Welcome to the September TDSC Newsletter |
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Happy Autumn!
The calendar may say it is fall (Sept 23) but the leaves are not getting the hint. This photo was taken a few years ago. Everything seems different this year - I hope it's not a sign of what's to come.
How is the back to school/work transition going for you? Would you like to get more done? Or would you like your children to get their homework done before the night is over? Then read today's article on Hacking Your Workspace to Up Your Productivity.
Just a reminder, the start date for the Super Skills for Students class for middle school students has changed. The new start date is October 17, 2023. That will give students more time to get used to their new routines and should be about 1/2 way through term 1, so there will be grades to indicate how they are doing.
Thanks for reading! I am grateful for your support. Please share your thoughts and ideas over on our FaceBook page.
To Your Success!
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Hack Your Workspace - Up Your Game |
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Does your workspace help you focus and get things done or does it just add more challenge to your task? Since we can't add more time to our day, we have to find ways to be more effective and/or productive with the time we do have. Wouldn't you agree Friend? We can start with making sure our workspace (whether it is a counter, desk or small table) works for us and our needs.
Impact of Clutter
Did you know that clutter on your desk can affect your stress level? If your desk is covered in papers and other clutter, it makes it difficult to stay focused on the task at hand, because your attention will keep shifting to the visual clutter. That shift can then interfere with your working memory - you forget what you were doing or that brilliant idea you had, because you were distracted and your working memory lost its focus. Or worse, that pile of unknowns makes you think you have forgotten something important but you can't stop and look now because you are already feeling behind. That would definitely increase my stress level.
Hack Your Space
- Clear the clutter - anything you don't need to do the job
- Contain the papers in a basket or bin and move them out of your line of sight (don't hide them especially if you are a piler)
- Make sure you have good lighting without casting shadows on your work
- Does the chair fit you and is it comfortable? (Feet reach the floor?)
- Is there an analog clock in sight or maybe you prefer a time timer?
- Add something that makes you smile - a picture, photo, plant or your favorite fidget
Brain Hacks
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Pick one task - think of it as having a beginning, middle and ending. If you typically stop working before the task is completed or you leave all the supporting documents out after it is completed then you are not working until the end. The end means nothing is left to do or take care of for that task or project.
- Start a master task list by categories. This is where you keep track of the things you don't want to forget to do, but it is not your to-do list! (I'll get to that in a minute) Categories such as work, at home, at computer, away from home, etc.
- Create a close out the day routine. Each day before you leave your desk, wrap up what you are doing and if you need to continue it tomorrow, make a note of the next step. Take a look at your master list and decide the top 3 priorities for tomorrow, keeping in mind the beginning, middle and end of each task. Put away what you can and set yourself up for a fast start in the morning.
- Check your calendar and your master list - your to-do list should have 3-5 tasks that you want to complete for the next day. Sure, you can do more, but only if you get those things you think are important done first. It's called a REASONABLE LIST.
- A weekly reset is an opportunity to clear the clutter, file or recycle those papers, sharpen your pencils, put paper in the printer and blow the dust off your keyboard. Maybe even reboot your computer if it has been a while. Whatever it takes to prevent you from taking last week's problems into next week. You want to start the week off knowing your priorities, your appointments, your kid's schedules and having your week planned out and your desk cleaned up and ready for action.
These strategies can help your children handle their homework more effectively too. Make sure their study space works for them and is not distracting them. For middle schoolers that are using their computers more, you may want to find a way to add another screen for them to avoid having to switch back and forth - saves on working memory and time. Help them use their agendas to keep their extra-curricula activity schedules, appointments and special events as well as, their homework in there each week. That way they can better plan when to study for those upcoming tests and there will be fewer surprises.
The biggest changes may come from just knowing what to do first when you sit down at your workspace. It doesn't matter if you are going to work, working from home or just working on home "work", using your time wisely, reducing distractions and having a plan, will save you time, improve your focus, save working memory space, improve decision making and reduce your stress according to Jim Kwik. Even if you try just one hack Friend, I think you will be surprised at its benefits.
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Other Articles from the Archives:
Please share your thoughts and strategies on our Facebook page and let's get this conversation going.
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Work It Wednesday Focus Group |
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Want to get more work done? Two hours of focused work (with breaks of course) to help you get through those difficult, time consuming and/or boring tasks you have been putting off. It is more fun and effective with support from others and some accountability.
Want to give it a try?
Join the Work It Wednesday Zoom call on Wednesdays from 10am ET-12pmET via this link.
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Super Skills for Students Class
Is your preteen starting middle school this year?
Are you concerned about how they will manage the increased homework load, meeting multiple teacher expectations and keeping up with all their responsibilities, and making time to study (really studying for maybe the first time)?
It is a big transition, especially for those with ADHD. This class is designed to help students figure out what works best for them and to help them form the important habits, systems and routines for successful learning.
Check it out here. Starts Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 4pm ET. |
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DON'T FORGET!
September 25, 2023 is National Family Day "Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children. The Partnership to End Addiction, encourages eating meals together. “Research shows that teenagers and children in families who have five or more meals together a week are less likely to abuse tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. In those families who have less than three meals a week together, the children are four times likelier to smoke cigarettes.” Students also do better in school. Worth a try, don't you think?
Image by Pixabay
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