Strategies
What is one thing you can do at the start of your homework time to help you stay focused?
Set a goal or make a short to-do list.
At the start of your work session, set a goal for what you would like to complete. EX: I will review key vocabulary and quiz myself afterwards
True or False:
If you are passing a certain class does that mean you don't have to study anymore for that class?
False
If your phone is a distraction, what can you do?
Put your phone face down and on silent mode while working so you cannot see or hear notifications
Put your phone in another room
Turn if off
What’s one mistake students make when trying to manage their time?
Waiting until the last minute to start assignments.
True or false: time management is only useful when thinking about what you need to do today
False. Time management can be useful for planning out your day, week, month or many months into the future.
If a big project feels overwhelming, what’s one way to make it easier to start?
Break it into smaller steps.
You have an assignment that's due in one week that needs to completed on time for credit but you also have a sports games that Thursday. What can you do to make sure your work is completed on time and make it to the game?
Do your work ahead of time so you don't have to stress about getting the work done and you can also go to the game.
If you struggle to focus on a task or getting started with a task, what can you do?
Go for a short walk or step away for a few minutes to do something else, and then come back to the task
Set a timer
Let someone else know what you are working on,
If music helps you work, put on some calm and instrumental music
Reward your progress when getting a difficult task done--If...Then...
What can happen if you try to do everything at once?
You get overwhelmed and don’t finish anything well.
You can carry this around to record your daily tasks and responsibilities
Planner
True or False: Multitasking helps you get more done in less time
False — it usually makes you slower and less accurate
What does it mean to “prioritize” your tasks?
To decide what is most important and do that first.
You keep switching between tabs while studying. What’s one thing you can do to stay focused?
Close extra tabs and only keep the one you need open.
What strategy can help you work efficiently without burning out?
Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break
Putting off until later what you could be doing now is called this
Procrastination
True or False: Improving your time management skills requires learning, thinking about your daily routine, and practice
True
How can you tell if something should be your top priority?
It’s due soon, important to your goals, or affects others.
Use “must do,” “should do,” and “could do” lists.
You planned to start homework at 4:00, but you end up scrolling on your phone until 5:00. What’s one change you could make to avoid this next time?
Set a timer or put your phone in another room before starting.
What’s one problem with saying “I’ll do it later”?
You might forget or run out of time.
Why can multitasking—like texting friends while studying, watching TV—actually make homework take longer?
Because your brain has to keep switching tasks, making you slower and less focused.
What’s one way to manage multiple assignments so you don’t feel overwhelmed?
Rank them in order of importance and start with the most important or hardest one first.
What can you do to avoid overcommitting yourself and running out of time for important tasks?
Say no to extra activities or tasks you don’t really want or have time to do.
Name one common distraction during homework or study time.
How can you avoid that distraction?
Phone, social media, friends, TV, background noise, etc.
Is there a difference between being busy and being effective? If so, how?
Yes. You can be busy with anything, like video games or binge watching a TV seris, but to be effective means that important work is getting done.
You have three homework assignments due on different days. How should you decide which to do first?
Do the one due first or the hardest/most time-consuming one