~ April Issue ~
 

Stop the Clock! Time Management Skills
By Lindsey Saldin, Staff Writer
 

It may seem like students are constantly in a race against the clock, but it does not take Father Time to plan one’s day. When the nights get later and later after all the homework and school activities, it might seem as if twenty-four hours per day is not long enough to get everything done. While one cannot add hours to the day, some time management skills can help students make time work for them instead of against them. Everyone can improve from these steps, especially if they have to pull all-nighters or wake up early in the morning to get their grade. With proper planning, discipline, and willpower, even the worst habits can be changed to maximize every precious second. As the self-help book 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens indicates, usually students belong in one of four categories: the procrastinator, the yes-man, the slacker, and the prioritizer.

Procrastinators wait until the day before to study for a test, or are usually up late Sunday night doing their homework. This person thrives on pressure, yet with better planning they could produce work that reflects their full potential. Anyone can be stuck in this category occasionally, but it is important to change the habits that stem from a natural tendency to wait to do unpleasant tasks later instead of doing them right away. Procrastination comes from either a fear of failure, lack of interest, or distractions from the environment – it is important to understand the cause and then combat it. Procrastinators should make sure they are working in an environment free from temptations, and schedule important tasks when they are at their peak, and not feeling tired and uninterested.

 The yes-man tries to please everyone and cannot say no to people or activities, even if it is inconvenient because they do not want to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings. For yes-people to change, they have to realize they are not acting selfishly if they are available for others only part of the day. One does not always have to answer telephone calls, text messages, or emails, which usually are neither urgent nor important. They cater to everyone else’s needs, but not their own. Yes-people have all the more reason to plan their time because if they have time blocked out for homework or projects, it gives them a valid reason to say “no” to those who constantly ask for a spare minute.  

The slacker does everything in excess and is one of the worst categories to find oneself in. Television, the Internet, and relaxation are acceptable in moderate amounts, but slackers never seem to know when enough is enough. To stop this behavior, it has to come from a conscientious change to know the difference between taking a quick break from work and not just wasting away the hours. Slackers should identify the time-wasters and diminish or delete them, and readjust their priorities.

The prioritizer is what everyone should strive for. These people look at the tasks they wish to complete and prioritize them as of A, B, and C importance, making sure to get everything that is most important done first. They do not overdo when something simpler will suffice, are not slaves to technology, and do not allow interruptions. They lead a balanced life with enough time for homework, exercise, friendships, family, and relaxation. Prioritizers are realistic with the goals they wish to accomplish and complete something whether they want to do it or not.

If someone finds they do not fit into any of the categories but are still pressed for time, it could be they are simply taking on too much. No matter how effectively one is able to plan their time, if he or she is just too busy, there is no solution. Then one has to make the hard decision to pick and choose what they want to do, because no one can do everything. Everyone should know their personal limits.

Whatever category a student is in now, it is possible to get to the category of excellence, the prioritizer – it just takes change. Time cannot stand still, but by becoming a prioritizer, it will be as if one has rewound the clock and suddenly has more hours to lead a balanced life.