Time Management 101: Teen Edition

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Your busy school schedule can make it hard for you to manage your time effectively—it happens to all of us! When things get rough, it becomes easy to feel overwhelmed and lose focus on what is important. Balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, part-time job, and family can be tough. On top of that, you still want to have time for friends, hobbies, relaxing and sleeping.

Poor time management can make you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and frustrated, which increases your stress levels and can cause mental health challenges (De-Juanas et al., 2020). Improving how you manage your time can help you reduce anxiety, improve your focus and productivity, and is good for your overall well-being (Aeon et al., 2021).

Time management is all about how you structure your day, set boundaries, and being flexible when life throws you a curveball. As you get older and take on more responsibility, being good at managing your time becomes even more important. It can make your life a whole lot easier and less stressful. This balance helps to reduce stress, prevent burnout, promote balance, and build healthier habits. Essentially, effective time management is self-care, and it can be fun at the same time!

Our Ranking System

Here, we have ranked some of our favorite time management strategies, diving into their pros and cons. We rated techniques/apps based on ease of use, enjoyment, customization and our overall experience trying them. Different strategies might work better for different people, so you might find some strategies work better for you than others, or some are better at different points in your life. So, let's explore in more detail on how we can make time management work for you!

Me+ App

Me+ is the ultimate colorful app packed with tools for self-care! Its main feature is a customizable time management task list where you can jazz up your tasks with different colors, icons, and set reminders for specific times. And that is not all—the "discover" tab has tons of categories for improving self-care, from workout challenges to tips on keeping your room tidy, getting better sleep, developing study habits, and even crafting a killer morning routine. And do not forget about the "library" tab. It is loaded with resources like a mood tracker, journal, quick workout videos, meditation tool, sleep tracker, relaxing music, and uplifting phrases!

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Me+ is also about personalization and fun! You can customize your routine with vibrant themes and celebrate completed tasks as the calendar icon transforms from silver to gold. The handy reminders keep you on track, and the toolkit has resources for motivation boosts.

Pros:

·       Mental health boost: Adding personal time to your task list makes it easier to prioritize yourself.

·       Reflection made simple: The mood tracker and journal make it easy to reflect on how your week went.

·       Multiple resources: Access multiple resources to stay inspired and motivated.

·       Enhanced Time Management: Use the Self-Care Plan tool to connect with other apps and influencers for effective time management strategies.

Cons:

·       Limited Free Resources: The premium version means not all resources are accessible for free.

·       Procrastination Trigger: The "skip" option for tasks can make it tempting to procrastinate.

Source:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/me-daily-routine-planner/id1596403446

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=daily.planner.routine.habits&pcampaignid=web_share (Reviewed by Rose M)

Pomodoro Technique:

Here's how it works: you set a timer for 25 minutes and begin your task without any distractions. Once the timer beeps, you take a quick 5-minute break to recharge your batteries. Then, you dive back in for another round of focused work. This cycle of work and breaks keeps you feeling energized and totally on point. After 4 pomodoro cycles, you get to take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

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What's awesome about Pomodoro is that it breaks big tasks into smaller, doable chunks. No more feeling overwhelmed by giant projects – you tackle them one Pomodoro at a time. Plus, it prevents burnout. Those regular breaks keep your brain feeling fresh and ready to crush it.

Pros:

·       Increased Focus: By working in short, focused productivity, the Pomodoro Technique helps you focus better on tasks without distraction.

·       Enhanced Productivity: Breaking tasks into smaller chunks making it easier to stay motivated and increase productivity within a set timeframe.

·       Prevents Burnout: Regular breaks prevent mental fatigue and burnout, keeping you feeling energized throughout your work sessions.

Cons:

·       Rigidity: You may find the strict time intervals and breaks too rigid.

·       Interruptions: Unexpected interruptions can throw off the Pomodoro cycles, potentially affecting productivity.

·       Task Suitability: Not all tasks are suitable for Pomodoro sessions, especially those requiring creative thinking that may benefit from longer uninterrupted periods.

Source:

https://science.nichd.nih.gov/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=160956640 (Reviewed by: Lucy G)

Agenda:

An Agenda is a handy tool that may help teenagers manage their time successfully. It is simply a printed or electronic timetable that details the duties and tasks that must be done within a set time range. In today's fast-paced world, when you must continuously balance school, extracurricular activities, social circles, and personal obligations, having a well-organized schedule might be a lifesaver.

