Every single person on this planet has the same 24 hours to work with in each day. Time management is all about choice; in other words, it refers to how you plan and use your time. Smart time management involves using your time wisely and coordinating your tasks so that you can complete those tasks and accomplish your goals.
Time management is an executive functioning skill, which is a type of mental skill that people need to manage everyday life. Others include organization and planning. Some students may have more difficulty with executive functioning skills than others. These time management tips for students can help all types of learners. However, if you struggle with time management, and especially if you have a neurodevelopmental difference such as ADHD, you may want to talk to a counselor or similar professional for personalized help.
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15 Time Management Tips for Students in Middle/High School
1. Get a day planner or app and use it daily
The first step in good time management is to know which tasks you need to accomplish, and for that, you’ll need a day planner or scheduling app. Whichever method you prefer, make sure you can access it during the school day. (If your school bans phones, use a physical day planner.) Write down dates of exams and assignment due dates promptly, along with all the other events you need to keep track of.
2. Keep a “reverse schedule” for a few days
While it’s important to keep a schedule of everything you need to do, you may also find it helpful to keep a schedule of everything you actually do—at least for a few days. This “reverse schedule” won’t replace your day planner. Here’s how it works:
- Bring a small notebook with you everywhere you go for a few days.
- Write down everything you do and how long it takes you to do it. (For example, if you spend 20 minutes scrolling social media during homework time, note it as “social media time” instead of “homework time.”)
- After a few days, review your reverse schedule. Assess how you used your time.
Did you spend lots of time procrastinating when you were supposed to be working on tasks? Don’t get upset with yourself about it; identifying these issues is necessary for working on improvements. Additionally, remember that no one is perfect. As long as you use your time wisely for much of the day (excluding relaxation time), you’re doing great!
3. Develop a consistent routine
Humans tend to be creatures of habit. Getting into a consistent routine—at least for most days of the week—will be helpful because you’ll have a better handle on which tasks to do, when to do them, and how long they’ll generally take to complete. You may also find that a consistent routine can help you avoid procrastination. For instance, if you typically study between the hours of 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, you may find that you’re ready to get right to work when 4:00 rolls around.
4. Be flexible; know how to handle unexpected issues
Not everything will go as planned. Life happens. Maybe you’re unexpectedly tasked with babysitting a younger sibling, or perhaps your computer crashes, interfering with completing homework. Unexpected issues can throw your schedule and your routine off track. When they do, try to be flexible and work around the obstacles.
One way to handle unexpected issues is to proactively build some buffer time into your schedule. If you think it might take two hours to write an essay, try to leave yourself three hours to write it—just in case something pops up. In other cases, it may be necessary to reprioritize your tasks and eliminate non-essentials from your schedule in order to free up more time.
5. Learn to prioritize your tasks
Speaking of prioritizing tasks—that’s another important part of time management for students. Figure out which tasks are most important and urgent, and work on those first. If you have an essay due in two weeks and an exam in two days, then studying for the exam will take priority.
6. Set reasonable short-term and long-term goals
Goal-setting is helpful for students because it can keep you focused and on track toward accomplishing what you want to get done. The important word here is “reasonable.” Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. Set a few reasonable short-term goals (that you’d like to accomplish within the next few days or weeks) and a few long-term goals (that you’d like to accomplish within the next few months or years).
When setting goals, keep in mind the adage: “Process, not results.” Professional athletes often use this saying to remind themselves of what works and what doesn’t. In other words, it isn’t helpful to say, “I’d like to increase my batting average by 0.50.” Instead, say, “I’m going to make adjustments to my stance and put in more time in the batting cages.” The former is a wish, whereas the latter is the process by which the wish can come true.
You can apply the same approach to your goals. Instead of deciding, “I’m going to get an A in French this year,” you could plan on asking the teacher for extra help and spending more time practicing French.
7. Be mindful of distractions
When you sit down to do a task that isn’t very interesting to you, suddenly everything else—whether it’s cleaning your room or texting your friends—seems more appealing. These distractions can derail your time management plan. They’ll also make assignments take longer.
Make an effort to study and work on assignments in a space that’s as free of distractions as possible. Turn off your phone, listen to non-distracting music, and ask others in the household not to interrupt you. If you feel yourself starting to get distracted and procrastinate, remind yourself that it’s only going to make the assignment take longer. (The Pomodoro Technique is great for reducing procrastination. See #9 below.)
8. Try to get assignments done early
As mentioned earlier, unexpected issues pop up from time to time. They can derail your schedule, causing you to fall behind. No one enjoys the feeling of falling behind; it’s stressful and chaotic, and feeling overwhelmed can decrease the quality of your work.
Being proactive is the best course of action. If you try to get assignments done at least a day or two before they’re actually due then you’ll be in far less danger of falling behind if something unexpected happens (e.g., a power outage at home that wipes out your Wi-Fi).
