Let’s Get It Done

Make 2026 The Year Of The Done List.

We’ve all been there. You walk past your teenager’s bedroom door, see a pile of textbooks acting as a coaster for a cold cup of tea, and hear the familiar hum of a gaming console or the scroll of a TikTok feed. The urge to poke your head in and shout, “Just get it done!” is almost universal.

It’s a phrase that’s punchy, direct, and filled with a sense of “let’s just get to the other side of this.” But for a teenager staring down the barrel of GCSEs or A-Levels, “getting it done” can feel like trying to climb a mountain in flip-flops.

They want it done. You want it done. So, how do we actually make it happen?

Let’s get to work

“Get it done!” is more than just a phrase; it’s a mindset of taking the first step. Once the momentum starts, the mountain doesn’t look quite so high.

How are you helping your teen “get it done” this week?

From Procrastination to Action

The reason many teens struggle to “get it done” isn’t usually laziness—it’s overwhelm. When the task is “Revise Biology,” the brain doesn’t know where to start, so it chooses not to start at all.

To turn that call to action into reality, we need to break the mountain into manageable steps.

The 20-Minute Win: Don’t ask them to “study for the afternoon.” Ask them to get one specific thing done in 20 minutes. A single mind map, three practice questions, or one poem analysed. On its own it isn’t enough, but this is the beginning of a habit.
Clear the Path: “Getting it done” is much easier when you don’t have to spend thirty minutes finding a highlighter and a clean notebook. Help them prep their space the night before. Removing the barriers is key.
The Power of ‘Done’ Lists: To-do lists can be intimidating. “Done” lists are motivating. Marking a task as complete provides a hit of dopamine that makes the next task feel possible. Take a look at our Course Checklists for a low cost and easy start.

Using the Right Tools

At The Study Buddy, we talk a lot about “getting it done” through the lens of visibility. When a student can see their entire week laid out—knowing exactly when they are working and, more importantly, exactly when they are finished—the dread starts to lift. Once your got this you have an empowering sense of control – and success!

“Get it done” shouldn’t be a permanent state of being. It should be a focused burst of activity followed by a well-earned break.

Your Role as the “Chief Encourager”

As parents, our job is to help them navigate the friction. Sometimes, getting it done means:

Validating the struggle: “I know this bit is boring, let’s just power through this one chapter”.
Removing distractions: Offering to hold the phone captive for an hour (this is a conversation best had before trying to extract their phone from them!)
The Reward: Having a plan for what happens after it’s done. Whether it’s a favourite dinner or a guilt-free evening of gaming, the “done” needs to lead to “fun”. This is not bribery but the deserved fruits of their labour.

The BIG Picture

Revision is a marathon, not a sprint, and sometimes the hardest part is just finding the rhythm to start. When we help our teens ‘get it done’ – one small task at a time – we’re teaching them a skill that lasts far beyond exam season. It’s about building the confidence that no mountain is too high if you take it one step at a time with the right tools!

Let’s make this the year we swap the stress for a solid plan and a lot of momentum.

Give them a fresh start this January.

Take the guesswork out of revision and help your teen find their flow. Click below to find the perfect Study Buddy setup for the upcoming mock exam season.