It’s the end of the year and as per usual, it brings a time of reflection. The year is long and requires a certain lasting mental strength. PGP provides the tools to maintain that mental strength year round. Lessons about goal setting and time-blocking are just 2 examples of how PGP can improve my life in and outside of school. The goal of the PGP program to was to improve me through 3 main areas:
- Productivity
- Time-blocking
- Things
- Goal Setting
- Book
- Daily Journal
- 7 habits
- Book
- Reflections
For the final project, the challenge was to create an artifact that if it was sent back in time, it would show the importance of things I would learn in PGP. Above is the final product in graphic form; my plan was to print it as a puzzle. Although it would have been a great idea, I didn’t want to spend the amount of money that it would have taken to print one singular puzzle. So my final project will remain a graphic, but the end goal of a puzzle can be imagined.
I wanted to write a little about my biggest takeaways from the PGP course this year is mainly around the first thing we learned: productivity. In the productivity section, we learned about using time-blocking and task managers to help create order in my complex life. It allows me to bring a little bit of calm and understanding through the organization.
For example last week I was extremely stressed because of my upcoming qualifier for a critical golf tournament to my life but at the same time, some very crucial assignments were nearly due. I had to find a balance to the importance of each activity and allocate enough time to ensure that I reach my goals. I was ultimately not very successful at this balance but it wasn’t because of stress like it would have been years ago. It has allowed me to become a better person because I am able to release stress with my time-blocking.
Continuing with the example of last week, before I could time-block I had to be clear on what I had to accomplish. By laying out what I have to do on things not only do I destress but I can also set out a much better plan. I don’t miss assignments, and stress even less about potentially missing assignments.
With examples like that set me on the process to create the artifact that I did. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to use my skills with photoshop to create a piece of art that would look amazing. As I looked back at the entire PGP experience I understood the importance of the productivity lessons to my life this year. If I was to use that knowledge from the beginning it would be so much easier dealing with assignments and stress this year. With this in mind, I created my artifact that shows how I use the tools laid out for me to create a productive and stressfree life at school even during the most stressful of times.
