By: Alison Tea What is time management?
Time management is the ability to efficiently divide your time to complete tasks and, ultimately, achieve your goals. Some time management skills include prioritization, goal-setting, organization, communication, and stress management. You can become successful at managing your time by keeping a to-do list or planner, tracking your time, and minimizing distractions. Why is time management so important? No one can buy time; once time passes, you can’t get it back. In order to guarantee that you are using your time wisely, you must utilize your time management skills. It will allow you to achieve a better balance in your work or school life, while helping you attain your goals. Having good time management will also redirect your attention on what you need to focus on instead of allowing your mind to wander and get distracted. This will increase your efficiency in planning and achieving your goals, as well as greatly reduce your stress. How do I improve my time management?
What are the benefits of time management?
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By: Alison Tea Knowing how to study effectively is the key to having a successful academic career as it is the catalyst for wonderful performances on standardized tests, AP exams, final exams, etc. The Gift of Words organization will be sharing a few helpful and productive study tips to set you up onto the path of success!
1. Be Actively Engaged Most students tend to review their material tirelessly when preparing for a big exam, but this is ineffective if they are not actively engaged in their review. Although reading over content can be helpful to begin your study session or to review right before your exam, your study session should include study methods that engage your brain in order to encode the information into your long-term memory. For example, you can create concept maps or diagrams that explain the material visually. Another effective method is to teach the lesson in your own words to test whether you truly understand the information you just absorbed. Finally, you can create your own study guide, such as a Quizlet. As long as you find a method that allows you to actively recall the concepts, you will be successful in retaining the information when test day comes! 2. Distribute your Studying Cleverly Unfortunately, students can be seen cramming for tests instead of spreading out their studying more often than not as a result of extreme procrastination. However, a long-term habit of constant cramming will become more harmful as your brain will not be able to retain the details for comprehensive exams such as finals or AP tests. To fix this, establish an attainable schedule of short studying intervals daily. Spacing out your study sessions over multiple days instead of cramming all in one day will allow you to retain more information in the future and steer clear of procrastination. Additionally, it will help you feel less overwhelmed and more confident about your test-taking capabilities. 3. Frequently Quiz Yourself What other method is more effective to study for a test than quizzing yourself beforehand? Getting an idea of your performance and having the luxury of fixing any mistakes before test day is one of the many reasons why quizzing yourself is such an effective study method. To do this, create quiz questions based on the information, use a stopwatch to mimic the same amount of time you have for the test, and put away all of your notes. Once you have finished, grade yourself and determine whether you are happy with your results or if you would like to study more. 4. Find a Productive Study Environment Where you decide to study has a bigger influence on your success than you think. Ensure that your study place is free of distractions, is easily accessible, and has the noise level you prefer; some students would rather study in silence, while others prefer studying with background noises, such as in a café. Research also proves that switching up your study location may be beneficial to retain information, so feel free to study in different rooms in your house, at café, in a library, etc. You can study wherever you wish, but be sure that your studying environment allows you to maximize your productivity! By: Veronica Rincon Emotions in High School
High school is normally referred to as the best time of your teenage years, but it is not always sunshine and rainbows. It may seem as if there is always a to-do list looming over your head, including keeping grades high, preparing for and taking standardized tests, participating in extracurriculars, applying to college, working a job or two and having a social life. Unfortunately, life is unpredictable and we are thrown into situations that can be physically and mentally straining, causing a rollercoaster of emotions. Emotions Being a high school student consumes all of one’s focus and abilities, so it can be hard to find time to get in touch with your emotions. Throughout your life, you will experience heartbreak, stress, boredom, loneliness and anxiousness to name a few. Although it may be tempting to ignore these emotions as they can get in the way of your focus, it is important to acknowledge these feelings; banishing your feelings deeper inside will only hinder your performance in school and your extracurriculars. Learning to manage your emotions is imperative because it will help you grow into a better person and will bring you inner peace. How to Deal with Emotions Everyone is different so you have to find a coping method that best works for you. Sometimes venting can be very efficient in releasing emotional stress, whether it's to a friend, family member, in a voice memo or even to a stuffed animal. Ranting allows your mind to be free of all its jumbled thoughts and feelings because when you speak, you can hear your thoughts, which can help you understand what is causing your unpleasant feelings. Along with venting, simply letting your mind and body process the emotion can be enough to overcome it, since emotions are not something that you can avoid completely. When your life gets hectic and you begin to feel overwhelmed, keep a journal. You can keep a bullet journal to organize your life in a visually aesthetic manner, a mental health journal to write down your thoughts and problems, or a journal in which you write about your favorite artist, show, etc. Whichever type of journal you choose to keep, it will be useful regardless, because it is a way to deal with your emotions in order to help you maintain better focus on the task at hand. Affirmations are another great way to deal with negative feelings such as fear, sadness and doubt. Although it may seem silly, looking at yourself in the mirror and saying positive phrases, such as “I am strong” and “I am successful”, have been scientifically proven to improve self-confidence and overall mood. Repeating an affirmation often leads to you believing what you are telling yourself, and you begin to see yourself in a positive light. Whether you choose to vent, keep a journal or repeat affirmations, it is important to manage your emotions because ignoring them completely may make it more difficult to get in touch with your emotions and to complete your daily responsibilities. By: Veronica Rincon What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome can be seen when high-achieving people feel like a fraud and doubt their abilities. Though it is not diagnosable, this syndrome normally applies to achievements and intelligence, including awards, honor rolls, skills and grades. Characteristics of Imposter Syndrome Self doubt, negative self-talk and not being able to recognize one’s accomplishments are the most common characteristics when it comes to identifying Imposter Syndrome. Negative self-talk may include thinking you are not good enough or do not have the necessary skills for a certain task. One demonstrates signs of Imposter Syndrome if they refrain from applying for a job or program because they don’t check off every single characteristic, or doubt that they even have a chance of getting selected for a particular position. Another example of Imposter Syndrome is when a person believes they only won an award out of luck and not as a result of their own knowledge or skills. Because of these characteristics, many of those with Imposter Syndrome struggle with anxiety as they are constantly comparing themselves to others. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome In order to overcome Imposter Syndrome, you have to remember that accomplishments and being successful is subjective. When you do reach an accomplishment, practice being proud of yourself. Tell yourself that you deserve this recognition and that you have done the best that you possibly could to reach this milestone. It may also help to know that you are not alone as Imposter Syndrome is very common, especially among students. Be kind to yourself and try to not let the negativity get to you. Though it is easier said than done, begin with limiting the negative remarks you tell yourself and alter those comments to be positive ones. Most importantly, take a break and do something relaxing that will allow you to de-stress and put you in a good mood. Hopefully, these tips will help you think of yourself in a more positive light and overcome Imposter Syndrome! |
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