Three Tips to Get Things Done The Summer Before Junior or Senior Year

Ah, the lazy days of summer. As the heat sets in, we slow down, like cats luxuriating in the afternoon sun. Except there are still things we want to accomplish—especially now that both the SAT and ACT offer official test dates over the summer. 

Ideally, your summer will be a combination of rest, play, and productivity. You probably have the first two covered, and you may have some commitments that follow a firm schedule—such as a summer job, internship, or sports camp. But what about the self-directed productivity? That’s where people often find themselves procrastinating. 

This post will provide you with three easy, elegant ways to accomplish more this summer. Think of them as slight tweaks that—if you execute them—will allow for major impact. 

And..

There's a video!!!!!!

​That's right! I filmed my first ever YouTube video!

So whether you want the information written down in front of you, or you want to feel like we are sitting across the table from each other, I've got you covered!! ​

1. Get clear about your big goals.

Write down your big goals for the summer. For example: SAT/ACT prep and writing your common application essays. You may have a few big goals. Be sure you know what they are.

2. Choose 1-3 mini-goals to accomplish in every day. 

By limiting yourself to 1-3 clear mini-goals and doing something every day, you will consistently have the positive feeling of making progress toward your big goals without feeling overwhelmed.

Do you really have to do something every day? Um, no, you don’t. There will be days when you just choose to “summer,” but let those days be the result of a conscious decision rather than the default.

Remember, you need only do one thing that moves you closer to achieving your big goals in order for the day to be a success.

And guess what! Determining  your big goals can be your first mini goal! Even if that’s the only thing you do today, you’ll have accomplished something super important.

3. Start early.

Whatever you’ve decided to do in a day, do that before leisure activities like video games, hanging out with friends, or turning on Netflix.

There are many reasons for this. You will likely have more energy earlier than later. Starting something earlier decreases the likelihood of forgetting or neglecting to do it. Furthermore, once you have accomplished your goals for the day, you will feel so much more relaxed and happy when it is time to unwind or play. 

This isn’t intended as rigid advice. I’m not telling you to roll out of bed and get to work. Rather, it’s a mindset. If you could do something earlier or later, choose earlier. Of course you may eat breakfast,  exercise, or take the dog for a walk before you start attending to your goals.

Additionally, if you have a daytime commitment like camp or a job, you may not be able to work on your mini goals earlier in the day. But you can accomplish your mini goals before meeting up with friends after work.

If you can't work on your 1-3 goals until later in the day, I strongly recommend a 5-20 minute meditation between your busy daytime activities and your afternoon or evening productivity. A meditation will help you feel so much clearer and more energized.

Intrigued but confused by meditation? I give a basic explanation of meditation in Acing It! A Mindful Guide to Maximum Results on Your College Admissions Test, or we can meet for a Test Prep Power Up session, in which I can teach you one-on-one how to meditate.

If you like the video, please  click over to YouTube, "like" it, and Subscribe to my channel so that I know to keep putting out video content for you. 

For extra credit, share the video and this blog with your friends so that they can get big things done, too!

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