As a student, the workload you get can get overwhelming at times and this can lead to procrastination. With the Exams coming up in just a month, it is important to keep your workload organized so that you can study effectively. It can be challenging to determine a way of studying that best suits your taste. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I have interviewed some of the most organized and diligent high school students, and we have compiled a list of ways to stay on task with things!

Apps and Websites for Productivity

 Most students have smartphones, and so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t use apps to help them revise or stay on task. Here are some new applications that can save your life:

• OneNote: OneNote homework planner (some students have old planner templates), create separate notebooks for different classes.
• Evernote: A good note taking tool that is accessible across devices and functions similarly to OneNote, with “notebooks” and note pages. Evernote also has a “Web Clipper” software which allows you to put custom webpage clips or links into your notes.
• Quizlet: A flashcard app (and website) which allows you to create a study set with custom terms and definitions, or find one that someone else has already created, and memorize the terms through flashcards, spelling, tests and more.
• MyHomework: An online planner into which you record your homework for each class, which will give you notifications before the assignment is due to remind you if it hasn’t been marked as completed.

Planners: planners are essentially the tool you use to keep all your tasks in, instead of randomly scribbling notes on a piece of paper and forgetting them later.

• Paper planner: You can find these at the stationary stores in Ly Thuong Kiet street, or in any Korean stationery stores at The Manor, My Dinh (OffiArt) or at Keangnam. If you can’t buy one, make your own using an empty notebook and your creativity! With the planner, write down your tasks on paper so that you can get an idea of all the work you have to do, rather than remembering it as you go along. If it is a dated planner, you can write your assignments in ahead of time so that you can look ahead and make sure you are studying and preparing for your assessments. You can also think about color coding your planner to separate school and personal tasks and to-dos. An important thing to remember is that you are more likely to remember your tasks to do than if you write it on your computer.
• Google Calendar (to-do list): Google Calendar has the useful feature of the to do list, so you can record your homework directly into your Google Calendar, and add in deadlines.
• Google Calendar (schedule tasks): If you have a lot of work to do, use Google Calendar to schedule specific time blocks for each task, so that you are sure you have enough time to get everything done.
• Veracross: Although Veracross can seem pointless, one especially good feature of it is the option to “subscribe” to various calendars, including your assignment calendar, which means all your assignments will show up on your Google Calendar, and even your smartphone (if you have your calendar linked).

Other tips

• Stay calm: If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do, write down your tasks in order of importance to see what you have to do and to get a better perspective on the actual workload that you have.
• Prioritize: In order to manage your time well, decide which things take more time and effort, and are therefore a priority, and which things take less energy and can be finished once the more important work has been completed. If you haven’t been able to plan ahead, it is also helpful to prioritize in order of due dates, so you make sure you are completing the work that is due sooner first.
• Set goals: It is important to determine what you want to achieve, and by when, so that you can prioritize and plan accordingly in order to achieve your goals.

As Senior student Son Dao so articulately put it:

“Take into account the fact that life is long and there are many opportunities in life and there are other things to do, other than just academics.”

Now, once you have decided on an organization system that works for you, stick to it and don’t drop it if it gets too hard. Staying organized may not be easy at first, but once you have tweaked a system that keeps you productive, you will find yourself staying on task and managing your time like a pro.

Thank you to Annika Moore, Max Knight, Shane Sung-Hee Chung, Ziya Griffin, Isabella Cardona, Natania Peh and Son Dao for contributing your own advice and experiences.