#68 How To Prioritize School Work So You Can Have More Fun
Sep 09, 2024From a very early age, I figured out that to have fun and do the things I really had a blast doing, I had to do all the crummy things I liked least first like eat my vegetables, clean the house, pick the weeds, and do my homework before hanging out in the woods, playing kickball in the street, sleeping over a friend’s house, riding my bike, or gathering chestnuts on Mrs. Endwold’s lawn.
That was all fun stuff for me as a kid and none of that was happening until I did what was expected of me by my parents. We all had responsibilities as members of the household, and we could play, play was encouraged, we played all day, every day until the street lights came on, but there was nothing worse than playing all day and then having to come home and do your chores. That just stunk.
So, rather than having the chores hanging over my head while I was out having the time of my life running around the neighborhood, I took care my chores before I went out to play. I came home from school, dropped my backpack, emptied the dishwasher, made my mom a cup of tea, had a snack, and did my homework.
I had some really good habits established as a kid. Some were instilled by my folks, others I just figured out the hard way. that’s why…
3 Strategies For More Fun
Today I’m sharing … 3 strategies to help you and your family prioritize schoolwork so you can have more time for fun.
Balancing school work with fun can be a challenge, but with some attention to time, it’s possible to do both.
Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you prioritize your schoolwork and still have time to do those things you love to do when the school day is over:
#1 - Block Your Time:
Allocate specific blocks of time for focused study or school work, followed by breaks. This technique can help maintain productivity and prevent you from burning out. Be mindful of your limits. It’s okay to say, "No." and turn down additional commitments if they interfere with your ability to manage schoolwork and personal time. Remember, the goal of this system is all about you being able to have more time to do those things you love and have fun!
#2 - Avoid Procrastination:
Start tasks early to avoid last-minute stress, and pick the ones you like least to do first, this way, it creates a sense of excitement to get to the tasks that you’re most looking forward to, which is all the fun stuff. By dividing larger tasks into smaller, manageable parts makes them less overwhelming and helps you to make consistent progress, and keeps your study space and materials organized. In the end, it will save time and reduce stress when working on your assignments.
#3 - Plan Your Fun:
Schedule those things that you’d choose to do over your schoolwork as rewards for completing schoolwork or chores or use them as breaks. Knowing you have something enjoyable to look forward to can motivate you to stay on track. Review your schedule and workload regularly and adjust as needed based on what’s working or what’s causing any stress or overwhelm.
By planning effectively and staying organized, you can achieve a good balance between school responsibilities and having fun. They’re BOTH very important, so give them the time they deserve.
So to recap:
#1 - Block Your Time to maintain productivity and prevent yourself from burning out.
#2 - Avoid Procrastination. Start early and complete those tasks you like LEAST first.
#3 - Plan Your Fun. Let your fun be your reward and motivate you to stay on track. If the work isn’t done, you don’t get to play. In doing this, you’re going to find that playing is SO MUCH MORE FUN because you’ve got nothing else to think about.
These strategies work well for everyone in the family! They translate to everyone’s to-do list in the house. Play isn’t just running around the neighborhood. It’s reading, taking a bath, going to the movies, bingeing something on Netflix, sitting and having that cup of tea, and connecting with friends.
Which of these steps are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments or you can always
DM me on my Instagram page @jenncaputo to let me know, and follow for more!
Remember, it's not about being perfect, it's about being easy with the practice. xo