In this article, I will describe the methods through which I have maintained a 4.0 GPA in high school. I have tried many methods of planning out my school work, studying for tests, and even just managing my time. I will talk about the methods that have worked for me, and some of which may work for you!
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a method of time management that involves the student working and taking breaks in a set ratio. There are several different time ratios you can use to maintain a consistent and efficient workflow. You could work 90 minutes and rest for 20 minutes, work for 50 minutes and rest for 10 minutes, or work for 25 minutes and rest for 5 minutes. The goal of each session is to complete one task or more in the allotted time. This could be a single school assignment or an assortment of small tasks like emailing your teachers. These time ratios allow many to work tirelessly for school but maintain the ability to not burn out. It is always important to maintain discipline and continue to work after your break is over.
Study With Me
This is a subsection of YouTube which has been heavily popularized by study bloggers. Each video in this subsection will have a student, or a group of students, studying with you either following a Pomodoro timer or merely studying until they feel tired. This is an effective strategy to use if you study well with other people, but are unable to find others to study with. There are many YouTube channels out there with different Pomodoro ratios, different background noises, and different settings. As you start to discover the different YouTube channels, you will find what works for you.
Changing Your Atmosphere
Sometimes the best thing you can do is change the environment you’re in. If you’re unable to change your study environment, maybe try changing your atmosphere. There are several ways to do this. You can either change the background noises around you or change what is going on around you. There are websites dedicated to simulating you into a café, or maybe place you in another room altogether. Many of these softwares and websites have to-do lists built-in or have Pomodoro timers built-in.
Creating Your To-do List
Many factors alter the way you view your to-do list. It could be that every task seems too daunting, or that every task is just something you’ve been putting off for a long time. Any situation this is similar to the two we just listed needs to be averted to use your to-do list efficiently. To prevent every task from seeming daunting, break down the task into parts. Each part needs to be completed in due time to allow yourself to space out things properly. The only way to break away from the stigma that “it’s okay to let this task go undone” is to just do it. If there is a task that will take less than 10 minutes to do, just complete it. It is the only way to put yourself in the mentality to continue to do work.
Despite hearing all of this, it is important to know that burnout is real and important to prevent. When burnout does take over, take the measures needed to recoup from this exhausting time. Be sure to pace out your work and stay safe while working. Make sure to take care of yourself and have a fun time studying with these new techniques!
