Author: Laura Wang, Sophomore, IB Student, NHS Member
School can get overwhelming at times, with many classes a day, exams, extracurriculars, sports, and whatnot. It’s understandable, especially with the ongoing pandemic. It has also become increasingly easy to lose motivation and get distracted. However, one of the most valuable assets you can acquire as a student is the skill of time management. If you use your time wisely, you can effectively finish your tasks with plenty of time to spare. Here are my two cents on how to work towards efficiently managing your time summed up as the following six points.
1. Keep a planner or agenda with you.
Whether it be digital or a notebook, planners can be extremely useful. It’s often easy to forget what tasks you have to do, or what upcoming events you need to prepare for. Trust me, you won’t remember those different upcoming assignments and tests, so having a place to write out everything makes remembering a lot easier; you become aware of what commitments you have.
Have fun with your planner! Decorate it however you want, color-code your tasks, personalize it! Keeping your agenda the way you want it makes it much more pleasing to look at, you’ll also enjoy it much more. If a fancy bullet journal will be most effective for you, then go for it; if a simple school agenda satisfies you, do that!
2. Organize your tasks by priority.
Having a well-constructed daily to-do list helps. It is suggested that you prioritize your most important tasks first. Also, keep your deadlines in mind! Never wait until the last minute to do something. This is coming from someone who used to turn in assignments minutes before the due date, don’t learn your lesson the hard way; if you can finish it sooner, do it. Getting the biggest and most burdensome assignments out of the way makes room for other tasks. You may even have extra free time when you’re done!
3. Set goals.
What do you want to accomplish by the end of the day? How do you want to accomplish this? Ask yourself these questions, set specific goals. When we look at our daily to-do lists, we may feel overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be complete. Dividing them up makes achieving them easier. Also keep in mind, having realistic goals will further motivate you to work towards them. If your goals aren’t feasible, you set yourself up for failure. Don’t try and fit outrageous tasks like writing an essay, traveling the world, and baking a three-tier cake within the span of an hour. It won’t work.
4. Get adequate sleep.
Once again, don’t wait until the last minute to do that assignment of yours. Your nightly Tiktok watching spree or Wattpad reading session can wait until tomorrow. Get your tasks done as soon as possible and get a good night’s rest! Your brain needs time to rest and recharge. You function a lot better when you are well-rested, making you more productive. Avoid all-nighters when possible (but if you have to pull one, I suggest you drink caffeine because I really don’t know how else you’d manage to stay awake).
5. Limit your social media time.
Yes, I’m talking about Tiktok. Yes, this is a self-callout. I know it's tempting , but these apps will only distract you from your priority tasks. It’s not a necessity to update everyone on your dog’s status, or post that Starbucks drink of yours. Try and wait until your work is done. Perhaps download apps to block access to social media. I personally recommend the app Flora, where you set a timer to grow a plant. During that period, you will be unable to open “noneducational” apps, but if you do, the plant dies. There are plenty of apps that work the same way that you can find in the app store for free.
6. Make some time for yourself.
Balancing everything can be stressful, so set aside some downtime! You’ve been working hard; go spend time with your family and friends, go shopping, enjoy yourself. Although school may seem the most important, prioritizing your wellbeing should always be first (but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t take school seriously). In addition, rewarding yourself with some free time after completing a task will motivate you to get work done.
To sum up:
High school is no easy journey, but with these time management tips, hopefully, you’ll be able to organize your time better and make your day a little easier. You got this!
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