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BEATING THE EARLY SUMMER FEVER: How to Stay Productive as the School Year Ends

Julianna Gianan
Jan 29, 2021
3 min read

ORGANIZED AND READY. Having a planner to map out the tasks of the month is a good way to stay organized and productive in the following days. ©Arias

Picture this: It’s a lazy Tuesday afternoon, and you’re sitting on your living room couch, watching TV with a glass of juice in hand. It’s been a calm and happy day because you had no classes to attend, and you finally had the time to rest and relax. Everything was quiet until you started hearing your mom calling you from the other room. Her voice was quite loud, and you began to question it until… you woke up. It’s now 7:00 in the morning, and you only have an hour left before homeroom begins.

Given that there are only two months left before summer vacation. Many of us are feeling extremely unmotivated, constantly longing for classes to be over and for the long, summer break to begin. It can seem exhausting to continue doing our modules and requirements, but don’t worry! That’s why I’m here to help. Here are some ways to stay motivated and survive until the end of the school year without burning yourself out.

Take things one step at a time.

Many of us have encountered big and ambitious Performance Tasks or Transfer Tasks, and we’re no stranger to the stress these could bring. However, one way to stay more focused while working on these projects is to break them down into smaller activities. It’s much easier to write a research paper one paragraph at a time than to write everything in one sitting. On top of that, the Pomodoro technique also works wonders because it’s easier to work for 25 minutes at a time than to try and finish all your requirements in one go without taking a break.

Create your own to-do list.

How many times have you told yourself you’ll remember something, only to forget about it five minutes later? If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably say a lot. That’s why I’ve started creating my own to-do lists! All you need to do is write down everything you need to do for the day, and make sure to commit to it. Keeping a physical copy of your class schedule could also be very helpful, especially if you often forget that you’re supposed to be doing asynchronous tasks (We’ve all been there!).

Make sure to get enough sleep.

Sometimes, we can get so invested in trying to finish our requirements and school works that we start to forget or even neglect our own basic needs but after holding a survey. Katie Reynolds (2018) said that “Many survey respondents reported poorer workplace performance due to tiredness.” This means that lack of sleep can take a major toll on your production and your productivity. Although being a responsible student and submitting all your requirements is important; your health should always be your top priority.

Remember to set boundaries!

Remember your to-do list? Well, it’s so easy to forget about it when you’re scrolling through your Facebook feed. That’s why it’s important to set boundaries for yourself! Setting boundaries and limits is a very good way to practice self-discipline and avoid procrastination. How do you do it? You could try limiting your counter-productive screen time to only a few hours a day, or you could even stay away from any and all distractions until you finish all your schoolwork.

Use your passion as an energizer.

There will always be times when we feel too unmotivated to do anything, especially to finish our requirements. Instead of getting yourself lost in Instagram reels or Youtube videos, why not play a few notes or dance to a beat to get yourself energized? It doesn’t even have to be productive! According to Krista Wolfe (2018), engaging in our hobbies and passions can make us feel productive while actually taking a break. Just find something that excites you and let yourself loose for a few minutes. You’ll surely feel more inspired after doing something that you love to do!

Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s put this knowledge to use and get through the rest of the school year together. Always remember to soar high, Augustinians!