What to Do When There's Too Much to Do
The human body is capable of much more than we think. At age 64, long-distance swimmer, Diana Nyad, swam from Cuba to Florida. She swam for 53 hours without the use of any special equipment, like a shark cage. Amazing, isn’t it?
It’s not unusual for students to get into situations where work is piling up and there doesn’t seem to be enough time to get it all done. We feel like we are swimming in an ocean but the shore looks miles away. We are getting tired but the only option is to keep moving. Thoughts of homework assignments, and upcoming tests make your heart beat fast and your anxiety spike.
When this happens, remember that many people share the same reaction to their growing lists of things to get done. The work seems to be piling but we must keep swimming and finish our pursuit. There are many tricks and methods people use to get stuff done. Here, I’ll share with you a recommended approach, used by many busy people, to get things done!
Step 1 - Think through what needs to be done
Review your organizer to see what needs to be completed. If you are keeping an electronic notes system, make sure to keep it organized. Arrange your notes in folders by class and date them so you can find things later.
Decide on the items you need to get done that day and which ones you need to schedule for another day. Figure out how much time and effort you need to spend on each item. This will help you break up the work into smaller parts that are manageable.
Step 2 - Prepare Your Mind
Preparing your mind is the most important step in the process. You must get yourself in the right frame of mind to focus on homework only. If you don’t do this step, you will be thinking about the wrong things when you are trying to get work done. So, don’t skip this!
Remember why you are doing this. “It's good that whatever you do connects with a bigger picture,” says Michal Stawicki, Authopreneur. “…Have a very personal motive for any particular goal you pursue.” This will give you the motivation you need to get work done when it gets hard.
Allow yourself to transition to a “ready” state. Most of the time, we can’t focus on work because we have other things on our minds. Like a martial artist, you need to have a “mind like water”. Clear your mind so you can focus on the task at hand. Athletes call this the “zone”.
You need to be in the zone to get stuff done. This includes removing distractions and setting up a good workspace.
“It’s good that whatever you do connects with a bigger picture.”
Horace, a Latin lyric poet and satirist, said, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” If you can take control of your thoughts, you will focus better and get more done.
Step 3 - Work in bursts
Now, you are ready to crank out your work. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and get going!
The Pomodoro Technique is a favorite tool for many students and professionals alike. It is a simple method, developed by Francesco Cirillo, to get work done.
Here’s how it goes:
Set a timer and work for 25 minutes straight
Then take a 5 minute break and let your mind rest
Come back and work again for another 25 minutes
Do this for as long as you have time, up to 4 work sessions. After that, you can take a longer break, 20-30 minutes is usually good.
Keep in mind that during the 25 minutes of work time, you must keep 100% of your attention on your work. By staying focused and following the steps above, you can get more meaningful work done than you would have ever thought possible.
Sources
As a high school student, how do I increase productivity and stop slacking off? –Quora
Getting Things Done: The art of stress-free productivity book by David Allen
The Pomodoro Technique from Develop Good Habits
World's Longest and Most Dangerous Swims from The Active Times