Do after school sports or jobs get in the way of finishing your school work. Are you staying up way after midnight getting everything done? How about just finding the time to relax and rest? These are problems that we as high school students face daily since we are overloaded with work. Students are forced to decide which priorities should be focused on but there are ways that can help you get everything done.

Write Everything Down: As students we are always forgetting to do something and have to rush to get it done at the last minute. This can be fixed by writing what needs to be done for the day in a notebook or planner. In it write all the assignments you get each day, this will help you remember everything you have. Write down all the activities you have for the week. This includes appointments, practices and games, work day, and after school activities. By doing this at the start of the week, you will feel more organized and will be able to see when you have spare time to get your schoolwork finished.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep: Sleep is a student’s worst enemy. Staying up past midnight is way too common and not healthy for our growing bodies. Most of us wake up between 6 and 7 AM, which we constantly complain is too early. Getting an extra hour or two of sleep will make the following day so much easier and help us focus in school. It is very difficult to get more than six hours of sleep but it does make a difference and you will feel better.

Do Not Procrastinate: High school students have a huge problem with procrastinating by pushing everything off last minute and it just makes everything worse. Instead of waiting to write the essay or do a project the night before, do little by little each night and then have everything finished the night before it is due. You will feel so much better knowing you will not have to pull an all-nighter to finish it and your grade will be a lot better because you had the time to put in all of your effort.

Use Your Time Wisely: Any spare or free time you get in-between practice or work would be the perfect time to get some work done. When I get home from school on days that I work, I try and get as much of my homework done in the two hour time frame so that when I get home later, I do not have a ton of homework to do. Whether it is thirty minutes or two hours, that time can help get things done and you lift a weight off of your shoulders knowing that you got something finished.

Saying “No” Is Good: Hate when your boss asks you to stay later or when someone asks you to cover your shift, I know I do. Sometimes it is just not possible for me to cover someone else’s shift and I have to say no. It does not mean I am a bad employee but knowing that school work takes precedence is important. If your friends ask you to meet after school, tell them no. Most teens say yes and then end up staying out later than they expect, we need all the time we can get so let’s use it wisely.

Have Fun: As teens a social life is just as important, making the time to go out and hang with friends is healthy and after a long week that is all we need. Take the weekends to just relax and regroup for the next week. We all look forward to the weekend so make it count, being in a good mood can change your entire outlook on everything. It feels good to just be happy.

Time management not only makes our lives easier but can help us in our future. Whether we are in college or working it builds a foundation that can last many years.