Ditch these 5 productivity-preventers ASAP

Twenty-four hours in a day never seems like enough to get it all done...especially when you’re killin’ many of those minutes doing things like texting or reading your crush’s FB wall for the millionth time. Certain activities just suck you in! Suddenly, it’s two hours later—and you’ve got nada to show for it. Luckily, we’ve got proven ways to bail brain drains and up your productivity this year. Read on...time’s a wastin’.

BLACK HOLE #1: DISTRACTION CITY
Your essay on ancient Rome is due tomorrow. Instead of spell-checking, you’re pulling together an outfit on Polyvore and texting your BFF. Eek.

TIME BOOSTER: Nix multi-tasking. Research shows working on more than one thing clips your brain of its ability to concentrate. When you’re tackling a must-do, close outta extra windows on your comp and kill the cell. Focus on one project. If it’s truly mind-numbing, take breaks every 20 minutes. Even with a breather, you’ll finish up faster.

BLACK HOLE #2: THE NEEDY FRIEND
There’s one in every crew—the girl whose every decision becomes a drama. She constantly hits ya up to dissect what her crush said during science class or to weigh options for her outfit tomorrow.

TIME BOOSTER: Be direct with this chica. If she’s endlessly IMing about something silly, send her a quick message saying you’re swamped and you two can chat about it in the caf tomorrow. When she’s bogging you down with life’s eensiest deets, politely (but firmly) let her know that the decision is all hers. Soon, she’ll see she’s got the power to handle her own probs.

BLACK HOLE #3: TOO-COMFY QUARTERS
You looove your room. It’s hooked up with everything you could imagine: A cozy bed, a TV with a billion channels and books and nail polish galore. Hard to think about school in such a sweet suite.... 

TIME BOOSTER: A blissed-out bedroom is key for relaxing, but you’re never gonna get work done in such a chill spot. So set up a desk or corner of your room that’s solely for school stuff. Sorry, no mags, clothes or tube allowed.

BLACK HOLE #4: THE INFLATING OBLIGATION
Say you’ve signed on to the fall festival committee or got a part-time gig sacking groceries. Not bad...until twice-weekly meetings turn into daily affairs and your co-workers always ask you to cover for ’em. Yep, it’s a full-time prob.

TIME BOOSTER: It’s time to scale back and speak up. Tell the club prez or your manager that you’re overwhelmed. Ask if you can take on fewer hours, or help out in a different way. If the person doesn’t agree, evaluate the sitch and see if the stress is worth the sacrifices.

BLACK HOLE #5: THE WAITING GAME
Your BFF is supposed to text at 5 to make plans. Now it’s 6 and you’re wondering what’s up. In the minutes that’ve passed, you’ve checked your cell 400 times...and that’s about it.

TIME BOOSTER: Wishin’ and hopin’ for your phone to buzz is a waste. If a bud says she’ll call by a certain time, give her 15 minutes. Radio silence? Reach out. You won’t cause an imposition. You’re a busy babe and your friends gotta realize how presh you (and your time!) are.