Time Management & Productivity
If you're going to take anything from your time in high school to your future, at least make sure these two are key features. Both are fundamental aspects of being an efficient and effective student, allowing you to always put your best foot forward. Read below to find out some key aspects of time management & productivity.
Time Management
Why It's Important
Nearly every high school student will get busy with some combination of extracurriculars, sports, social life, home life, work, and academics, often with the later years of high school being the busiest they've ever been. Managing everything while also resting and avoiding burnout might seem impossible, but it can be achieved by properly delegating your time. Additionally, time management is a key life skill that will follow you in every aspect of life, so learning early will help immensely.
What to do
Generate a to-do list or some way to remember everything you need to do, even if you might not be able to do everything that you have planned. This allows you to keep track of everything and avoid forgetting crucial tasks. You can even organize a list by the importance or urgency of each task if you have a long list, to help knock out those tasks first. In the academic realm, make sure to notify your teachers if you're unable to finish assignments or homework on time. For example, if you come home at 11 after sports practice and work one day, ask your teachers for some help, they'll sometimes be lenient and give extensions, but only when you ask.
What Not to Do
Wrapping up the section above, don't be nervous or shy to ask for help from anyone if you need it. Ask your teachers if you need extensions, ask your family for help with chores if you're busy, or even ask coaches if you have urgent scheduling conflicts. Don't procrastinate to the point where you submit every assignment minutes before the deadline. While procrastinating is something many people will do at some point, completing tasks and assignments with time to spare can ease your load and help you avoid missing assignments.
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Productivity
Working and studying efficiently and effectively will allow you to become better at time management and avoid getting distracted. This allows you to put your best effort in while making sure to manage stress and burnout. Additionally, productivity is also a life skill that will go a long way in high school, college, and the workforce.
What to Do
Learning different studying and note-taking methods can be a great first step in becoming a productive student. During your first couple of years in high school, when you'll most likely have the most time to experiment with new methods, try out various studying and note-taking methods to see which one fits you the best. While you may feel like the method you use is already working, there might be other ways to do it faster or better.
What Not to Do
Make sure to avoid distractions when working. Whether that looks like working in a silent room or putting your phone on do not disturb might be different for each person, but it's important to learn things you might need to avoid when you're trying to do some work. Additionally, there's nothing wrong with taking a break now and then when you're working, but make sure to do it strategically. You likely don't need to take breaks every 10 minutes or take 30-minute breaks after working for only 20 minutes. Maintaining the right balance might take some time and often differs from person to person.