Helpful Tips to Stay Organized and Have a Successful Year
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- Set Goals – Set realistic goals at the beginning of a new school year. Be sure to break larger goals into small, more manageable goals. Write down the goals and keep them visible so you can see them every day. This will motivate and remind you of what you are working towards.
- Don’t Rush – Wake up early enough to have time to get ready, eat a healthy breakfast and arrive to school on time.
- Neatness Matters – Be careful not to accumulate clutter as the school yeat progresses. Create folders, spirals and binders for each class. Stay up-to-date writing in your planner. File all graded/ungraded work, homework, notes and study guides in the appropriate folder or spiral.
- Use Your Planner – Always write homework, test/quiz dates and any other important information in your planner. This will help you know exactly what tasks you have to accomplish the next day.When a homework assignment, test/quiz or project is assigned, immediately write it in your planner. Don’t wait for later, or you may forget about it. You may want to color code in your planner. Consider color coding similar activities in your planner (i.e. highlight all upcoming tests in yellow, quizzes in green, projects in blue, etc.). Spend a minimum of 15 minutes each day preparing for the next school day.
- Have a Place to Do Homework / Study - Pick a quiet, well-lit area to do your homework/study. This area should not be in front of the television or near any other distractions. Avoid studying in a place such as a bed, or a comfortable chair, which may cause you to become drowsy.
- Get Plenty of Rest – Getting a full night’s rest will ensure that you are ready and alert for the next school day.
- Eat Healthy – Eat three healthy meals a day, along with fruit/vegetables for snacks. Eating sweets may cause you to become tired during the day.
- Don’t Overcommit Yourself - While getting involved in activities/clubs after school is great, don’t take on too much. Your school work is your number one priority. Determine how much homework/study time you need and then choose one or two activities that you want to get involved in.
- Set Up Consistent Study Times – Determine the appropriate amount of study time needed. Then, break up that amount into smaller session times. Avoid last minute studying/cramming.
- Break Tasks Down – Break up the big tasks into smaller, more manageable jobs. If you have a project, break it down into three or four smaller steps.
- Prioritize Your Work – Start your homework by completing the most difficult assignments/projects first. This will make everything else seem easier and more manageable to complete.