If you’re reading this, then there are probably at least 3 homework assignments you have been meaning to start but haven’t yet. Or maybe you’re dreading folding your laundry or cleaning the kitchen. Maybe you’re just dreading the moment your parent or guardian knocks on your door to remind you of these chores. Either way, trying to stay on top of everything you have to do in a day can be tough, but here are some tips to help keep you more organized.

Keep a To-Do List … of Everything

It might sound strange, but this is the best way to get started when it comes to getting more organized and efficient in time management. Keeping a calendar and/or list of everything you have going on, as soon as you make those plans, can help you map out your day/week/month, so you can get a better sense of everything. If you are a paper & pen type person, then find a journal you would like to look at each day (Target and Etsy have some great ones). If you are more digital, then you can keep a calendar through iCal or Google Calendar and use a note-keeping app as a to-do list.

It also helps to color code tasks. Homework can have one color, tests/projects another, fun activities (maybe your favorite color), and finally chores/appointments one more. If you add these tasks/activities to your calendar, include how much time you will need to spend completing each one, and always overestimate how much time you need (I usually tack on 15 minutes per activity, just in case). It might feel overwhelming at first or tedious to write it all down, but once you have everything listed, it becomes much easier to figure out when you are free. Soon, you’ll find fewer things falling through the cracks.

Complete 3 Things a Day

An unfortunate part of life is that there will always be some task that needs to get done eventually. But instead of hyper-focusing on the mountain of work you should be completing, opt for focusing on 3 at a time. This helps reduce the anxiety of facing a massive list and breaks tasks down into manageable groups. Just make sure the 3 items that get done first are the most important and time-sensitive tasks. Getting easy tasks done while other more pressing tasks are waiting won’t do much to decrease stress and anxiety. Once you have those 3 tasks complete, you can then decide if you want to finish 3 more or give yourself a break for the day.

Keep Yourself Entertained

Sometimes the hardest part of getting through the work can be the silence you face while getting through it. To help combat this you can put on instrumental music or even background noise (I use the hours-long thunderstorm recordings on Youtube to help me study). By having a “comfort blanket” to keep you company as you work, you can more easily push through the task. Also, the noise can help block out distractions around you (say someone bouncing a basketball nearby while you’re trying to study).

5% More Effort

If you are truly exhausted but still have one or two more items to check off your list, try this trick. Tell yourself you just need 5% more effort, and then you can be done. Imagine the feeling of being done with these tasks to help push you through to the end. Tell yourself you can totally muster just 5% more from yourself. Most people assume if they still have a task or two left, it will take the same amount of energy that they would have at the beginning of the day. However, the truth is that you just need a tiny bit to get through it and that can make all the difference when it comes to getting those last things finished.