Written by: Karen Gibson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Every student, no matter how old, will succeed if they learn how to organize, how to manage their time, and how to handle procrastination. Lack of any of these skills will lead to frustration, lack of motivation, and possible failure. The earlier kids learn these skills, the easier it will be to implement successful study habits.
Organization skills teach students how to plan and do what it takes to complete assignments. Using checklists and planners help kids stay organized, avoid the stress of missing due dates or forgetting to prepare for exams. Weak organization skills make the learning process more challenging. Simple tips include writing deadlines prior to the real deadline. Decluttering weekly so old papers don’t get mixed up with current papers. Eliminate clutter in one’s personal space. Keep a neat work area with supplies nearby. (pencils, calculator, laptop, paper, textbooks, etc.) Organize materials for each subject in a binder with dividers. (pockets preferable since loose papers can be stored here) Students who color-code each subject find it easier to locate materials and assignments quickly. Working on one task at a time and avoiding multi-tasking will help with focusing. Multitasking reduces efficiency and performance since their brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When students try to do two things at once, their brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully. Research also shows that, in addition to slowing you down, multitasking lowers your IQ. Children who use planners consider their time valuable and that completion of tasks is worth celebrating. Give them fun stickers to decorate and colored pens to mark off completed tasks. Older students can celebrate after each task is completed. Enjoy a favorite snack, take a 30-minute break to watch YouTube, or watch their favorite show. Teaching kids how to manage their time will help them from engaging in time-wasting activities and prevent procrastination. Many students struggle with procrastination and wait until the last minute before meeting a deadline. Breaking an assignment into manageable tasks can lessen the overwhelm that may cause a student to stall from starting an assignment. Staying away from distractions can make a big difference from giving into delaying the inevitable. Creating time blocks where a student makes a commitment to complete a task before engaging in any fun is a tactic that can increase the chances of remaining productive. Many adults struggle with distractions, losing motivation, or waiting for the right time to start. Whenever a student feels tempted to procrastinate, the best solution is to start right away and commit to working at least 30 minutes before taking a brief break. Often after 30 minutes, a student gets into the study zone. Flow happens at the moment when a student feels like time vanishes and they basically forget about time. Increased productivity is the result of being in the flow.
Many students don’t learn how to study. If parents took the time to teach kids how to organize their materials/study area, properly manage their time, and overcome procrastination, academic stress would be reduced. Studying would no longer be dreaded, and students might actually learn to enjoy their academic journey.
Karen Gibson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karen is the founder of "Letting Go with Aloha," offering coaching for overwhelmed parents and those in parenting roles who want to parent with peace instead of pain. As a former special education teacher, she also founded Brain Builders, a private tutoring business whose mission is to enhance students' mental and emotional potential. She is the author of "Mama's Gotta Let Go: How to Let Go Without Losing Your Sanity,” available on Amazon, as well as “100 Parenting Tips Inspired by the Pandemic,” published in March 2021 by Balboa Press.
