As I push open the door to the application season, the flurry of activities is akin to a ballet dance, where every move requires precise planning and rhythm. I am a versatile performer, transitioning from ballet to jazz, from fencing to fashion design, and I’ve found my own way to manage time.
Today, I wish to share a few tips, hoping that each of you in the midst of the application season finds your rhythm and composure amidst the chaos.
The to-do list has always been an essential part of my daily routine, and I believe many of my peers have this habit as well. However, I personally have two additional tips for making plans:
Short-term Priority Ranking: I usually focus on making plans for just one week, especially for the current day. Tasks can be sorted based on their importance, such as deadlines and exam reviews taking precedence, followed by preparation and supplementary learning, and then doing the “wants,” like refining my fashion design.
The daily plan can be more detailed, while the weekly plan is more about having a rough estimate of the workload for the week to prevent procrastination and avoid piling up all the work into one day.
Breaking Down the Plan: Large challenges that seem daunting can be broken down into smaller steps, which I believe can help to start tasks more quickly and reduce the anxiety brought by the unknown.
For example, when reviewing for an exam, I would break it down into the following steps – first, go through textbooks and courseware, organize notes, self-quiz based on the syllabus to identify gaps, and finally, do practice problems and compile an error log.
Writing a Summary
Writing summaries is an efficient method I’ve derived from experience and is also a reliable indicator to help me grasp the direction more accurately in subsequent learning.
Whether it’s fencing or dance, I analyze my performance by watching competition videos to identify what I do well and where I need to improve. For instance, in dance, I examine each frame of the video, adjust movements that aren’t quite perfect, and record these adjustments in my summary. When it comes to exams, I’ve found that I’m more sensitive to words than numbers, so when organizing my math error book, I prefer to write summaries in words. Instead of just recording the solution process for the wrong problems, I analyze the keywords in the question, identify the focus points, list the necessary formulas, and explore different methods to solve for unknowns. This helps me better grasp and remember the knowledge points.
A summary is not just a tool for analyzing objective issues; it also provides a rational record when my emotions are hard to control. When I feel internally consumed and anxious, affecting my efficiency in doing other things, I calm down to write a summary, to have a conversation with myself, and to listen carefully to my emotions and needs.
A psychologist once told me a meditation rule: to list the reasons for the current emotions one by one. I personally find this very useful. Instead of getting lost in endless anxiety, writing down reasons like “I’m worried because I’m not confident about tomorrow’s competition, because I can’t come up with a design,” and then looking for solutions is an effective way to get rid of negative emotions.
For example, I might write, “It’s okay, I’ll study at the café now. Maybe a walk in the park with music tomorrow will inspire me, or I could flip through my sketchbook again,” thus breaking down abstract emotions into solvable problems.
What I want to tell everyone is that in the past, when I inexplicably did things poorly or couldn’t learn, I would hate myself and continue to blame myself in a state of irritation. But now I realize that instead of self-blame, it’s better to give myself a chance to rest. Sometimes, our fatigue may just be our spirit protesting to our body. Taking a day off, and the next day might feel much better.
It sounds simple, but at least in ‘allowing myself to rest when necessary,’ I’ve been trying for a long time to start doing it, so I hope everyone who reads this article also remembers to respect their mental and physical needs and reduce the thoughts of ‘I shouldn’t rest’ a bit.
Say yes to opportunities
I really like a quote from Maye Musk’s autobiography: “Say yes to opportunities.” The significance of this statement is that even when faced with challenges that seem impossible to succeed, we can also bravely take the first step. I believe that as long as there is determination, it’s never too late to start trying, and what’s important is not to let limiting thoughts hinder our potential for improvement.
Last summer vacation, I participated in a summer school program, thinking I would learn about eco-friendly materials, only to find that the course was entirely about fashion design. This was a field I had never ventured into before, and in the first class, I hardly understood any professional jargon. But despite this, when people around me asked if I was considering dropping the course, I firmly chose to stay. My principle is that if you want to do something, you must do it and believe that you can do it.
Another challenging experience was about my long-term hobbies that I’ve been balancing for many years. Looking back, these hobbies all started by chance. For example, I signed up for fencing because I misunderstood a few words; I decided to publish a picture book because I liked the essays in my diary; I started dancing because I was accidentally taken to a practice room by an adult; and I even got involved in fashion design without fully understanding the course content. It was these seemingly accidental and casual moments that became my opportunities, and these experiences taught me: the way to start is not important, what matters is how to persevere.
In the process of balancing studies and hobbies, I have gradually found the balance in my busy life. It’s not just about time management; it’s about how to maintain enthusiasm and motivation, and to move forward calmly even when facing challenges and difficulties. Hope you have a wonderful day.
- Article / Karen Deng