9. Use the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a time-tested method of beating procrastination and staying focused. The best part? It’s got study/homework breaks built in! Here’s how it works:
- Set a timer (kitchen timer or app) for 25 minutes.
- Work on your task for each of those 25 minutes.
- Take a five-minute break.
- Set the timer for 25 minutes and repeat.
- Take a longer break (15 to 30 minutes) every four intervals.
The technique gets its name from the Italian word for tomato (because apparently some kitchen timers look like tomatoes?) It works because it shifts your mindset away from thinking, “I have to get a certain amount of work done in X amount of time,” and toward thinking, “I have to work for just 25 minutes, and then I can take a quick break.” This simple shift in mindset can take away some of the pressure of trying to get schoolwork and studying done.
10. Set reminders
Even with due dates indicated on your day planner, you might forget about things from time to time. It can be helpful to set reminder alerts on your phone. For instance, set an alert for at least a few days before an essay is due so that you’ll remember to finish it.
11. Know what to do when you feel overwhelmed
Good time management isn’t about being perfect all the time—that’s impossible. Rather, it’s about managing your time well enough to accomplish your goals. Even with good time management, you might feel overwhelmed sometimes. Practice stress management techniques, such as:
- Positive self-talk
- Deep breathing
- Yoga
- Spending time in nature
- Exercising and eating healthy
- Spending quality time with family and friends
- Doing something you love
12. Don’t forget about “me” time
No one can stay completely focused on their goals 100% of the time. It’s also important to enjoy life. After all, you’re only a kid once. Soon enough, you’ll be in college and learning how to adult. Set aside some time in your schedule for unstructured “me” time.
13. Learn how to say “no”
Even with good time management, it’s not always possible to fit everything in. You may need to turn down invitations to get together with friends. If your schedule is completely overloaded with extracurriculars, you might need to think about eliminating one or two activities.
As hard as it might be to say “no” sometimes, it’s better to manage expectations right from the start than to cancel plans at the last minute or ghost your friends because you have to study. Open communication goes hand-in-hand with time management, and it’s also essential for maintaining friendships, no matter how busy your schedule gets.
14. Use technology to make life easier and more efficient
You might already be using a schedule app instead of a physical day planner, as well as reminders on your phone. However, there are some other tech tools you might find helpful. Consider the following:
15. Remember your most important asset: your health
As important as it is to stay on top of your schoolwork and prepare for college, it’s also crucial to protect your most important asset. Your health is important even at a young age, and by taking care of yourself now, you may be able to reduce the risk of health-related problems later in life. Keep in mind the following:
- Get enough high-quality sleep each night. Don’t let studying cut into your sleep time.
- Try to limit the amount of sugar and caffeine you consume.
- Drink plenty of water each day.
- Get physically active most days of the week.
- Care for your mental health by talking to your guidance counselor or asking your parents about talking to a mental health counselor.
Why is time management important for students?
Students are busy! It can be tough to fit everything into your schedule. However, practicing good time management can help free up more time. By making the best use of the time you have instead of procrastinating, you’ll be able to get things done more quickly. Plus, staying on top of your tasks can reduce stress and allow you to reach your goals.
How many hours per week should a student dedicate to college prep?
Part of time management for students involves knowing how much time to allocate to certain tasks. So, how much time should you set aside for college prep? There is no universal answer. It depends on how many years you have left until you go to college, what your goals are, what your schedule is currently like, and similar factors.
In general, it’s ideal to begin thinking about college as early as middle school so that you can devote time to activities that may improve your admissions odds. These include extracurricular activities, course selection, college research, and career exploration. You’ll also want to start preparing for the SAT® and ACT® tests by 9th grade (such as by taking the PSAT 8/9 test).
How can I avoid procrastination?
We’ve already mentioned one effective way to avoid procrastination—the Pomodoro Technique (see #9 above). You could also try the following:
- Eliminating distractions from your study space
- Choosing something fun to do after you finish your work to give yourself something to look forward to
- Breaking large tasks into smaller components and focusing on just one at a time
You might also try a tip from Raymond Chandler, a famous detective fiction writer. Chandler struggled with procrastination and that made it hard for him to meet his word-count quota each day. He solved it by setting aside four hours each day during which he could either write or do nothing at all. If the alternative is to do absolutely nothing but quietly stare off into space, then you might find diving into your work more appealing.
Do students need time to relax?
Absolutely! Relaxation is essential for both mental and physical health. In fact, not making time to relax can negatively affect your concentration, creativity, energy level, sleep quality, and mood.
What are some healthy ways to unwind after a long day at school?
School can be stressful sometimes. Before diving into your schoolwork, take some time to relax and unwind. Relaxation can look a little different for everyone. Depending on your personal preferences, you might:
- Spend some time outside
- Sit on the porch and read a book.
- Listen to music.
- Play with your pet.
- Play video games.
- Do light yoga or another form of exercise.
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