AboutJan Hayner Expertise I can give you tips and hints on how to use your time efficiently, shortcuts to make this possible and the importance that great time management can have on every aspect of your life, home, job and family relationships.
Experience I am a Professional Organizer and one of my specialties is 'time managment'. I am an advocate of the saying "Work Smarter-Not Harder' and I show you ways to accomplish this through smart and efficient time management.
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Education/Credentials School of hard knocks,
6 years of being a Professional Organizer
Expert: Jan Hayner Date: 5/31/2008 Subject: STRESS
Question QUESTION: Hello, I am in year9, not sure whether its grade 7 or 8. I seriously need tips on maintaining the balance between work and stuff. Actually, tips on how to study smart. My GPA is seriously low, like a 3.6. It urges me since I had always wanted to get in Ivy colleges or Cambrige for medical. HELP?
ANSWER: Hi Penelope;
From the sounds of it, you have the worst part of the job already solved. You admit that you are having a problem and you are trying to do something about it! That is very commendable! Pat yourself on the back, you aren't going to procrastinate and 'hope' that you get by, you are actually going to do something about it to better yourself! That is a big step and one you should be proud of taking. I know I am proud of you for asking the question and trying to better yourself. It makes me feel safe knowing that the younger generation is willing to make changes-even if it is to themselves!
First of all, I get this same type of question from kids in college, so don't think that you are the only one with that problem! You are just smart enough to see it sooner than they did.
Now let's see what we can give you, as far as tips and hints go, in order for you to get the job done really fast!
1. Don't make things harder than they need to be, keep things simple.
2. If you are studying a chapter, keep your notes up to date (outline the chapter as you are reading it ishelpful in a lot of ways).
3. Write down and underline any statements that your teacher gives that are in a sentence like: THIS is important, ALWAYS REMEMBER that, DON'T FORGET about and various other statements that let's you know it is important. All of these will come up in some form on a test.
4. Keep all of the tests that you take, make the corrections so you have the right answers in easy reach. A chapter test will be on a quarterly, unit,semester and end of the year test. Some of these things also show up on the SAT test!!
5. Set up a file system so that you can have easy access to all of your papers. Invest in some file folders, label them according to subject and then according to chapters-tests-essays etc.
KEEP EVERYTHING!
6. After school, give yourself a break before you tackle the homework, Your brain needs time to rest.
7. While you are doing homework, take a couple of 10 minute breaks. It will give information time to soak in, make you more alert so you can learn faster, help relieve stress and make you look at what you are studying with an open mind. I suggest 10 minutes for every hour of work to start off with, you can stretch that time limit later if you want to.
8.Start your new 'study habit' on a Sunday night. Get all of your homework finished for Monday, so it will be fresh in your mind, for the next day. Friday night and Saturday are for socializing---yes, you need to have a life too!
9. Keep in mind that when you get out of school, you will have to work during the day, clean your house and do laundry at night etc. So you are making a schedule now and organizing your life to make it easier on you later.
I hope this gave you some good ideas Penelope, good luck and best wishes.
Jan Hayner
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thanks, great help. However, any tips on like multitasking with 11 exams for different subjects at the same time? (Also, I do not need to work/clean/do housework, ect. =D So my timetable would be just going out, Co-ciriculum stuff and homwork.)
ANSWER: Ok Penelope, I get what you need.
Basically it is the same concept. Your studying time becomes shorter and you retain more, by the process that I have outlined. You are going over the information be reading, writing it down, listening to it and outlineing the important facts and then writing it and reading it again. If you go through this once while studying all of the information comes back to you real fast.
As far as multitasking;
First of all, remember to do 'one exam at a time' the idea behind this is that you can't force too much into the brain at one time.
Concentrate on the job at hand.
Organize all of your information and the most important facts that were used (usually test questions are the main facts).
Read them over
'Speak' them into a tape recorder and play them back
Write them down (both the question and the answer)
Now you have refreshed your memory bank and the information will come as you see a question or the title for an essay question.
Now go on to the next exam/class and do the same thing.
When the night before the exam arrives, read through your notes and listen to your tape and you are ready for the next exam.
I know it sounds very simple and you are used to really pulling your hair out while studying. However, the fact remains that the brain holds information and it just needs to be 'recalled' when you need it. By giving it the information in simple terms, it automatically brings it to the forefront and you will recall everything that you have studied.
You should have time for co-curriculum things after school (this is a good idea because it helps to give your body time to exert a force (exercise) and to relax the brain as well, by changing the subject that it is focusing on.
Also take the time to talk with friends and make sure that you feed your body with food to keep the body working at top speed.
As for time for friends, During the week use the short version of keeping up with what is going on and use the weekend for major get-togethers! This way you won't be overstressed and will still get plenty of sleep.
Remember, keep it simple and Work Smarter-NOT Harder! Reading and listening is better and easier than cramming and causing frustration.
If you think about it, a person learns a commercial jingle by hearing it over and over, seeing it and repeating it. That is exactly what you are doing when you study. HINT*** If you think that there is something that you will have a hard time remembering, make a rhyme or jingle for it and you won't forget it. Try it, it helps!
Good Luck on your tests and happy studying,
Jan Hayner
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for the tests and the friends part, but I think my co-curriculum things are stressing me out too since it is Mock UN committee. While it is suppose to develop the students holistically (eg. aesthetics/the arts, etc.) and our student services team organises activities to help relieve students, it is getting me more stress!
Answer Hi Penelope;
Sorry it took so long, I was sick for a few days and the computer screen killed my eyes.
I can understand that part 100%. It can be frustrating, and raise your anxiety level.
Look at it like a game; problem and how to solve it. Make it seem like a puzzle to find out the answer too.
You are taking it too seriously because there are so many things that are stressing you out right now and this one seems to be the breaking point for you.
As you organize everything else and get the tests over with, things will become easier to cope with. As they say, 'one problem and solution at a time' is the only way to go.
When there is an activity to do, think simple and work smarter-not harder. Get to the objective of the activity with the least amount of mental stress and work as possible. What is the simplest way that you can obtain your objective, with good results that you will be happy with.
Life is too hectic the way it is, try not to make it worse by making things complicated and adding stress points. THINK SIMPLE!
Jan Hayner
