Building Time Management Skills
Students of all ages need good time management skills to balance school, homework, activities, family responsibilities and just having fun. Here are some tips for building effective time management practices to last through college and beyond.
Why It Matters
- Build a strong foundation.
As your student ages, there will be increased and harder assignments in classes and more demands on his or her time. Planning to meet deadlines and managing multiple commitments now will allow your student to build on that strong foundation throughout both educational and professional years. - Reduce stress.
Having a plan and being organized can help your student feel more prepared and less stressed when faced with conflicting commitments. In addition, knowing there is time for fun and relaxation can help your student better manage academics and other responsibilities. - Improve grades.
Sticking to a plan and making the most of the available time can result in higher quality work, as well as fewer late or missed assignments. A good schedule also allows time to prepare for tests and to tackle projects in manageable segments.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- List commitments.
Encourage your student to list everything that’s required, including estimated time commitments. Your student should plan for at least eight full hours for sleep each day. If your student is a gamer or can spend hours on social media, this is the ideal opportunity to set agreed-upon limits for those activities. - Use a planner and make weekly study schedules.
A planner or calendar (either electronic or paper) allows your student to break down large projects into multiple stages instead of just listing a deadline. Encourage your student to make weekly study plans based on assignment due dates and tests, so it’s understood if the free time your student is used to needs to be reduced to accommodate study time. - Create daily task lists.
Listing the most challenging or important items at the top can help your student focus on larger goals. Your student may feel accomplished just checking off the items every day, or may think of other rewards for completing all essential tasks.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Develop a routine.
Using the planner and task lists, your student can develop a routine that ensures enough sleep and time for entertainment or relaxation while meeting other commitments. The routine can help your student feel more in control and start a habit of success. - Learn what works.
As demands increase or technology changes, your student may want to try different time management tools and schedules to determine what works best. - Remain adaptable.
Encourage your student to leave time for unexpected events in the schedule. At times, priorities may need to shift for one reason or another.
What You Can Do
- Provide the resources.
Your student will need certain resources to best manage their time, whether that’s a dedicated study space, access to planning materials, a physical alarm to rouse them in the mornings or a reminder to go to bed to get enough sleep. A shared family calendar can help set a framework. - Problem-solve.
If procrastination is a problem, try to discover whether your student needs extra help, has lost interest or has another issue. You may need to help your student resolve conflicts by helping them approach a teacher, coach or leader or by spelling out consequences for not getting something done. - Give objective feedback.
Notice your student’s successes and setbacks and help your student understand their causes. Adults have the mature mind to see situations more objectively than a teenager, so don’t be afraid to offer your experienced viewpoint. - Consider using distraction blockers.
Whether your student uses a smart phone, desktop or other device, there are distraction blockers available that will allow them to lock themselves out of distracting websites or apps when they should be focusing on homework or sleeping. Check out the options online or in the app store.
Next Steps
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