My Senior Year Battle Plan

Have you ever faced with a To Do List as long as this? If yes, start prioritizing and cutting down on the unnecessary stuff.

As the School Year approaches, I’ve started thinking about how to make the most out of my senior year and manage my time wisely. As I looked at my “To-do list” and my list of commitments, I was a bit overwhelmed. Inside my head, I was saying to myself, “why did I choose to commit to so many different things?” and, “I should’ve listened to my dad when he told me not to commit to so many things or else one of these things would have to suffer.”

Obviously, I can’t change the past and not commit to some of these commitments. At first, it seemed as though that I wouldn’t have time to work on all these things and I’d end up burning out but as I read articles about time management, I realized that I have more than ample time to accomplish all these tasks and goals of mine as long as I manage my time wisely. In fact, as I started planning my schedule wisely and breaking down each commitment, everything looked a lot more doable.

Overwhelmed with all your tasks? Relax, there’s a time for everything!

Instead of complaining about how much I have on my plate when school hasn’t even started yet (due to SAT subject test review, Extra-curricular activities, outside school projects), I’ve decided to attack of all these systematically and get right into action! As I reevaluated my schedule and thought about how my day goes, I realized that I spend a lot of idle time doing unproductive things that don’t even bring me any lasting happiness or fulfillment. Bad habits that I can and should eliminate in order to be able to make the most out of every day.

Here’s a short summary of the battle plan that I’ve formulated in order to make the most out of my senior year:

1. Set your priorities and cut down on the unnecessary distractions. You’ll be surprised how much more you’re able to accomplish once you’re able to get rid of those bad habits.

2. Create a set time schedule to avoid procrastination and also to help you become more efficient. This will also help you be able to set time for everything and in the process, put in the necessary work for your multiple commitments.

3. Enjoy what you’re doing. We’re at our best when we enjoy what we’re doing and we end up being able to accomplish so much more when we keep a positive outlook.

Let’s make every second, minute and hour count! 😀

Now that I’ve got a battle plan, I’m ready to follow it, do my best and enjoy the ride. Breaking the bad habits of being idle and spacing out at certain times and constantly checking social networking sites and my email even if I don’t have to will be a challenge but it’s possible. There’s a time for everything. We shouldn’t just remember this but we should also put it into effect for smart time management can help us make the most out of our lives and in turn, bring us unparalleled fulfillment. I really want to make the most out of my last year in High School and if I have to be more disciplined, focused and organized to achieve this, I will do it!

-DOitChoco

PS. Check out this insightful and though-provoking article titled “Are You As Busy As You Think?” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203358704577237603853394654.html

 

It’s the CLIMB! Just Another Chapter of Life!

This week has so far been a really hectic and trying week for me especially with all the decisions I have to make regarding my future. My dad has been constantly chastising me and really berating me about my priorities and how I’ve been handling my life and commitments. Honestly, I’m in a quandary right now, unsure as to what road I should take and why I’m even doing what I do.

There are so many things that I want to do yet there’s only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If only I could be in two places at the same time, then maybe, just maybe, I can do everything I want and balance all these activities of mine, but I can’t. If only I could control time,

These last few days, I’ve come to realize that I am human. I will make mistakes, I will forget, I will fail, and I am only one. I don’t have a perfect memory, neither do I have a perfect personality.

Even with all my flaws and weaknesses, I’m alive and life goes on. This is what makes life so beautiful, waking up each day to a day full of adventure and challenges. I can’t control the number of hours in a day but what I can control is how I use these hours. Like what my father and SAT tutor has been saying, it’s about setting your priorities and then going from there.

I’m feeling quite depressed because my father chose to intervene and not allow me to go to a weekend retreat since it conflicted with my SAT review and basketball game. I REALLY REALLY wanted to go to the retreat but maybe it’s just not my time. My schedule is really packed right now and it’s hard balancing all this with just one me. Physically, I still may be fresh since I just got back from vacation, but emotionally, I’m really hurting and confused.

It’s really sad how SAT and basketball has become the reason as to why I’ve been arguing with my dad the past few days. It’s really hard especially when your own father questions your every move and doubts you. It’s even harder when he starts taking away the things that keep you going and destroys the “fun” aspect in my life. I’m not even sure anymore if this is what I want for I’m obviously not happy right now. It’s really hard to enjoy life and the process when someone is constantly carping about almost every single action you take, questioning your priorities, desire, drive and dictating almost everything.

I’m truly a firm believer that it has to come from within and what my father is doing right now is obviously not helping. He’s gotten what he wants, I’ve dropped the retreat that I was really looking forward to since the day I heard that it was being planned. Hopefully, he know realizes that maybe he should cut me some slack and let me just enjoy the process and ride.

The only thing keeping me going right now is my strong belief in the fact that everything happens for a reason. Right now, I’m just thinking that this is just another chapter in my life and that the ending of the book is still far! I know that all this sacrifice, hard work and dedication will pay off in the end! Time will fly by and hopefully, a year from now, I can say that damn son, I don’t regret going through all that for it was all worth it!

Tomorrow’s another day, a new start, a chance to leave everything behind me and just enjoy the climb!

To end this blog post, I’d like to share with you guys, one song that I always listen to during times like this, “The Climb,” by Miley Cyrus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

-DOitChoco