<p>For the past couple weeks of my sophomore year, I've been swamped with homework. On top of three AP's, I also work a part-time job and co-lead the biggest club on campus. I don't do anything else, but I normally get home from my job at 8, and then do homework and make club plans until 2 or 3 every night. I realize that this is not a sustainable way to keep up (I'm used to ten hours of sleep per night, not four), so I want to improve my time management and efficiency.</p>
<p>Can you give me any tips or pointers on effective and productive time management? Thank you :)</p>
<p>How much of your time does the club stuff take? I’m not sure if you can do this or not, but what I do sometimes is just take a weekend and do as much homework as I can in advanced. I’d also try to coordinate and plan events for my club too, during that time.</p>
<p>For the homework. Stuff that you need to actually work on, that require more thinking and would take longer to finish – get those knocked out first. Stuff like math homework or something that’s BS-able, do it during class :)</p>
<p>I had a full schedule my junior year, which required lots of HW almost every day. I got barely any sleep like you are now, but here are some tips I used to survive:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you have any free periods, lunch periods, free time in PE, time in between classes, etc. you can use it to start HW before going home. Many times, I’ve completed reading for English class in small breaks like these.</li>
<li>When you’re doing HW at home, make sure there are absolutely no distractions! you can schedule fun time later- when you’re done with HW.</li>
<li>If your teachers give you any HW’s like exercises / worksheets, you can complete these during class. I’ve completed worksheets in the same period that the teacher handed them out, or in other classes (lectures) where I don’t have to pay attention. Make sure you don’t get caught though.</li>
</ul>
<p>My biggest problem i found with time management is when homework requires the use of a computer. There are too many distractions on the computer… and I still haven’t figured out how to not get distracted while on the computer. I oftentimes take a whole day on weekends on the computer to do what could be done in 30-60 minutes if I focused.</p>
<p>However, when homework doesn’t require a computer I try to do it first so I don’t get distracted.</p>
<p>XRCatD: Absolutely agree. Computer-related work is just too tempting ;)</p>
<p>I try to finish all my math homework during class, so normally math is out of the way. But essays and reading for my other classes take up a lot of time for me. </p>
<p>Can anyone recommend some ways to read/write faster? I know it’s probably an acquired skill, but are there any special tips for reading or writing more efficiently?</p>
<p>there can’t possibly be that much work, there are many people who are able to handle much more than you’re faced with right now. Club stuff can be shouldered by the VP as well, you don’t need to be the only one. Are you sure you’re making use of every minute possible?</p>
<p>that could be one of the last resort options as it looks like the least important item (unless you’re supporting the family, in which case I applaud you). I still feel taking about 4 hrs to do HW is pretty reasonable as long as you really take advantage of every minute and BS whatever isn’t important and won’t be checked thoroughly. Identify classes where you can sneak in some HW, and do that for stuff due later periods or tommorow. Club plans shouldn’t be taking too long, you need to hand off some responsibilities to friends and members. And you’ll obviously not be sleeping 10 hours a night, but you have to get used to less sleep (it’ll be the same in college)</p>
<p>Wow, thank you to everyone who offered pointers!</p>
<p>I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most efficient or productive person. Reading huge chunks of information then remembering and understanding it in a matter of minutes/hours is not my strength at all. I try to stay on top of schoolwork, leave time for friends and family, and sleep early(ish), but I’m completely overwhelmed!</p>
<p>Seahawks and RAlec: I need my job to pay for DECA (travel, hotel, material costs for conferences). One year’s expenses total $2000 </p>
<p>Truffliepuff: I love your username. I’m taking AP World, AP Comp Science, and AP Micro.</p>
<p>HAHAHA oh shoot AP World History is the most time-consuming class purely because of the fact that there’s so much reading and information to remember. No joke. I have it this year too and I can barely do anything else, and it’s my only AP class (except I’ll be self-studying AP Calculus AB second semester). I had to quit tennis and Key Club because of it. GL bro/sis. I feel your pain.</p>
<p>Hmm… Well my school is very internet-based right now. All of the teachers are obsessed with putting the homework assignments on their websites and what-not, so like my AP Euro teacher already has every single assignment due for the entire first semester on his website.</p>
<p>Otherwise… On the weekends, try to read all of the textbook chapters in your classes on the weekends. Take notes. Try to understand it. If you can understand the material before you get to class, then you can pay attention more effectively to the teacher, and then when you get home and do your homework, it’ll take half of the time. If your school is tech-savvy like mine or just really organized, then try to do your homework the weekend before.</p>
<p>If you have a test/quiz, then begin studying for it immediately, studying little chunks and pieces each night. Then, you won’t be cramming the night before…</p>
<p>Projects/Essays… Try to get those done the weekend before they’re due… if not even before that.</p>
<p>My sophomore year sucked… I took nine classes (seven academic) and I played two sports (Fall/Winter) and my dad had a heart-attack on top of all of that… It was my lowest year in GPA.</p>
<p>But this year… as a senior, I’ve got really, really good time management skills… and I’m doing aces.</p>
<p>Thank you, AUGirl Guess I better get going with my projects now that it’s the weekend. Unfortunately, facebook is the ultimate procrastination tool. </p>
<p>Again, major thanks to everyone who offered their time management tips. You’re awesome.</p>
</p>
Guess I better get going with my projects now that it’s the weekend. Unfortunately, facebook is the ultimate procrastination tool. </p>