Take Advantage of “In-between” Time
You can be even more productive by identifying the little windows
of opportunity that open every day. They don’t arrive with much
fanfare, so if you’re not alert to them, you’ll never even notice them.
What must you do with this “inbetween” time, while you’re stuck in
traffic, waiting in line, or sitting by the phone? Recognize it as soon
as it occurs and utilize it immediately by taking premeditated action.
If you don’t have a plan, you will waste this time!
Here are some suggestions:
■ Make phone calls.
■ Read something.
■ Mail letters.
■ Pick up groceries (or make your grocery list).
■ Clean your desk and return things to their proper places.
■ Review your daily schedule and reprioritize, if necessary.
■ Go through your mail.
■ Write a quick note or letter home.
■ Proofread some or all of one of your papers.
■ Think! (About an upcoming assignment, a paper you’re
writing, any upcoming project.)
■ Relax!How Perfect Are You?
Superior students show they care about their work and consistently
apply the effort necessary to achieve their goals. Perfectionists care
perhaps toomuch, finding it impossible to be satisfied with anything
less than “perfect” work (as they define it), presuming for a moment
that such an ideal can actually be attained.
It is possible, of course, to score a “perfect” 100 on a test or to get
an A+ on a paper the teacher calls “Perfect!” in the margin. But in
reality, doing anything “perfectly” is an impossible task.
26 How to Study