In this day and age teenage students face many demands in their daily lives, including school, homework, sports, hobbies, extra-curriculars, and spending time with family and friends, to name a few. With all these activities competing for space in a student’s schedule, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a healthy balance.
Better School-Life Balance Comes Down to Organization
Though there is no secret formula or magic trick to time management, one thing that helps significantly is to simply get organized. It is the first thing I do every morning. It is the first thing I tell my own children to do in the morning, and it’s the first thing I tell my students.
According to the Rush Neurobehavioral Center, “Organization skills are a better predictor of success in school than intelligence level.” Having strong organizational skills has also been proven to significantly improve homework completion. Therefore, adopting a usable system of organization can help students be more efficient, which in turn frees up time.
Plan Your Time with the Right Organizational Tool
So what’s the best way for a student to get organized? I suggest writing things down. If you keep track of what you need to do you will be more likely to do it. Whether its utilizing the calendar on their computer, going old school with a cool leather-bound planner, or using an app on their phone (we know a teenager will never be without their phone), a student should choose an organizational tool that suits them best.
Students should include everything in their calendar or planner and check it regularly. Even if it’s dinner with the family or plans with their friends, accounting for all activities helps ensure that time is not wasted. Seeing their life laid out on a timeline will help students be aware of how they spend their time and allow them to make adjustments accordingly. With improved organizational skills students are able to be intentional with their time, facilitate independence and have a sense of control of their life.
