As I begin what will undoubtedly be the busiest year of my life thus far, I've devoted a great deal of time and attention towards how I can make the most of my time, maximizing efficiency, and minimizing stress and wasted hours.
The old "work until you can't" has been a reasonable solution up until now, but it's come to a point in life where quality is not only a contributing factor, it's an absolute necessity.
Luckily, I believe I've devised a strategy that is applicable and beneficial to anyone; unfortunately, as you could have guessed, this will require a great deal of work, and an equal supply of stoicism. Here are some tips that I've found to be successful in completing the most work in your time, while maintaining a healthy and sane self, and producing quality work all the while.
1. Schedule Your Day
- Don't rely on your ballpark estimates, this one actually requires some time and practice. Go about your daily business, but pay specific attention to how long things take you, (such as meals, work, down time) and leave an additional window of time in case things trickle over a bit.
- Make sure to keep yourself occupied at all times (even if "occupied" means shutting down or squandering your time with some otiose activity)
2. Exercise--Sound Body=Sound Mind
- You might not think of exercise as a priority when your bills need to be paid, but trust me on this one, your body, like your brain, needs practice. This is coming from experience, experimenting my reactions and focus during work, subsequent to either exercising or not. During class and work in which I exercised earlier in the day, I was almost completely focused the entire time, and didn't feel restless and antsy. When not exercising, focus is still fine, but it requires far more self-discipline in order to achieve slightly less.
3. Finish What You Started!
- I know it's tempting to jump from task to task, but it is ideal to finish the task you've undertaken as soon as possible. This is not to say you shouldn't prioritize, because in most cases, you'll have to prioritize.
4. Take Notes
- Take notes on what works for you, what doesn't work, write down any significant accomplishments, and take time to reflect. In work and studying, not only are notes a great way to commit things to memory, but they also help to evoke deeper thoughts and critical, anathinking
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