Timely Troubles: How do you manage your life?
More stories from Brooklyn Norrell
Juggling sports, school, and work is a very difficult task for students at Carlisle High.
School for seven hours, sports half the week, work the other half, not getting home until eight or nine o’clock at night, about an hour of homework, relaxation for another hour, sleep for about seven hours of sleep; repeat.
That is the average teen schedule.
Although this schedule seems completely manageable and orderly, it can become very hectic due to time management issues.
Time management amongst teenagers is one of the most difficult issues they face. Between school, sports, jobs, and other extra curriculars – teens become some of the busiest people out there.
The issue within time management begins with students having a hard time keeping track of their obligations, misjudging how much time and effort one project can take, easily getting frustrated, and having trouble with multi-step processes.
Managing time can look overwhelming and feel like more of a hassle than a benefit.
According to Glencoe’s Health Bulletin on Time Management for Teens, “they must make choices on how to spend their time—back to priorities.”
Priorities that is the key to time management. School should always be the first priority and if work or sports start to affect school, then talk to a coach or boss about different solutions to the issue.
There are some great tips out there to help teens get their life back on track.
“Once you decide to start you homework, don’t mess around; just focus and get it done,” freshman Delaney Thomas suggests.
Along with not messing around, junior Melisa Kadiric says to “Plan ahead. Don’t leave schoolwork for last minute.”
Senior Anna Walters gives advice on better time management skill by stating, “Don’t procrastinate as much as I do (which is a lot). You’ll feel less stressed when you get assignments done days before a deadline (you’ll thank me later for not having to stay up until 3 a.m. or so)… Use your study halls wisely and to your advantage! You can get a lot done and be productive if you focus and set goals.”
Another great tip is to “start doing your schoolwork and try not getting distracted with anything,” in terms of after a practice or game or work, states Iago Sanchez, junior.
In the end, just don’t forget that time management is key in getting through the everyday life struggles of the average teen.
Want to help the Herd? Please consider supporting the Periscope program. Your donation will support the student journalists of CHS and allow us to purchase equipment, send students to workshops/camps, and cover our annual website hosting costs.
Brooklyn Norrell is currently a senior at Carlisle Area High School and this is her third year in Periscope. Brooklyn is the student life section editor...
Christopher Pratt • Oct 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
I often misjudge “how much time and effort one project can take”, throwing off my entire schedule. Not procrastinating would probably lessen the devastation of a project that takes far longer than expected. Excuses and unanticipated events can also throw off a tightly packed schedule. I think the key, if you are someone who procrastinates, is to have enough time to make mistakes in your schedule, but not so much that you end up lost. Creating a schedule to follow is easy. Following it is the challenge.