In today’s society, there is tremendous pressure for young people to be involved in everything. While teens are able to successfully manage their activities with ease, others are struggling to find time to eat on a regular basis. This imbalance is causing major problems not just during their time in high school, but as they continue on to college and/or into the work force. It is quite clear that this is an issue that should not go unnoticed, especially with the craziness of the holidays approaching quickly. There are two main methods to efficient and effective time management: prioritization and organization.
Prioritization is the key to time management. Students and young adults today are continuously being pressured to get involved. Although students are necessary to help schools function, there is a point where students become exhausted and can no longer participate. This point is reached when a student continues to become involved in unnecessary activities that they find physically and emotionally draining. If students allow these draining responsibilities to get in the way of what they love or what is mandatory, it may cause them to become fatigued and ultimately burnt out. Students need to prioritize which activities are most important and then make selections of those in which the student will be involved. Failure to do so will cause all the activities you are involved in to suffer. Aristotle is quoted as saying, “A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.” Likewise this can be said of activities in a person’s life. Ironically, “it's the good things that often get in the ways of the best,” says noted best-selling author and conference speaker, Andy Stanley. Although saying “no” can be seen as a missed opportunity, it also can mean saying yes to a better one.
After the student has made these prioritized selections, a great way to keep everything organized is to use a calendar/agenda to keep their chosen activities easily accessible. The most popular, easiest, and efficient way to organize is to create a master calendar. Popular online or network-based calendars are Google Calendar (provided by Goolge), Teamup calendar (provided by teamup.com) and iCal (provided by Apple, Inc.). With just a few clicks, the calendar user is able to schedule, change, delete and set reminders for upcoming events. Within a few seconds, a schedule is set. Most network calendars can be reached with just the touch of an app. There is always the option to purchase a paper calendar to carry as well. The ease of use of a calendar is by far the most important aspect of a calendar, so choose the one that works best for the student. It is difficult to double book or overload a day with the entire day laid out. Calendars are quick, easy, efficient, and a great way to stay organized not just during the school year, but for the rest of one’s life. Not to mention, some of the paper calendars/planners are so dang cute!
Participating in extra-curricular activities can be entertaining and beneficial to those who participate. They give students an opportunity to discover who they are and make life-long friendships in the meantime. Thankfully these great aspects don't have to be at the cost of someone’s well being. If one learns to make prioritization and organization a habit as a student, they will not only be better prepared to effectively handle the challenges that a busy school schedule presents, but they will also be able to truly enjoy the journey through school and ultimately, through life.
