During this (and every other) holiday season, it is important to take stock not just of what we want, but what we already have. Each one of us has as many seconds, minutes, and hours in a day as anyone else. How we allocate that time makes all the difference, which is why we’re sharing our 12 Days of Time Management for Teens:
Prioritize Wisely
While most modern high school students may not understand exactly what life as an adult holds, many are juggling just as many commitments. Even worse, each teacher seems to think that his or her subject is more important than the rest, while coaches and activity directors also demand unwavering commitment. What is a teen to do?
Successful professionals in every field know the simple secret to massive productivity: prioritize wisely. Evaluate everything on your plate and determine which tasks or commitments outrank the rest. This concept seems simple, but when you’ve seen as many students sacrifice their grades for responsibilities that were, in the grand scheme, far less important than academics, you want to share this advice early and often.
For most college-bound students, academics should be the main priority. Test prep should, at the right time, also take its place at the top of the to-do list. Extracurricular activities typically deserve lower priority status unless a student is being recruited for a particular sport or skill by colleges. Other commitments, like part-time jobs and social engagements, should give way to high priorities when necessary.
If you don’t make room for the Big Rocks of Life first, you’ll never fit them in. Prioritize your time and focus wisely to succeed wildly!
The 12 Days of Time Management for Teens is inspired by and draws liberally from Etienne Garbugli’s excellent Slideshare presentation, 26 Time Management Hacks I Wish I’d Known at 20. Obviously, we think this advice is valuable even for students younger than 20!
Mike Bergin