Timeboxing

What is Timeboxing? Is it a clock in a box? A boxing session? Hitting a clock?

Alas, I have the answer for you! In fact, Timeboxing is a time management tool; one that can help you with your productivity and motivation if you are struggling with procrastination. This technique encourages you to focus on time instead of tasks, which is really helpful if you are an ‘overwhelmed’ procrastinator who stresses at the amount of work that you have to do.

It’s simple. All you have to do is allocate a certain number of hours (or days, depending on your deadlines) to each activity. This amount of time is your ‘timebox’. You then work to complete your task within this time and this time only. Why is this effective? Because it not only helps you manage your workload but it also ensures you don’t spend unnecessary time on a task that is not worth it. As procrastinators, we tend to focus on those tasks that have less of a priority. Timeboxing works to address exactly that.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Estimate how the amount of time each item on your list should take you to complete.
2. Allocate a set amount of time to each one. Make sure to include some time for short breaks and unexpected interruptions. (Strategic, long term planning? I think so!)
3. Set a timer. This will let you know when to move on to the next timebox (task). You can use the Pomodoro Technique here! Just work for timed 25 minute segments, with short 5 minute breaks in between. If you think this won’t work, make sure you set a time that is appropriate for you!
4. Once the timebox is complete, review your progress. If you haven’t managed to finish the task in the allocated time, it is important to analyse your work and ask yourself why this was the case. This will ensure you can better schedule your time for the next session.

Check out https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/timeboxing.htm to read more!

What do you think of the timeboxing technique? Try it and see if it works for you! Be sure to comment below your thoughts! Perhaps join my photo challenge as you do it? Take a selfie of you holding a fruit with a caption on your productivity and the hashtag #letsgetstarted !

And remember, those who are proactive tend to get noticed. If you want to stand out from the crowd, be sure to make a start. Say no more to those last minute cramming sessions, all-nighters and frantic assessment submissions.  #letsgetstarted

-S.T

Are you a Procrastinator?

Take this quiz to see if you are a procrastinator!

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_99.htm

What do YOU suggest?

In a previous post, I discussed the need for an updated high school career’s curriculum; one that better prepares us for life post graduation. With an effective support system provided by our teachers during a time when we must decide our futures (apparently that’s when we are 18 years old), we are more likely to make a decision that feels right. We will have a higher chance of answering the question “so what do you want to do after high school”.

I believe this will help our productivity. If we love what we are doing, we will strive to be the best at it and so the likelihood of us procrastinating won’t be as high. Of course there are more reasons as to why we might procrastinate but boredom and dislike towards your course are major factors that contribute to the problem.

In my survey, I asked respondents their recommendations as to how the high school curriculum could be updated. Here is what they had to say:

• Careers classes during the senior years that consistently delve into some materials that each university course teaches and job prospects for each degree. Additionally, teach students about the general assessment and grading systems such as GPA, WAM, Turn-it-in, and referencing.
• Effective study technique classes that help students properly prepare and study for university assessments.
• Logical reasoning tests that consolidates a student’s problem solving skills, something which is highly valued by employers and therefore increases a student’s productivity and value in the workplace.
• Detailed, individual discussion on University and other post-graduation options that educate students on what they mean for their future.
• Integrated workshops, which invite tertiary students to high schools to discuss what is in store for students and create discussion groups similar to what we see in first year university orientation groups.
• Work placements and hands on work organised by the school to allow students to experience what the workforce is like.

What are your suggestions? How do you think high schools can improve their career’s curriculum? Comment below!

-S.T

The Damages of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep Deprivation is one of the major consequences of procrastination. When we leave our tasks to the last minute, the first thing we do is sacrifice our sleep as we scramble to finish.

However, you need to sleep as much as you need to breathe and eat. We don’t sacrifice our dinner when we are rushing to complete our work and we obviously don’t stop breathing when we do that either. So why do we sacrifice our sleep then?

I remember when I was scrambling to finish a final assignment last year. After procrastinating for basically the entire semester, I was left with three major assessments due in the one week. For that entire week, I was running on minimal sleep and coffee. On the final day… when I could see the light at the end of the tunnel… I began to feel very sick. It wasn’t the flu kind but more of a raging headache. My head was pounding and my vision was becoming blurry. I didn’t know what was happening and quite frankly, I was very scared. I had never felt this sort of headache before. It was as if a huge weight was pushing down and I could feel my body tipping to the side. I realised I had to stop for a moment, lay down in bed and rest for about 2 hours. When I returned, that sensation was still there but not as intense. This was the first time I was faced with an “all-nighter” (my time management was much better in prior semesters) and had therefore come to the conclusion that it was because I hadn’t been sleeping.

Sleep deprivation is very detrimental to your health and, if prolonged, can lead to many serious health problems. The link below provides 16 effects of sleep deprivation. It is worth it to take a read.

http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body

With so many students sacrificing their sleep after procrastinating, it is important to recognise that procrastination is actually a very serious issue. It’s quite unfortunate that many of us don’t realise this and continue to encourage the trivial stigma associated with the issue.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever pulled an “all-nighter”? Have you ever experienced something similar to me when you sacrificed your sleep? Comment below!

-S.T

Procrastination is the result of an inadequate high school careers curriculum

I decided to undertake a short online survey amongst university students in order to discover some reasons as to why so many of them procrastinate. The possibilities are endless however, I wanted to delve deeper than this. What could be a strong contributing factor?

That is when a question had struck me: does high school influence the way that a university student approaches their tasks? My answer, based on survey results, is yes.

How so? Because of an inadequate high school careers curriculum.

My studies found that 70% of survey respondents believed their high school did not properly prepare them for life post-graduation and believed that their careers system was unsatisfactory. Reasons included:

• Careers classes “were a bludge”
• There was a lack of helpful classes
• No work experience was implemented that could expose them to possible career paths
• Classes only focused on day-to-day lessons and activities

Furthermore, a whopping 90% of my survey sample stated that high school failed to prepare them for university alone, with many stating that they were not taught the skills needed to survive uni. Rather, they had to learn from scratch when they commenced their tertiary studies (something that I had personally gone through back in first year).

I believe that this uncertainty leads to procrastination, which ultimately means that procrastination is a result of an inadequate education system. High school fails to properly prepare us for what’s in store post-graduation. Although we are told that what comes next is university, TAFE, apprenticeships and so forth, we are not individually guided into what career paths we may want. Rather, based on personal experience, it’s very generic.

Here is where this fact becomes relevant. If a student does not like what they are studying, they are not motivated to be proactive and they therefore avoid starting their work. As such, they:

• May not harbour any morale to succeed and get low grades
• Be reluctant to move out of home (something that has seen a rise among young people) because they are uncertain of their future. This can lead to a prolonged dependence upon parents which prevents them from developing valuable ‘life’ skills.
• Develop poor time management
• May develop problems such as stress, anxiety and depression

Selecting a university degree is a major decision that we have to face at such a young age. It is therefore critical that our schooling supports and guides us so that we are better prepared to make the right decision. If we love what we are doing, we are less likely to procrastinate. Rather, we would be proactive and strive to be the best so that we can achieve our goals.

This brings a need to update the current education system in Australia. High school is a major part of our student life, intended to prepare us for the world outside. If we are not guided into the right path, how are we to reach our full potential?

What are your thoughts? Do you believe that the high school ‘careers’ system needs a change? What are your suggestions on how the curriculum could be improved?

-S.T