time management advice for high school students
Time. The limited supply. The phenomena that we all experience. It is what drives people to accomplish what they can while they are still here on this planet, and understanding how to manage your time as a student is the best way to optimize your efficiency.
I’m sure you didn’t consider it this way, but Bill Gates has the same 24 hours as a three-year-old child.
What you do with that time every day will eventually determine who you are as a person.
Time is not always under our control when we are at school. We have to work around courses, deadlines, and all of our other everyday activities. Not to mention figuring out how to balance school and employment!
These ten student time management strategies can help you arrange your life and make college and high school a breeze. Let’s not spend any more time!
Let’s start with why you need to manage your time in the first place.
Why Should I Manage My Time as a Student?
Time management enables you to accomplish all of your tasks within a certain time frame. It will assist you in organizing your life, which may be tough throughout the school year.
When you begin managing your time, you will notice improved grades, more productivity, and, eventually, a better attitude!
You need these ideas if you’re one of my lazy students who want to get out of bed and not watch Netflix all day! Once you get accustomed to it, the shift will feel wonderful, and you will never want to go back to it.
I understand how hectic high school and college can be. That is why I want you to put these time management techniques into action and give yourself more time to accomplish the things you like.
Let us begin with one of the most essential time management hints for students…
Make a Timetable
I’m sure you saw that coming, but it’s necessary!
The best method to keep track of everything is to create a timetable in which you can enter your to-do list into precise time periods.
Monthly, weekly, and daily planners are very helpful for keeping track of priorities (which will be discussed soon).
If you need a decent planner for all of your time management requirements, I strongly suggest this one.
The most essential element of combining academics and personal life is to stick to your timetable. Make a practice of jotting down any notes, odd thoughts, or ideas you have as you go about your day in your calendar.
You should think of it as your second brain, so you don’t have to clutter up your first one!
Organize Your To-Do List
Writing down your to-do list is a good start, but prioritizing it is much better. Here’s how to go about it:
Go through your to-do list for the day.
Organize related jobs together (the time it takes to complete, similar subject, etc.)
The tasks should be numbered in the order that you intend to accomplish them.
Begin with a simpler job at the start of each day (this helps reduce feeling overwhelmed and jump start your productivity)
Even when I had my to-do list written down, I used to get discouraged when I knew there was a lot to accomplish the following day. However, now that I have prioritized the list, I no longer have that sensation.
If you have the same sensation, you may be overlooking the importance of prioritizing your time. Give it a go!
Set both long-term and short-term goals.
Having both long-term and short-term objectives can allow you to accomplish things more quickly and effectively.
Long-term objectives should range from one week to one semester. Short-term objectives should be set within a week, but typically within 1-2 days.
When you organize your time in this manner, things begin to become clearer. You’ll know precisely what you need to accomplish and how much time you have to complete it.
Once you’ve established your long-term objectives, all you have to do is break them down into weekly, daily, or even hourly activities.
Those duties are now your short-term objectives. If you complete things ahead of schedule, take on a little job here and there to finish everything ahead of schedule.
You Should Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself is a wonderful motivation to stick to your objectives.
Humans are hardwired to perform better in activities that provide a monetary incentive. That is why we work hard for A’s, train hard for gold medals, and study hard for raises.
When it comes to time management ideas for students, these incentives may be as basic as giving yourself a piece of candy after completing your duties for the day.
Make a Habit of Using Reminders
Although I do not recommend using technology to organize your day, setting reminders on your phone may be a stress-free method to manage your time.
Your objectives should still be set down in a planner, but reminders may help you remember when it is time to accomplish them.
For example, if you don’t have your planner and you just came out of class, your phone may remind you to jot down the assignment or start studying for a test.
Reminders are basically your backup planner for items you may forget about from time to time.
When studying, avoid distractions.
This is arguably one of the most difficult time management strategies for students to master.
We like diversions. When we don’t want to perform a hard job, we enjoy procrastination.
Here’s what I suggest you start doing right now…
Turn off your phone for chores that require more than 30 minutes.
Set your computer to full-screen mode to prevent opening more tabs.
Only listen to music that is intended to help you concentrate (songs without lyrics)
Study with a full stomach and a glass of water nearby.
Make a list of the four bullet points above and tape it on the wall in front of your desk so you don’t forget!
We become sidetracked by everything and everything, so shut them out for good while you’re studying.
How to Improve the Efficiency of Your Studying Time
For the most effective studying method, a unique formula was developed. I exclusively use this technique now, and it works well!
The Pomodoro Technique is what it’s called, and here’s how it works:
25 minutes of work
Take a five-minute break.
Rep 4 times more.
Take a lengthier 30-minute rest after the fourth round.
This technique provides incredible memory retention and will eventually save you time in the long run!
To keep on track, I suggest setting a timer for the 25-minute intervals. Instead of using your phone during breaks, go get some water or a portion of food.
Using this approach in conjunction with tip #4 may help you remain motivated and continue to study hard.
Multitasking Will Destroy Your Results
I can’t speak for everyone since some individuals can make it work. However, if you’re considering multitasking, I’d advise against it.
Getting multiple things done at the same time statistically does not make sense if you want to be 100% efficient. It is nearly impossible to devote your full attention to two projects at the same time.
Furthermore, all of the other time management tips for students are sufficient to avoid the need to multitask in the first place. Use the other suggestions to make high school and college easier for yourself.
Reduce Deadlines
There is a theory about minimizing deadlines that states that we give ourselves too much time to complete tasks, which reduces our efficiency.
For example, if you have an essay due in three weeks, reduce the deadline to one week. On top of that, when you actually start the essay, give yourself 3 hours instead of the whole day to write it.
For some reason, we can complete tasks faster than we think! This can be a useful asset to keep in mind when you feel like your schedule is extra busy.
The 2-Minute Rule
Similar to minimizing deadlines, we tend to leave the easiest tasks for last.
These tasks can include washing a bowl after eating from it, doing laundry, writing something down, sending a teacher an email, etc.
Here’s what the 2-minute rule suggests…
If it takes 2 minutes or less to do something, do it right away.
This may be difficult for you at first, but from someone who always does this now, I can say that I feel so much more organized. Following this rule has changed my time management tremendously (and for the better)!
How to Organize Time Spent on Each Class
The best way to remember how to do this is by following these steps:
Make a syllabus outline with all of the dates of major deadlines for the semester
Color code the outline (use a different color for every class) (use a different color for every class)
Use the above time management tips on prioritization to order the importance of the tasks
Split your time according to when tasks are due and how long it takes to do them
Everybody will have a different way to do this. This method is simply what has worked for my friends and me. The most important thing to keep in mind for this is your syllabus due dates. That’s your main focus for splitting up the time properly.
How to Start Managing Your Time Today
It will be hard for you to start implementing these tips if you say you’ll do it later.
Now is not the time (no pun intended) to wait for your schedule to magically appear in front of you. Here’s what you can do right this second:
Make a list of your deadlines for the semester
Get yourself a planner on amazon
Write out your personal goals (long and short term) (long and short term)
Make your schedule for tomorrow
Set reminders to start working o
