks: Keep an up-to-date list of your homework tasks and other things you need to get done. Write down the date of when they need to be done by and number them according to what needs to be done first.

Make a timetable: Most people make timetables when they are revising for exams, but why not have a go at doing one for your average week? Fill in all of the things that you have to do from week to week including school classes and extra-curricular clubs and activities. Then allow time for doing homework and music practice etc. See where you have extra gaps; perhaps you could find a slot at lunchtime to go for a swim or catch up on some reading? Do also allow yourself to relax as you don’t want to be so busy that you’ll get exhausted and burn out.

Keep distractions minimal: When you are getting work done, try and remove any potential distractions. Keep the television off, find a quiet space to work, put your mobile on silent, and don’t snack when working (have a snack before/after your work).

Monitor how much television you are watching. At this time of year there are hundreds of tempting programmes on, but if you watch them all then you’ll never get anything else done. It is nice to chill out in front of the TV at the end of the day, but pick a couple of key programmes that you really like and stick to only watching those. Having some ‘no TV’ days to maximise the time spent on homework, and then catch up on anything you’ve missed at the weekend.

Stay on top of your work. Don’t ignore essays that need to be done as they will creep up on you and then you’ll have to do them in a rush and it’s unlikely to be your best work. Try and get homework out of the way as close to when it’s set as possible. This will prevent you from getting stressed out and will probably mean that your work is better.