Tips on Becoming More Productive — NorthStar Navigator

By Caylee Lamb

**Cozy Window Nook with Open Journal And Coffee** by **Elle Mundus** **from** **Getty Images**
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Do you ever find yourself running out of time or not having enough? Mrs. G might just have the answers to help. In late January, Mrs. Gebreegzabeher or Mrs. G, hosted a NED Talk entitled “Tips to Becoming More Productive with your Time.” She talks about keys to doing more with your time, activities that add value to life, and prioritizing.

So where do we start? How exactly do we begin to waste less time? First, we must identify the ways we are wasting the time we have been given. Then, we must prioritize and complete the important tasks first. Mrs. G emphasizes that homework comes first, then everything outside of school. She even gave some examples of the ways that she wastes time, such as social media, watching films, and online shopping.

Once we have identified the time-wasters, we must resolve to replace one time-wasting activity with one activity that will add value to our lives. We have to be willing to go the step further than just identifying the time-waster but to replace it. Be conscious of how much time you are putting into the time-waster. Mrs. G says to go to the list of things that you would love to do one day. She gave many examples of activities that add value to life to get us thinking, such as reading scripture, prayer, Bible verse memorization, journaling, reading, learning a language, learning or practicing an instrument, exercise, stretching, gardening, playing games in real-life with others, cooking, and baking.

The second key to getting the most out of your time is to prioritize. Make a list of the things you want to get done in a day, order your list from most important to least important, and cross out tasks as you complete them. Mrs. G tells us that we always have time for the things that we prioritize. For example, we always have time to put shoes on before we walk out the door.

Should you ever multitask? Mrs. G says that it can be done, but multitasking is often not done well. Sometimes it is necessary, but you would be more productive if you can focus on one task at a time.

For school work, identify the classes you are spending too much time on and reach out to your teacher for tips. If you find yourself stuck on a project, question, or anything else, talk to your teacher and ask questions. If you are struggling to find motivation, Mrs. G also has an answer. Believe that the task you are trying to accomplish is more valuable than the time-waster, and finding motivation will become second nature.

Thank you to Mrs. G for teaching us all about productivity! Remember to be productive. Take some time to do something you love to do today.

(Note: The name NED Talks has now been changed to NSA Connects.)

Caylee Lamb, a 10th grade student, has been at NorthStar for over a year. She is a part of the Prayer Warriors' team at NSA, and participates in acting and drama in her free time. Although she enjoys writing for the Navigator, she hopes to find a career in the field of science one day.