With finals and AP Testing approaching fast, students are having to study and review for a lot of classes at once. With a lot of schoolwork, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find a way to do schoolwork that doesn’t make me want to give up. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a technique that works through trying a plethora of different strategies. I would like to share these strategies with you so that you can get through this last big push of school without getting burnt out.

My own personal study and homework technique works really well for me, but if there’s anything you think would work better for you, make changes! This is all about you making homework as smooth as possible. I like to go to another place that isn’t my house, like the library or Starbucks. Being in a different setting than usual makes it more motivating to complete your work, as you can go home to your house as soon as you’re done. I also like to have a tasty snack or drink to treat myself for doing my schoolwork. Music is a great way to keep your brain engaged and according to Study International, binaural beats, meditation music, isochronic tones, and instrumentals, keep your brain awake without distracting you. Turning your phone all the way off or on quiet mode also helps significantly. The American Psychological Association did a study that concluded that even hearing your phone vibrate will distract your mind and cause decreased productivity. Once the setting is optimal, making a list of your tasks in order of difficulty or longevity is incredibly useful. Having a plan and starting with the hardest tasks first make it so that when you complete the hard tasks and are tired or bored, you only have short and easy tasks left. It’s always helpful to give yourself an incentive before beginning to motivate you to finish. This incentive should be something that makes you want to finish your work as soon as possible, such as a sweet treat or being able to go on social media.

The Pomodoro technique, the 52/17 technique, and Parkinson’s law help a lot with the actual completion of the tasks. They all include timers that give you rest time and work time. The Pomodoro technique and the 52/17 technique are very similar in that you have a set amount of work time (usually 45-50 minutes) and a set amount of rest time (usually 10-15 minutes). This gives your brain a break and helps you stay focused. These techniques use Parkinson’s law which says that “work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.”

All of these processes are in tune with how your brain can be the most productive as possible. Because at the end of the day what matters most to being productive is how you manage the task at hand, and through giving it a lot of thought, your work will excel 10 fold. Hopefully these schoolwork tips can help you complete this school year motivated and knowledgeable.