As you near the end of the school year, this is a great time to take a close look at your habits and systems, to see which have served you well this year and which could use a little revamping for the next school year.

You've made it this far in the year, so you should have a lot figured out about how to be successful in your classes.

If, however, you've had some difficulty completing homework, remembering necessary materials for class, or seem to be lacking free time, it may be wise to look at how you're organizing your materials and using your time.

Some things to consider:
1. What kind of system do you have for recording homework? Is it working well?
If not, what seems to be the problem? Is there a system that could work better? See previous posts about different systems for keeping track of work.
If it is, and you're not missing or forgetting homework and you're successfully preparing for assessments, then keep on doing what you're doing.

Having an efficient, thorough, and consistent way to record and track what you need to do is the first essential step to managing your time.

2. Are you able to find what you need, when you need it? 
This includes your personal belongings and all of the materials you need for school (including what's on your laptop). Can you easily find what you have saved on your laptop or in Google Drive? Do you know exactly where to go in a binder or in your locker or backpack to find something specific?
If you can't find what you need, or if it's taking longer than you'd like, try to develop a system for what goes where. A friend, family member, or adult at school will likely have some suggestions about how you might do this, based on what works for them.


3. How much free time do you have?
Do you seem to have enough time to spend on the things you enjoy? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you feel rushed from one activity to another each day? If you feel you don't have enough time to do what you'd like, take a good look at how you're using the time you do have.

For example, during school, how are you using your free periods and study halls? Are you using them to chat with friends, or to get work done? Are you enjoying your electives, or do you think one period would be better spent in a study hall? Is your bus ride to school in the morning the best place to try to catch a few more minutes of sleep, or could that be used to do some Membean training? Where might you be able to find a few extra minutes here and there to devote to what you enjoy? Maybe your bus ride can be the time to check Instagram and go on Snapchat, but the time period between school sports and your hockey practice is when you should get some reading done...

Make a schedule of how to use your time, and stick to it. Then, assess how it went and what might need to be tweaked. Routines can save us time and energy, but they should be routines that are effective for our purposes.

Oftentimes, getting organized with materials and routines can save you time and effort, even if it takes small investment of time up front.

Use this time to reflect and note down ideas, then use some time over the summer and at the start of next school year to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Please feel free to write in with questions or comments!

Do you get nervous or anxious before or during tests?If so, read then try some of the following tips and suggestions! If not, do you ever get nervous or stressed out?
If so, read the following!
If not, how do you avoid it? Please share your own tips in the comments section below!


In general: 

• Get enough sleep, exercise, eat healthily, and drink enough water! 
• See your teachers for extra help, and spread out your active studying over a few days.
• Practicing the stress-relieving strategies listed below in lower-stress situations can help you to figure out which work best for you, and can make you better able to use them effectively when you are in higher-stress situations.

Before a test:

•       Ask your teacher about the test beforehand; how many questions, same format as usual, or different? If you know what to expect, you can visualize yourself doing well and practice for it!
•       Make a practice test for yourself (which is basically what an Active Practice is), then take it in a test-taking-like scenario; if you’re feeling anxious or nervous while taking that practice test, it’s a perfect time to use some of the other strategies listed below.
• ·     Think positive thoughts; “fake it ‘til you make it!”
  •      Use positive self-talk: 
    • “I’m working hard, and learning that best I can.” 
    • “I’ve done well before, I can do it again.” 
    • “I’ve been doing my homework, paying attention in class, and going for extra help, so I’m doing everything I can to help myself learn this!” 
    • “I’m going to pass, but if I don’t do as well as I want, I still have plenty of opportunities to increase my grade and learn this material better.” 
    • “My teacher isn’t trying to trick me; he/she wants me to do well!” 

• Replace perfectionist thoughts with more realistic ones. 
  • Instead of “I have to answer every question correctly,” think “I will do my best on every question, and know I’ll get many right even if some I’m not totally sure of.”
• Avoid talking about the test with other people who are feeling nervous.
• Visualize yourself taking the test, feeling confident, and knowing how to solve the problems!

During a test: If you feel yourself starting to experience anxiety in your body, acknowledge those physical sensations. Tell yourself, “This is just my body feeling anxious, but I know how to calm down.” Then, practice some of the following:

• Close your eyes and shift your focus to your breath. Take 5-7 long, deep inhales and slow, long exhales, really paying attention to the physical sensations in your body and breath.
• Focus your attention on a group of muscles in your body (shoulders, face, or hands are often pretty easy because we can identify when they’re tense). Acknowledge that they might be tense, and feel that tension for a few moments, before intentionally and gradually relaxing each muscle. Notice the difference between the feeling of tension and that of relaxation. Notice if your breathing or other physical sensations change while doing this.
• Take smiling breaths; set your mouth in a soft smile or grin, then slowly breathe in and out through your nose 5-7 times.
•  Use a beaded “breathing cord” and focus on the physical sensation of moving the bead slowly while you inhale slowly, and then a second bead when you exhale slowly. 
•  Take a break: slowly and mindfully walk to get a drink of water or to the bathroom to splash water on your hands or face. Just don’t take too long of a break!
• Stretch!​

    If you have other ideas or strategies that work for you, please share below!