How to Be More Productive and Make the Most out of the New Year?

There is something about the start of a new year that pushes us into high gear. We feel inspired to make changes and do better. Whether it’s to spend more time with family, take your dog for more walks, or get an A+ in that course you’re enrolled in, we’ve all made some sort of resolution in the past. 

New year’s resolutions sound great until you’re three weeks into the new year and you’ve already forgotten about them. This happens because, without a plan of action, the changes you want to make won’t happen. If you’re looking to be more productive in the new year, our list below will help you. Follow these tips to help you make the most out of the new year. 

Here are some tips on how to be more productive and make the most out of the new year:

 

1. Find the time that works best for you

In an ideal world, we would be productive at all times of the day. You can just sit down and start studying. It’s not always that easy, but you probably know when you get your best study time and when you don’t. Pay attention to your productive hours. If you’ve been on a great study kick for a few hours, make a note of the time. If you start to doze off, make a note of that time. Listen to yourself and study within the times that work best for you. If you are balancing work, family, and school, try your best to schedule your study time around your top productivity hours. 

 

2. Make Time for Yourself and Say No 

This can be a hard one to accomplish. In the new year, whether it’s an event you don’t want to go to, happy hour drinks with colleagues or to a family dinner, try saying no. Making time for yourself and self-care is vital to your productivity. You need time to recharge and refuel, and sometimes that can be accomplished by choosing to say no

 

3. Make Lists 

This is a great way to make use of the Notes app on your phone. Take time to write down a list of all the tasks you have for the day/week/month. Create a legend for yourself to understand which tasks you have done and what you still have to do. It’s so satisfying when you’re able to check something off your to-do list. 

 

4. Prioritize Your Work

It’s important to prioritize your work based on when exams, papers, projects, and anything else is due. Make sure to check each class syllabus and read up on each assignment and organize your time by importance and the time it will take you. If you have an exam that is 75% of your final grade and a paper that is 25%, prioritize and focus on studying for the exam first, and work on the papers and other assignments after.  

 

5. Work Ahead 

If you have a busy work and life schedule outside of your studies, try working ahead on your syllabus so you have time for your outside life. Getting ahead on readings, papers, studying, and other assignments will help reduce your procrastination which will ultimately allow you to have more time to work and hang out with family and friends. You have probably heard the saying, “work smarter, not harder”, and in this case, it is accurate. 

 

6. Notifications off 

Checking your phone notifications can stop your flow of work and interrupt your focus. If you find that you’re always checking your notifications, try starting the new year with the following technique. When you’re starting a study session or working on a paper, turn off your phone notifications. If you don’t hear or see anything on your phone, you won’t be tempted to stop what you’re doing to check your phone. 

 

7. Keep an Updated Calendar 

This may seem obvious, but it’s one that’s worth mentioning. If you’re beginning a new semester, it means you have anywhere between one and six new syllabuses all with different deadlines and information. Buy a planner or open up the Calendar app and pop them all in. This is a major future time-saver and will help with day to day productivity. 

 

8. Get a Good Night’s Sleep 

Start the new year off with a bang, and by a bang, we mean a good night’s sleep. Late nights happen, but they shouldn’t always be happening. If you take the time to get to sleep earlier and reduce screen time before bed, you’ll increase your productivity and stress levels the following day.

 

Even if you only implement just one of the above tips into your routine in the new year, you’ll be sure to increase your productivity.

Productivity is all about focus, intention, and your goals, so make sure to always remember why you are doing something and what you are ultimately trying to achieve. Remember, you don’t have to go through any of this alone! If you are struggling with productivity and balance, talk to one of our Student Advisors for help. Get in touch here.