Priorities

Ahhh so I've finished my third week of school, and I can honestly say that things are not going so badly, well as of right now. It actually is possible to get things done. I honestly don't know if last year my classes were harder or if I just wasn't trying at all whatsoever. All I know is that I am not sinking in my homework just yet, and even when I get close to sinking I somehow am able to swim myself back up, up high enough to give myself a break and take a 6 hour nap. Just yesterday my CAS adviser said this blog can count for CAS hours AND it counts for my reflections as well, so that is two problems solved in one can I GET AN AMEN!! Anyways I've realized things have been a lot easier this year because I've learned something really important, and that is prioritizing.

Prioritizing is just as important as time management in my opinion. Once you've learned how to prioritize, you'll find IB to be a lot easier, trust me. Listen up and I'll give you some tips on how to prioritize, I am not saying I'm an expert, but I'm an expert okay. Just kidding, but read through anyways, if it helped someone as disorganized as me, it'll help you.

Okay, well we are all in IB because we all think that we can handle anything, which is possible, but that doesn't mean that we can do all of our homework in one night, because see that is impossible. Here's a tip, when you're starting your homework, start with the homework that is due the next day and that you know for sure will be collected. Do not start with homework that is due in three or four days, and do not tell yourself that you are going to finish the homework that is due the next day and finish the homework that is due the day after that as well. All that will do is give you anxiety. Do not put so much on yourself. Just because you're in IB, does not mean that you do not deserve a break too. You do not need to get everything done early.

I know a lot of us like to do the thing where we finish everything on one day so then the next day we don't have to do any homework, and I am just telling you now, that that is not the smartest route. First of all you'll never have time for that and second of all you'll feel as if everything's piling on top of you, when in reality it is just you piling stuff on top of yourself.

Here is the typical pattern in how I now do my homework, I don't know if it'll work for you, but it has worked really well for me.

1. If you have a project due the next day that involves coloring or just a lot of effort put in, do this first, just to get it out of the way.
2. Then do the homework that you know will be collected/checked(I said this earlier)
3. If you have a test or quiz the next day start studying/doing practice problems etc. If this is a test or quiz that you think you'll need a lot of time to study for maybe make it your first or second priority.
4. Then do the homework that you're teacher assigned but you know they won't collect. It is a way to help you prepare for the next class, for me this is usually geography homework!
5. Then if you have a project or huge assignment with an upcoming due date, then start that. For example Geography reports, or history projects that are due towards the end of the week. I think I've mentioned in another post that you shouldn't do assignments like this all in the night before.
6. Lastly, IF YOU HAVE TIME, I repeat IF YOU HAVE TIME you can start on some assignments due the day after the next, do not put in you're mind that you will do this, it will stress you out. If you don't feel like doing this watch a movie, watch your favorite episode of a show, take a nap, go to sleep early. It is not necessary to get small assignments done ahead of time.

A lot of the time, you might go to sleep without having everything finished. You could walk into school still missing the last 4 questions on an assignment, or you didn't color in one part of a map, or you forgot to think of a real life situation for TOK, or whatever, but it is not the end of the world. It is okay, as long as you finished what is most important. If you finished studying for a math test that is really important for your grade because you're not doing so well in math, but you weren't able to answer the last 4 questions on an English assignment it is OKAY. You will pass your math test with flying colors, and you'll figure out something for English.

As IB students, we always think the world is crashing down around us, but it is not. Focus on what is currently the most important thing for you to do, and you will do great!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Peace. Love. IB.