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Pros:

• Helps with prioritization: This is ideal for prioritizing duties for upcoming tasks and obligations, allowing you to prevent last-minute rush and stress.

• Reduces stress: By breaking down their activities into smaller, more manageable portions and setting deadlines, you may escape stress.

• Increases productivity: With a well-planned schedule, you may be motivated to accomplish tasks and have a feeling of success at the end of the day.

Cons:

• Time Consuming: It can be time-consuming, particularly if you have a large number of chores and assignments.

• Can be Lost or Forgotten: You might forget to take your agendas to school or lose them, defeating the point of having them.

• Limited room: Some agendas may have little space to record tasks.

Source:

Agenda (Reviewed by: Avneet K)

Time Blocking

                  Sometimes when we know we have 2 weeks to do something, we don’t work efficiently because the deadline still feels far away. One way to beat this is with time blocking. You figure out how long it will take to do something and divide the time into manageable chunks across several days. For example, if you normally need 4 hours to complete an essay that is due in one week, then you can divide those four hours into 30-minute intervals across the week.

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Pros:

·       Focus: Time segment allows you to focus more on the task at hand.

·       Organization: Keeps you more organized, enabling efficient study time with a clearer finish time.

·       Achievements: Allows you to see your accomplishments and get motivated.

Cons:

·       Distractions: You can get sidetracked easily if you do not get rid of distractions.

·       Not an easy interface: You have to learn how it works if you want to properly use customization features.

·       Time consuming: You need to spend some time in order to plan, but if done correctly you will save time in the long run.

Source:

https://app.timecamp.com/app#/timesheets/timer  (Reviewed by: Michelle S)

Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a great tool for organizing tasks based on how urgent and important they are. It helps you figure out what needs your attention right away and what can wait. You can prioritize your tasks into these categories:

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1. Important and Urgent: These tasks need immediate attention, such as urgent deadlines or critical projects.

2. Important but NOT Urgent: Tasks crucial for long-term goals, like studying for future tests or learning new skills.

3. Urgent but NOT Important: Distractions that seem urgent but do not contribute much to your goals.

4. NOT Urgent and NOT Important: Tasks of low priority, like social media browsing or watching random videos.

Using the Eisenhower Matrix is like having a roadmap for your day, so you will know exactly what needs prioritization. It helps you to reduce stress and helps you get more done without feeling overwhelmed.

Pros:

·       Clear Prioritization: It helps you focus on what’s important.

·       Increased Productivity: Helps you get more done in less time.

·       Improved Decision-Making: Makes you better at choosing what to do first.

Cons:

·       Not Perfect for Every Situation: Some tasks may not fit neatly into the categories.

·       Requires Discipline: You need to stick to your plan and be disciplined.

·       Risk of Overthinking: Don’t spend too much time categorizing tasks.

Source:

https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/ (Reviewed by: Kiera M)

Takeaways:

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In a nutshell, mastering time management is a game-changer if you are juggling busy schedules. The strategies we have shared, can help you handle your responsibilities while staying organized. Remember, effective time management not only helps you stay on top of your tasks, but also reduces stress, boosts productivity, and frees up your time for much needed rest!

Call-to-Action:

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Take control of your time by exploring these techniques and apps, then share your success stories with us! Here's to a more organized and fulfilling journey ahead!

Credits:

Researchers: Rose Morel, Lucy Go, Avneet Kooner, Kiera McKelvey, Michelle Stephenson

Writers & Reviewers: Rose Morel, Lucy Go, Avneet Kooner, Kiera McKelvey, Michelle Stephenson

Editors: Lucy Go, Rose Morel, Avneet Kooner

Reference:

Aeon, B., Faber, A., & Panaccio, A. (2021). Does time management work? A meta-analysis. PloS one, 16(1), e0245066. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245066

De-Juanas, Á., García-Castilla, F. J., Galán-Casado, D., & Díaz-Esterri, J. (2020). Time management by young people in social difficulties: Suggestions for improving their life trajectories. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 9070. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239070

Sanders, B. (2021). The benefits of half hour time blocking. BenefitsPRO, https://libaccess.senecapolytechnic.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade- journals/benefits-half-hour-time-blocking/docview/2539360148/se-2