Prioritizing Your Goals

• While studying will likely be a high priority on your “life list”, things come up. Birthday parties, unexpected events, emergencies, etc.
• You will likely have to choose between studying and another thing while studying for the board exam.
• One way to prioritize things is to use the Eisenhower Matrix by assigning them as:¹ 
  • Urgent and Important (highest priority), e.g., an emergency
  • Not urgent and Important, e.g., a bill that is due at the end of the month
  • Urgent and Not Important, e.g., a phone call
  • Not Urgent and Not Important (lowest priority), e.g., a social event
• This can be modified and replaced with “Effort-Impact” instead of urgent-important:¹ 
  • High effort and High impact, e.g., studying for and passing the NBCOT® exam.
  • Low effort and High impact
  • High effort and Low impact
  • Low effort and Low impact
• One way to avoid procrastinating is to follow the “2-minute rule”.
  • If something takes less than 2 minutes to complete and has been on your mind, do that first. It is one thing off your list. ² 
• Another tip is to set realistic goals: immediate, small-, and long-term goals that set you up for success.
  • SMART, RUMBA, COAST
• Consider using an App or planner to keep track of your to-do list and entering your study-related goals to your calendar.
• Remember to reward yourself for achieving said goals!

Saying “No”

As a joke, I created an excuse generator. But in all seriousness, reflect on whether you should say “yes” or “no” based on whether something:

• Is something that you must do?
• Is something that you want to do?
• Is something you have time to do?
• Is something you should do now, or can it be put off?

Broadly speaking, this should with your goals and priorities. Don’t feel guilty or let someone or a group of people “guilt trip” you into doing something that you do not want. Of course, this is situation-dependent. These tips can help you avoid falling into a behavioral pattern that could shorten your studying time and effort.

Study Traps to Avoid

1. “I don’t know where to start.” Start on the first page or lesson.
2. “I’ve got plenty of time to study.” You have a limited time before your exam, or you may forget content as time goes on.
3. “This textbook is dry. I am falling asleep reading it.” Find another medium to learn the same information or get some rest.
4. “I can’t remember this.” You can – try a mnemonic, chunking, or another method.
5. “I guess I understand this.” Strive for a deep understanding.
6. “There’s too much to remember.” You already know most of the material and reviewing what you don’t know.
7. “I forgot what I just studied.” Use active recall for what you studied.
8. “Cramming has worked for me before.” Cramming may give you test-anxiety and not lead to overall success.
9. “I can just stay up all night.” Avoid stressing yourself out before the big day.
10. “I did well in OT school.” The NBCOT can be a mental marathon that you should prepare for.

Time Traps to Avoid

• Text messages and group chats
• Alerts and notifications
• Checking e-mails
• Phone calls and wait times
• Side conversations
• Unwanted guests
• Waiting for others
• Waiting in lines
• Waiting for places to open
• Looking for parking
• Looking for chargers, outlets, food
• Traffic or commute times
• Long TV shows, movies, or video games
• Assuming the role of a counselor for someone and listening to their problems when they may be better off seeking professional help.
• Researching something that is not important

Simplifying your Life

• Automate what you can, e.g., online bill pay.
• Meal-prep or consider simplifying your meals.
• Chunk or combine similar tasks, e.g., schedule all at once, shop all at once, etc.
• Plan ahead by avoiding things like rush hour, long lines, closing times, holidays, etc.
• Simplify gift-giving.
• Avoid meetings or set a time limit on them. Consider joining in remotely to save time finding parking, meeting up, etc.
• Delegate and outsource tasks if possible, e.g., cleaning, laundry, shopping.
• Hire help if you can afford to: professionals, cleaners, in-laws, babysitters, virtual assistants.
• Use technology to your advantage, e.g., Apps, Timers, Reminders.
• Minimize distractions from technology such as social media or video game notifications.
• Check e-mail only once or twice a day, turn off instant notifications.
• Set vacation responses, a voicemail message, or leave notes on your door for people to respect your boundaries and privacy.

 

 

Bookmark

1. Greene, J. (2019). How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Important. Retrieved from https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-prioritize/[↩][↩]
2. Clear, J. (n.d.). How to Stop Procrastinating With the “2–Minute Rule”. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-stop-procrastinating-and-stick-good-habits-using-the-2-minute-rule.html[↩]