1. Write down your goals
When you write down your goals it becomes easier to know where your priorities lie. You can then, with greater ease, stay focused when seductive time stealers such as TV, friends or a sunny day try to lure you away.
What marks do you want? What do you wish to achieve with the qualification youâre striving for? Stay focused on the benefits and payoff, and your hours of concentration will feel purposeful.
2. Chunk out your study time, and work a plan
When you look at the whole project it often feels too big, too overwhelming. Instead, break it into small pieces and you can easily get a grip on just how much work you need to invest each day.
Ask yourself: âWhen is the assignment or exam due? How many weeks have I got?â
Work backwards from the final date, cutting some slack for days off, or times when youâre too busy to work. Also leave a realistic chunk of time for review or editing (if itâs an assignment) at the end. If you start early enough, youâll be delighted how surprisingly little time is needed per day. In one quick stroke your thinking changes from âThis is too muchâ to âI can do this!â
3. Use a mind map to gather the parts
My second book, âAbout Time â 120 Tips for Those with No Timeâ was written in three weeks. Iâd been out of the country for a month prior, we were packing to move home to New Zealand from Sydney at the end of that month, the Olympics were on (and I attended some events), I had lots of work, mates to say goodbye to, a house to pack up, and more. As well, nearly 40,000 words rolled off my flying fingers with ease, because of a one-page mind map (and a deadline with major benefits to me if I reached it).
Before a single word went into the computer, I chunked out the key parts of the book â decided on twelve sections, and ten tips in each section. Then, reviewing all my material, I brainstormed what each tip would be, noting a few reminder words for each on the mind map.
Working backwards from the deadline, and allocating an extra week for review and editing, it was easy to see that I needed to write nearly six tips per day. If I missed one day due to other commitments, that just meant I had to write twelve the next day (which didnât seem such an attractive option!).
If youâre writing an assignment, your target might be a set number of words that you must reach before you get up from your computer. Or for study, it could be a section in a book, or a section of notes to review.
4. Use prompts to keep you on track
Iâm quite visual, so I also ruled up a chart showing 120 little squares, and the goal date for completion. Each day I ticked off the number Iâd done. Something so simple is amazingly motivating, especially if you like to âseeâ progress.
If youâre triggered by sound, you could ring a bell each time you reach a milestone.
If youâre tactile, you may have a dish on your desk or in your room with as many marbles or pretty pebbles as there are components in your task. Each day, as you complete your allocation, transfer the corresponding number of marbles into another dish.
5. Find a quiet space where you wonât be distracted – Not in front of the TV!
Music of your choice is fine, but TV is too distracting. I find music with no words works better when Iâm concentrating.
6. Do the big job first
When I was writing that book, the six tips were the first task of the day, (before I looked at the emails or did anything else) unless it was a day when I had to be out of the house early. (Iâm a very early riser â itâs the best part of the day for me, an incredibly creative time.) Once the allocation was met, pressure was off. Everything else seemed easy by comparison. Youâll find yourself energized and feeling invincible â and the sense of achievement carries through to everything else you do for the day.
Many folk try and get the little things handled before they start on their big tasks. The outcome? The important tasks pile up, and they get bogged down in minutiae and perfectionism. Instead, handle the things that really matter first. Youâll be amazed at how the small activities fit in and around the important activities. Do the study first, and then youâve got the rest of the day (or evening if you like to study after school or work) to do everything else.
7. Develop a âDo it NOWâ attitude
Instead of thinking about what youâd like to do, get started. Create momentum, make the first move, and the rest will follow.
Try the following quote on your bathroom wall: âIf I do today what others wonât, Iâll have tomorrow what others canât.â My kids quote it back to me now â they lived with it for so many years that itâs become their philosophy too.
8. Learn to say ânoâ
If you can politely say ânoâ when asked to invest time into activities that donât match your goals, you consistently achieve more. Listen to your intuition â it will guide you
9. Do it better
Always look for ways to shorten and improve your process. Hold a permanent question in your mind: âhow can I improve?â The danger is that we fall into a comfort zone, and donât want to change. Welcome the opportunity to improve.
10. Eliminate clutter
Messy desk, house, bedroom, office, garage, car â it doesnât matter what it is. When things are lying around your subconscious mind has to work harder to ignore the âmind trafficâ distractions; you become slower and less effective.
Do yourself a favour â clear up your work space before you start (but donât let that be a procrastination device!), and then keep it going â put away as you go. The feeling of freedom is its own reward.
