The further you get in school the more difficult it will be not only to understand the subject matter but also to be able to handle the increased demands of different teachers, exams and projects. Now add to this increased load in school the added stress of finding time to have fun with friends, and you can understand why teens these days are feeling a lot of pressure.
Staying on top of homework, friends, and fun is possible if you are willing to do what is necessary to manage your time wisely. Time management is perhaps the one thing that you can do to improve all areas of your life where you feel anxiety. Many of these time management techniques will revolve around school work, as school work is often the only obligation that teens will have that has a definite assignment date and due date.
You have heard the advice of lots of people when it comes to staying on top of your school work. Surely you have heard that it is better to begin working on an assignment the day it is given rather than the day before it is due. Yet, there are so many of us who do not heed that advice. For whatever reason we get distracted; we procrastinate, or we lack the self discipline to work before we play.
Teens are still entitled to have fun. Managing time includes scheduling time to be a kid. Yet many teens reject the idea of sitting down and actually organizing their responsibilities. Sometimes teens simply do not know how to stay on top of the responsibilities that they are given. This is where the help of parents and teachers should be solicited. As a teen, if you are feeling overwhelmed and do not know how to manage your time effectively, bring your concerns to the adults in your life. Not only will they be able to alleviate some of your anxiety now, but they can provide you with advice that may help you in the future. After all, your elders have been through many of the same things that you are going through now, and they are currently dealing with responsibilities that they have to manage time for just like you! If you feel like you are being handed unreasonable demands, be open and honest with others about this. Do not be afraid to ask for help when it is needed.
Make a plan. The best way to start you on the path of good time management techniques is to make a list of all the things that you need to do in a week. Have a good idea of how much time each task will take. Include the time that you want to spend doing specific activities with friends and doing other fun activities. If there are too many things for one day, see what you can space out to other days. You may need to move a more leisurely activity to another day that is less demanding. Staying on top of your homework is possible but it may not always be the easiest or the most fun thing to do.
Another great time management technique that can help you to stay on top of your homework is to break down large assignments into more manageable sections. Do not try to complete a major project in a single sitting. Take a few days for research, a few more for outlining, and give yourself time to review your work. Sometimes instead of tackling an overwhelming task we choose just to avoid it altogether. Breaking a hard thing down and spreading small bits of work over a period of time make even the largest projects possible.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to