<table class="s_table"> <tbody> <tr> <td><br /> <p><img src="Focus_5b195c6b71f97.jpg" alt="" width="288" height="192" id="" title="" /></p> </td> <td> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">In the fall "end of semester" survey, roughly 1/3 of students who fell behind by more than one week attributed this to lack of schedule and distractions. Almost HALF of you said that significant activities or obligations, e.g., a work schedule, caused you to fall behind.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Take time now to be PROACTIVE. T</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">hink about what you CAN control -- and PLAN around your needs. This is so important that you'll see a related question on this week's quiz.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Work at a <strong>TIME</strong> when you know you'll be most efficient. Think about when you need the greatest amount of energy to focus. Are you a morning person? Are you a night person? Having four children myself, I know that my efficiency drops <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precipitous"><span style="color: #008000;">precipitously</span> </a>once my kids are home from school, so I often plan to do my easier tasks at that time. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Since my kids can't interrupt me when they're not awake (most of the time, anyway!), I often work early mornings or late at night. In a similar way, p</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">revious students have told me that they work late at night when noisy siblings are asleep, and others work best by chunking their time with a "block schedule" for their classes, i.e., working on three classes every other day. What TIMES will work best for you? Create a weekly schedule for yourself like this <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rb_suxkf7EoMURL8q2lPZnwojfE8PIzBXAcce9lCBI0/edit?usp=sharing">example </a>by making a copy of this <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K-vMgxABvNqWh0opjblpj0QU7g0Ra8z0UbbKToaq6S0/copy?usp=sharing">template. </a>(You'll submit it on this week's quiz). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Choose a <strong>PLACE</strong> that allows you to be positive and focus. That probably isn't your super-comfy couch. You probably don't want a high-traffic area where people can walk through your space.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Plan for <strong>DISTRACTIONS</strong>: Use an <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/focus/paipcheolflniajdfeglfpddafcklepg?hl=en-US">extension </a>or app to block specific time-wasting websites. Use a "focus" app like <a href="https://www.forestapp.cc/en/">Forest </a> on your phone or browse. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">If you <em>know </em>that a certain friend's texts will derail you, or if you <em>know </em>that a trip to the kitchen for a snack will cause you to stop by the TV, then turn off your phone when you work or get a snack before you start. If noise is an issue, consider using noise-canceling headphones as part of your required school supplies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Struggling with<strong> ANXIETY or PERFECTIONISM?</strong> I've seen students cope by using <a href="https://affirmationspot.me/2012/01/30/student-and-learning-affirmations/">affirmations </a>or mantras. Sometimes scheduling a <a href="https://www.pocketmindfulness.com/6-mindfulness-exercises-you-can-try-today/">five-minute mindfulness break</a> or meditation can help you be more productive. As a recovering perfectionist myself, I've found that creating deadlines in my schedule helps me avoid obsessing about details.</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em><span style="font-size: 16px;">WHATEVER your individual needs are, take time TODAY to make a plan for yourself. This week's quiz will include a question about your plan-- so be sure you have a detailed answer and a schedule to upload.</span></em></span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>