Teens Have Busy Schedules!
Getting to school super early, and waking up even earlier, followed by homework, studying, maybe a job, sports, clubs, volunteering or other extracurricular activities (and to top it off a precarious balance of spending time and keeping up with family and friends) it’s a go go go pace of life that’s difficult to keep up with. Sometimes you just need some time to breathe.
With so many things to do, it’s important to learn to manage your time well.
Not only so you can get everything you need to get done on time, but also so that you have time to relax and focus on your own interests and hobbies and your relationships that can be neglected when you get too busy. Being too busy can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. You might be fearing missing a deadline or forgetting when a test is. Or it may be something more so related to your personal life such as a friend or family member’s birthday.
Below are some tips to help you keep track of everything.
- Use a planner for homework/ studying. It’ll help you remember any deadline or dates and you won’t have to frantically text friends at the last minute to find out which math problems were assigned.
- Use a calendar for major, ongoing assignments as well as other events. In addition to a planner, a calendar can help you to see visually what’s coming up in the near future and help you to prioritize. Seeing that something will be due within a concrete amount of days can help you to realize how you need to split up your time.
- Take the time out to outline the amount of time you think a project will take you if you have a long project or a homework assignment that won’t be due for several days or weeks. This can help you to split up a project so it becomes manageable and you don’t have to stress out about things at the very last minute.
- Create a color-coded family calendar. This is a helpful way for the entire family to know what is going on in the day to day busyness! That way mom or dad won’t forget to pick you up after a school event, or remember that family game night.
In addition to keeping track of everything it’s important to be kind to yourself.
Occasionally missing something isn’t the end of the world. Your emotional wellness is important too. Becoming stressed and anxious about everything can actually weaken your performance and makes it even more difficult to concentrate, plus it can have negative effects on your health.
As a teen, it’s hard not to be busy. There are a lot of expectations on you to fill your time with homework and activities. Yet teens and parents alike should remember that taking time out to relax and enjoy yourself isn’t laziness, it’s a necessary part of life. So, let your teen relax a little or schedule in relaxing activities in your weekly schedule. Let them rest too. And, you need it as well! Win, win!
Final thoughts on time management for teens:
- Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Sleep is an important part of staying healthy and staying alert. If you find that no matter what you do you just can’t hit the hay on time consider asking a parent to hold you to a bedtime.
- Prepare everything ahead of time for the morning. Put all papers and books in your bag, pick out your clothes, pack your lunch, and maybe have a breakfast that is, or is almost ready to go. This way you can start your day off smoothly instead of rushing through it.
- Pick out your outfit the night before. This tip was given to me by a very dear friend. She always told me, “Yes, and if you have your outfit picked out on top of everything, you are really ready for the day.” And it’s true. How often do we try on a outfit and switch it, making us 15 to 30 minutes late pretty much everywhere we go? Okay… guilty at times!
About the Author
Katie Bisbee-Peek started Peek Counseling to help adolescents, teens and young adults have a safe place to express themselves and get through life’s peaks and valleys. It’s a never ending roller coaster, but whether you’re smiling or screaming is a matter of perspective. And, at Peek Counseling, I always aim to help you see the sunny side while holding a half-full glass and wearing rose colored sunglasses. My door is always open! – Katie