Balance and Prioritize

Part of going to school is to make sure you learn how to balance your school activities and your club or athletic activities. Knowing how to manage your time will make it easier for you to handle other areas of your life as well, especially when you finally enter the “real world.” Here are simple tips to help get your life organized:

Decide early on, even before the start of the school year, which activities you would be involved in – such as clubs, varsity teams, or if you want to work part time somewhere. This will help you prioritize activities – but remember, the most import thing should always be your studies.

Try not to have too much on your plate. Be realistic about what you can and what you can’t do with your time. Sure, you would like to do all the stuff you want, but there is such a thing as spreading the butter too thin. You might end up not giving 100 percent of your abilities, or you might compromise one activity because you have to do another. There might be some stuff that you can postpone for another year. Again, the key here is to learn how to prioritize. Do stuff that would benefit you long-term.

Once you’ve decided what you will be doing for the rest of the year, make a schedule of your schoolwork and your extracurricular activities as you get them. To help with this, it is always best to keep a calendar, or a daily planner. You can even utilize a corkboard or a white board in your room. Write down important deadlines and dates. Remember to check these every day.

Time Management Tips for High School Students

It's 10 o’clock – Do You Know Where Your Homework Is?
Does it seem like there’s never enough time in the day to get everything done? Feel like you’re always running late? Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life:

1. Make a “To Do” List Every Day
Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it’s easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks. And don’t forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments.

2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely
Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you’ll kill two birds with one stone.

3. It’s Okay to Say “No”
If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that it’s okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.

4. Find the Right Time
You’ll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don’t wait to do it until late at night.

5. Review Your Notes Every Day
You’ll reinforce what you’ve learned, so you need less time to study. You’ll also be ready if your teacher calls on you or gives a pop quiz.

6. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Running on empty makes the day seem longer and your tasks seem more difficult.

7. Communicate Your Schedule to Others
If phone calls are proving to be a distraction, tell your friends that you take social calls from 7-8 p.m. It may sound silly, but it helps.

8. Become a Taskmaster
Figure out how much free time you have each week. Give yourself a time budget and plan your activities accordingly.

9. Don’t Waste Time Agonizing
Have you ever wasted an entire evening by worrying about something that you’re supposed to be doing? Was it worth it? Instead of agonizing and procrastinating, just do it.

10. Keep Things in Perspective
Setting goals that are unrealistic sets you up for failure. While it’s good to set high goals for yourself, be sure not to overdo it. Set goals that are difficult yet reachable.

Consider these tips, but personalize your habits so that they suit you. If you set priorities that fit your lifestyle, you’ll have a better chance of achieving your goals.