Young Writers Society

I created this list last week, and I am using it right now. I thought it might be really helpful. Feel free to disagree with me! Thanks for reading!

1.) Prioritize

I'm not sure if you're an unorganized person or not, but this step really helps. What you need to do is find out which things are a priority and which things are not quite as important. What's due tomorrow? What's due the rest of the week? What's due in the upcoming weeks? You want to start with the thing that has the most immediacy, meaning the thing that's due tomorrow, and is worth a whole bunch of points. Start out with that, then work your way down to what's not as important. By doing this, you save yourself a whole lot of stress than by trying to start everything all at once.

2.) Set Yourself Up For Success.

Sitting around may feel great at the moment, but what about that awful feeling of embarrassment and shame you’re in school and realize that you've missed a whole bunch of assignments while everyone else is turning in their work? It does not feel good to be left out like that. Don't lie to yourself, you will NOT be able to finish it later because something really important might come up or something else easily interrupting-- either way, you really wouldn't be able to finish your work, if something happens because you let it go for so long. Don't let it get to that point; do the work the instant you get home, or even do it at lunch if you can (this is my new tactic and it's been working well so far). Do this so that you won't have to worry about it when you get home. It feels better when you know that you've completed your work than knowing that you've got tons of work left.

3.) Get a Good Work Space.

This is vital if you want to be successful. If you're in an environment where you know you can't work well, don't shrug it off and blame the environment for your problems-- MOVE! Go somewhere that you know you'll be able to work without any distractions, like the library. When my doctor-friend suggested that I go to the library to do my work, I cringed. Not because I don't like going to the library, but because I felt like it was just a terrible idea. I didn't even consider it until I actually tried it, and guess what? It worked. I was able to focus on my homework and not the internet or the television and I actually felt good about getting my homework done with no unnecessary breaks in between. Studying between commercial breaks is not an option, nor is it effective. I got into a place that would make it hard for me to procrastinate, and I suggest that you do the same.

4.) Don't freak out.

This was a big one for me. I always got anxious about not completing my work and worried about my future and how I wouldn't accomplish my goals, and yada yada. Realize that it's going to be okay, and it isn't the end of the world -- or rather your world-- if you don't complete one homework assignment. If you're worrying all the time, you won't have any time to get your homework done and if you're pushing it off to the side all the time (which can be another form of anxiety), you still won't have the time to do what you're supposed to be doing. Find the right level of motivation, and stick with that.

5.) Be realistic and/or strategic.

This step ties in with Step 2. You need to realize that not everyone is perfect; not everyone makes straight As or makes it to valedictorian of their class. This is perfectly fine. You, however, need to do what's best for you. If you know you aren't going to finish editing that entire essay by midnight, then don't push yourself and see if you can go beyond your limit. You have to set up a common goal, and not try to be perfect all the time.

6.) Don't Beat Yourself Up.

Again, nobody is perfect. If you didn't get the score you wanted to get or you worked really hard to get a perfect grade on the test but you missed a few questions, it's perfectly fine (in this case, you can be perfect). There's always going to be another day to work on a new assignment. My teacher says that he doesn't do "right now's" but he does "next times". This means that you're always going to have another chance. One measly essay or test does not determine your fate. Just learn from your mistakes and move on. Do not let the feeling of ----- upset you. But also remember that just because you get another chance, it does not mean that you should take advantage of it. Don't let your procrastination tie into what you're trying to accomplish, and don't turn it into an excuse. You've still got deadlines to follow.

7.) Reach Out.

You didn't think you could do all of this by yourself, did you? It's important to ask for help, no matter how much of the information you think is tedious and dull. If you're not understanding the content, why let yourself suffer? Use you worrying time to ask the teacher questions. Invest in a tutor, grab a study buddy-- do anything that will help you to not go through this stuff alone. Most importantly, get someone who can hold you accountable for your work. For instance, if you were to get a study buddy, that buddy could call you up and make sure that you're doing you're assignments because you will both be responsible for making sure that the other person is doing their work. By doing it this way, neither of you will be able to give up as easily or procrastinate as easily because you will have each other’s backs. If this is your year of high school, you will especially need to make sure that you're getting help from someone else, not just because of the work, but to make sure you are doing what you're supposed to be doing (parents are not very helpful with this step. It'll just feel like they're nagging you).

8.) KNOW AND HONOR YOUR LIMITS!

I love this one. This is my favorite step of them all because it relates so well to me and it ties in with step 4. Sometimes a person can get so caught up with trying to make something perfect that they forget they have an actual life besides school. If you cannot stay up any longer or if the clock's saying it's almost three am, you know there's a problem. Sometimes you just have to let things be. If they don't work out, of course you'll feel bad, but sometimes that's just the way things work. Sometimes you have to throw in the towel. This is cliche, but, life really isn't a race. If it was, who would you be racing against and what for? There's no point in trying to beat someone at your own game, is there? If you need to stop, then stop. Don't keep going if you know you'll collapse at the finish line. How can life be good for you if you're too tired or stressed out to enjoy it? Be happy with what you have, and recognize that you are trying your best, and that will always be enough.

9.) Always Try Your BEST. Period.

This one kind of explains itself, but I will elaborate on it. It's not the kid who gets straight As and answers all the questions correctly that gets noticed… Really, I’m serious. It’s actually the person who tries their hardest and keeps pushing but recognizes where they need to stop is the person who's more praised. When a person recognizes their own limits and shows immense dedication to something, that is so much more meaningful than being the one who's always right. It's the person who knows that they have faults and tries to fix them that's good. It makes that person so much more real than the guy who just gets everything right. And frick the people who think they're better than everyone else because they get the best grades. Newsflash: college is almost nothing like high school! In fact, it's ten times harder, so just because everything is working for them now doesn't mean it'll be like that after high school. You do a lot more learning and knowing yourself when you find a fault and you fix it, than staying the same all the time.. It makes you much more real of a person, and people will admire that.

10.) GET YOUR BUTT IN THE CHAIR!

This should have been listed as number one because it's really the most important one of them all. How are you going to follow any of these steps or get what you want in life if you don't put in the work for it? Get yourself in the CHAIR! Not the computer chair, the restaurant chair, the roller coaster chair--- THE STUDY CHAIR. Yeah, it sounds so dull and mundane, but if you're expecting the car to work, you need to put in the keys, you know? Sit down and don't wait until the last minute to get things done.