Parents of schoolchildren and teachers, students and university professors — almost all of them suffer from overload and fatigue during the school year. Is it possible to make sure that there is enough strength for everything? Here are some tips from life coach Caitlin Faas.
The onset of the next school year often causes mixed feelings. On the one hand, having had a rest in the summer, we are looking forward to the beginning of some new stage, on the other hand, we know from experience how exhausting a training race is usually. The main thing on this long distance is to overcome procrastination, stay motivated and avoid rush jobs.
Expectations and Reality
For many of us, the upcoming months are drawn in iridescent colors: here is a joyful morning when, after a good night’s sleep, we easily wake up at the sound of an alarm clock. Here we bring children to school, and they, having waved goodbye to us, joyfully run to study. Here is a wonderful family evening when all the work is done and we are relaxing with the family.
Unfortunately, these fabulous expectations rarely come true. The morning for many of us passes in a chaotic bustle, in the evening it turns out that the lessons are not completed (well, if they started at all), and you have to scream to drive the child to sleep. So we often approach the New Year in exhaustion, and what can we say about the end of the training run.
As a result, we are increasingly overcome by guilt due to the fact that we lack the will to organize our day as it should. Familiar? In any case, year after year I observe a similar pattern among the students and teachers of my college. What can be changed here?
Overcome Procrastination
At one time, having entered graduate school, I firmly decided to end procrastination. The fact is that before that I was a champion in postponing important things and took up work only when the deadline was already on the nose. I remember how in the evenings I played computer games with friends and at the same time wrote an essay in fits and starts. Of course, I did not get any pleasure either from the game or from communicating with friends: everything was poisoned by anxiety due to an unfinished task.
In the end, I got tired of this combination of fear and nervous excitement. I wanted to finally find balance and peace. And then I made my “anti-procrastination” plan and tried to stick to it. In addition, I was inspired by the example of a friend who managed to cope with disorganization.
When I was finally able to concentrate on one thing, I realized that my plan began to work. And there was no magic in it. The rules of self-organization were not a secret behind seven seals, I just didn’t want to notice them before. Now I enjoyed the fact that all my affairs were done ahead of schedule, and gradually this became the norm for me. This is the key — to formulate an intention and make a plan for its implementation. How it’s done?
To make a plan
The first thing to do is write down why you want the year to be different. Hint questions:
- Think about how you would like to feel at the end of each school day? weeks? Months?
- How would it improve your life in general?
- How serious are you about change?
Write down what you did not succeed in the previous school year. For example:
- I did everything at the last moment, and this reduced the quality of my work.
- I turned off the alarm button in the morning and therefore did not get up on time.
- I spent too much time on social networks and did not have time to put the children to bed on time.
Come up with a desired alternative for each item. For example:
- Plan all study / work tasks, manage to do everything on time and no longer feel driven out.
- Wake up at the scheduled time and get ready calmly and with pleasure.
- Go to social networks only after the children fall asleep.
Make a list of possible reasons that might interfere with your plans. For example:
- I’m not the type to stick to a plan.
- If I deviate from the plan even once, I won’t be able to continue.
- Someone will prevent me from following the plan: household members or friends.
Now think about how you can overcome these obstacles. If you’ve ever been able to develop a new habit, remember that experience. For example:
- I can break a large task into small ones and complete them one after the other in the allotted time using a timer.
- I can reward myself for completing small tasks.
- I can ask for help from a friend who has learned to be collected.
- I can turn to a coach to help me become more organized.
Start Small
Do not try to change everything in life at once, it is too difficult. Start with just one. If you succeed in the first step, you will receive energy for the next changes. Write down this step number one. Hang the note in a conspicuous place — on the refrigerator, for example. Or make it a screensaver for your computer.
There is no point in working on a plan on the run. Take the time to seriously think things through. Evaluate what was written and, if necessary, edit it again so that all the points are right for you.
It is in your power to live this year efficiently and with pleasure. You can do it, I’m sure. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this article right now. You will see — in a year at this very time you will look back and note with satisfaction how much you managed to do.