As midterms wind down, or wind up depending on your class load, it’s always a good idea to be organized and on top of things. Matt Mayberry, CEO of Matt Mayberry Enterprises and BYUH students shared their tips to help students in and after school.
1. Eat to win. We are what we eat and to eat to win is to mentally understand that what we put into our bodies greatly affects our focus, energy and well-being throughout the course of the day. Mayberry told Entrepreneur magazine that he starts his days with a green smoothie, “There is no netter way to feed our mind and bodies than consuming an alkalizing drink such as a green smoothie first thing in the morning.”
2. Jump-start your day. Kami Dixon from Utah, a sophomore finishing her associates said that she usually starts her day with a protein shake and fruit or eggs to help her stay focused in school throughout the day. Dixon said, “If I eat sugar cereal then I get hunger earlier in the day and then I’m only focused on when I’m going to eat next.”
3. Plan your day the night before. Planning your day the night before helps you to sleep better at night because you mind is not restless from thinking about all you have to do the next day. Mayberry says he spends 10 to 15 minutes every night so when he wakes up he is, “Ready to hit the ground running, knowing exactly what has to get done.”
4. To-do list. “I write in my planner every single day and if I don’t then I usually forget to do something,” Alex Leek from Indiana, an EXS sophomore, said. Leek continued, the key for her staying on top of what she needs to do is to make sure she writes all her assignments down in her planner.
5. Do not disturb. Turn off your phone and set time where you can’t be bothered or distracted by calls, texts, and notifications. This can help you get things done.
6. Goodbye electronics. Turning off his computer and going to the library helps Spencer Forest, a junior in computer science from New Caledonia, get things done. Despite having most of his programming homework on the computer, when there are others things to do, “I turn off my computer. It’s hard but if I don’t I get distracted,” said Forest.
7. Hour to greatness. “This is one whole hour first thing in the morning that is dedicated to preparing my mind, body and spirit for the day ahead.” For Mayberry, this routine consists of reading an uplifting book, writing his goals while visualizing the achievement of each goal, meditating and listening to motivational messages. You too can skyrocket your productivity by indulging your mind in uplifting massages as you get ready in the morning, whether it’s reading scriptures, reciting your personal mantra or listening to good music. Starting your day positively can help you achieve greatness.
8. Take time to be spiritually edified. “Either at night or in the morning I always watch a conference talk. It really helps my have the spirit to focus,” said Samantha Zuro, a freshman in biology from Utah.
9. Decide. Mayberry said that the most important key to being productive is to decide to do so. Once you have made up your mind that you will be productive, you have won half the battle. You must then challenge yourself to see how much you can accomplish any given day, said Mayberry.
10. Best tip ever. “I print out a calendar for every month with list of what is due assignment wise and other activities. It helps me stay on top of things,” said Tonga Sablan from Washington, a junior in ICS. He said using a visual aid, in his case a calendar, is the best tool for productivity. “If I want to attend an activity, I can see what other things I have to get done first.”