The 4,3,2,1 method…

For this method, I love the fact it’s based on simplicity. 

The principle works on a scoring system of 4 down to 1, and it involves assessing the energy which you give to your days. It is vital for both productivity and wellbeing.

It works in the following way:

4 – High Energy, lots to do, Busy, Busy, Busy

3 – High Energy, Tasks to complete, Busy, Some breaks

2 – Medium Energy, half a day focused on tasks, half relaxing

1 – Low Energy, Digital Detox, Complete chill

The idea is that you need a good variety. To many ‘4’s’ and you are on a path to burnout. However, to many ‘1’s’ and your likely not going to achieve much either.

Take a look at your current workload/study schedule and ask yourself if you are achieving a variety of these days?

I know for me, when I am ‘all systems go’ I am working at ‘4’ capacity. However, I also know that after a good solid week of working at this pace, a ‘1’ is most definitely in order. 

This principle comes down to balance. For me, I know that I need to sometimes have these high energy days. These could be deadlines to meet or days which involve high workloads. If I was to try and maintain this pace for a long period of time, I understand that I am going to end up feeling fatigued and mentally tired. As a result, it is vital that I include some low-key days alongside this.

Finding balance is key and I am now trying to consciously look at my schedule to make sure these fit. This can be achieved through careful planning and the Semester Student Planner most definitely helps with this.  With careful strategic planning you can avoid any crazy dashes to ensure you meet assignment deadlines.

You can schedule in some ‘high energy‘ days leading up to up to your deadline to ensure you make good ground on your assignment. You can then reward yourself with some lower energy days later in the week to rest and recover. There is nothing worse than repeated all-nighters which has been caused as a result of poor planning! (We have been there).

Take a good look at your own schedule, do you have a good mix? Are you studying hard working days alongside rest and recovery? Or are you having to many low energy days and not making any ground? This is another part of reflection which is another critical tool when it comes to personal growth and why we have included it regularly within the Semester Student Planner.

We know that it takes hard work to achieve your goals, but we also know that its unsustainable to work flat out all the time. Assessing your days based on this principle is a great way to see how you are dividing your time.

If you are struggling to get a grip on your days the Semester Student Planner can support you via time-management tools and techniques including time-blocking. It can support you via our Semester Calendar. The daily schedule tool also allows you to keep a regularly track on how you are spending your time.

Finally, ‘the focused few’ gives you a tool to clarify your main objectives each day to ensure that you are working towards your goals daily and avoiding those never-ending hours in the library. 

#letsgrowtogether