The worst and most stressful weeks are when I have multiple tests to study for as well as projects to work on. Sometimes I am overwhelmed, and my way to solve this problem is to put everything aside for a few hours and simply do nothing. However, this obviously doesn’t always work in my favor. Even though I always end up getting everything done, I end up having to sit in the library past midnight, sometimes for several nights in a row. All to complete everything I tried to brush to the side for a few hours, while I tried to collect myself.
One problem solving strategy that really helped me organize my work based on priorities is the Rank Priorities strategy. I wrote down each assignment, long term and short term that is coming up. I then ordered them by due date, and ranked them based on their importance. As I was able to group the tasks and go through and check off completed tasks, it helped me to visually see all of the due dates in front of me in an ordered list. I was able to see how much time I had, and what needed to be done for me to complete this task by the given due date, before I could move onto the next assignment.
The other problem solving strategy I used was the One Step at a Time strategy. The reason why this strategy helped me so much was because it felt like a follow up to the Ranking Priorities strategy. For my Health and Wellness test, I was so overwhelmed by the amount of studying I had to do for it. I put it off for a few days only to come back to it and realize that now I was even farther behind. Making a list of consequences helped me to see, that by letting my stress get to me I was putting my grade on the line. To see this written out was more beneficial to me rather than just thinking of possible bad outcomes in my head. It also forced me to write down “possible do’s,” which further helped me to split up the assignment so I could work on it over a few days time. This organizational problem solving strategy helped me become a better learner, as I was able to focus on my tasks while seeing the consequences of not starting or finishing my work.
By taking action and using my Ranking of Priorities to see which assignment had to be done first I was able to make much better use of my time. Being a sophomore in college and having the pressure of balancing my weekend’s drama with my schoolwork can be extremely hard to do. In moments of weakness, it is so much easier to put my work aside and plan to ‘start it later.’ But there are always consequences, which is equally hard to deal with. I don’t like being punished for not being able to complete my work, because school is important to me. I have already started to see improvements in my work habits from these two strategies, and I hope that they will continue to help me to improve my grades.
I totally agree Ash, the rank priority strategy helped me out a bunch too! Sleep is definitely the easy way out and normally my first strategy too, but the ranking priority strategy made me see okay maybe my work won't be all that bad and sleep can wait. I liked the ranking priorities better than the one step at a time strategy but maybe i'll give it another try!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Sleep is definitely my weakness too!! Like both you and Heather, I organized my "Ranking Priorities" list my due date, so I knew which assignments were absolutely essential and which could be pushed off to the next day if there wasn't enough time that night. I think it's very cool that you did "One Step at a Time" because you had to give yourself consequences in order to motivate yourself and see that if you don't do the assignment, your grade would hurt from it. Normally you think about these things but rarely ever do you write them out or have time to actually think about your consequences.
ReplyDeleteEven though I haven't posted my blog yet! I have done it (Parent's are here, so of course my priorities switched a bit!) But I am posting it soon! And yeah Ash I agree, sleep is always an easy answer, especially when I'm stressed out, I immediately go for a nap! Like all three of you, in my unposted blog I did "Ranking Priorities" which actually really helped me out. I am an extremely visual learner, so seeing when my assignments are due really helped me to manage my stress and get my work done, not sleep!
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