5 TIPS
TO TAKE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TO THE #NEXTLEVEL
JULIA PITLYK
SCHOOLWORK, VOLUNTEERING, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.
1. Schedule Smarter Days When it comes to maximizing productivity, timing is everything. Take note of when during the day you feel most suited to do certain tasks. Do you feel particularly creative first thing in the morning? Use that time to knock out a writing assignment or design some slides for your DECA project. Or maybe your creative juices flow in the evening and you can schedule basic tasks, like small assignments and emails, for earlier hours. Spend a few weeks tracking your productivity flow, and then use that data to determine the peak time for every type of task on your to-do list. 26
2. Make the Most of Every Minute You’re finished with school, work and extracurriculars for the day, but your evening to-do list is longer than ever. How can you make the most of your evening? Productivity gurus love the Pomodoro Technique for breaking up long stretches of work into productive sprints. Start by choosing a single task and set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. (Yes, that means putting your phone away!) After 25 minutes, take a five-minute break. Repeat that cycle four times, and then reward yourself with a longer break (15-20 minutes). Then, start the method all over again. This is a proven way to increase your focus and get more done in less time!
