<p>Hi guys,
I am a high school freshmen taking a pretty hard course load for my grade(2 AP's, 3 HNS, one of the hardest course loads in my grade). As a result, I get a lot of homework.
A few concerns:
Are there any mechanisms/tricks that you have used to stay up late(e.g. 2:30) without getting too tired during the day? Usually I stay up until 1:00 on average, and then the next day I feel SO tired to the point that I can't concentrate as well the next day. I ask this because there are certain upperclassmen who I know pull off straight A's in 5 AP classes and they seem relatively energetic during the day.
Second, do you guys have any time management tricks? I usually go on random forums/do nothing for at least 1 hour after school each day, and even when I work I am often thinking about other things. I am really worried since my schedule for the next two years will be harder than this years with more extracurriculars and if I don't have good time management I might have to give up sleeping altogether.
Any advice would be apprecdiated.</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>If you want to learn time management, I would suggest you make up a schedule everyday and follow that schedule. Plan out what you are going to do, what time you are going to do it and then try to accomplish each task in an allotted time interval. If you want more details I would suggest you check out Cal Newport’s blog. There’s some really interesting stuff on there. It has everything to learning time management, to learning how to take notes, and just about every study advice you would ever need. Pm me if you have any questions. Alright, hope I helped!</p>
<p>I just get myself psyched up for the next day, and tell myself what exciting/fun things I’ll be doing. That way, I’ll jump out of bed the next morning excited and happy. It really carries over into my energy level for the whole day.</p>
<p>As sad as it is, your body will get used to little sleep. It isn’t healthy, but at least you’ll be able to function a bit better. Also try to log hours of sleep on the weekends to catch up. And I mean, I’m in two AP classes and I work hard to manage my time so as to avoid late nights. It’s a skill you learn. Also, human sleep cycles go in intervals of 90 minutes, so if you can try to control it, try to make your hourly total of sleep for a night be a multiple of 90 minutes (3 hours, 4.5 hours, 6 hours, etc.), you’ll wake up feeling a bit more awake because you haven’t interrupted a cycle.</p>
<p>Also, I second microphakia’s suggestion of going to Cal Newport’s blog. It’s really really good.</p>
<p>I find that I have the best time management when I’ve got marching band which is 2-3 hours a day because I have only certain times when I can do homework, so when I actually sit down to do homework, I have to work my butt off.</p>
<p>So, working off that, either get busy to where you only have certain windows and no time to goof around, or create these times where you do/think of nothing but school work.</p>
<p>I agree with TickGrey- I’m a current IB student, which means hours of homework a night, and I find I’m the most productive on days when I stay afterschool for activities and don’t get home until 6 PM. If you can do homework during lunch/on the bus home/during free time during classes, I highly suggest that as well.</p>
<p>Make yourself a schedule and set alarms if you need to to keep yourself on track, and give yourself breaks- my usual homework schedule is usually something like 30 min. break/snack when I get home, 1 hr. homework, 30 min. break for doing chores, 1 hr hw, 10 min. break, repeat until dinner/homework is done. Then I don’t feel bad about watching TV/reading/spending time on the Internet</p>
<p>For tricks to staying up late: Take breaks to walk around if you feel yourself getting tired (sometimes I even read notes/study while walking around, to keep myself alert). If you’re absolutely exhausted, set a (loud) alarm and give yourself a 5 minute rest. Drink cold water or go outside for some fresh air- all of these will help wake you up. Caffeine works, but you build up a tolerance over time and its physical effects are unpleasant.</p>
<p>And if you really need some energy during the day… a 32-oz bottle of iced coffee does wonders for me :)</p>
<p>adderal turns 8 hours of work into a good 4 to 5 hours, but I wouldnt do that coffee is fine</p>
<p>I just go to school late. :D</p>
<p>I usually make a list of things I must do.That helps.</p>