3 answers
ella
Student
Ellicott City, Maryland
3
Questions
Asked
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How can I manage my time?
What is the best way to manage your time? I am a student athlete and I play 2 high school and 2 club sports. I currently have a 3.6 gpa which is good but I feel stressed all of the time during the sports season because I feel like I never have time to study or get homework done. I am also a very social person so on top of all of that I want to spend time with my friends outside of sports and school. How can I manage my time better?
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3 answers
Randy Rose
VP, Security Operations & Intelligence
1
Answer
New York, NY
Updated
Randy’s Answer
I know your pain. I am someone who likes to do everything and pack my time with more and more and more. But it's important to remember that everything you choose to say "Yes" to is something else you have to say "No" to. For example, because you play 2 sports for HS and 2 club sports, you're saying "No" to time for homework, studying, sleep, friends and family, and probably several other interests you might have.
The most practical advice I can give is to say "No" to one of the sports you're playing (or for others with the same problem but without the sports, say "No" to 1 thing that's eating up your time). Pick the one that is either giving you the least satisfaction or doing you the most harm (as in, taking up more time than it is providing you benefits).
Another thing you can try is to maximize your other time. No one said you have to study all at once. Perhaps studying in small chunks of time is actually better, so keep your notes handy and study a little while you eat breakfast, while you stretch, while you brush your teeth, etc. Choose to turn off your device (no doomscrolling!) and maybe opt for less TV time (or whatever your recreational poison is) so you have more time for the things you NEED to do.
Get good sleep, but not too much sleep! As Dante said "Under the blankets is no way to fame." But if you can focus on a good routine that allows you to go to sleep at the same time (preferably fairly early) and get up early, you can be productive while everyone else is still asleep. That quiet time in the morning while your mind is fresh can allow you to get in good study and homework time and help you retain more of what you study.
Finally, humans learn best when they can connect knew knowledge to knowledge they already have. So develop good study techniques that allow you to remember new material easier by aligning it to things you know well (e.g., sports, math, music, etc.). Rather than have to study the same things over and over, get the most out of your time with studying focused on association and connection.
Practice saying "No" to stuff
Split your study & homework time into smaller chunks (but make sure they're productive)
Develop a good sleep routine so you can get up early and get started on your studying & homework before your day gets hectic
Learn new ways to maximize your retention of information from your studies by connecting it to prior knowledge; you have to find what works for you specifically
The most practical advice I can give is to say "No" to one of the sports you're playing (or for others with the same problem but without the sports, say "No" to 1 thing that's eating up your time). Pick the one that is either giving you the least satisfaction or doing you the most harm (as in, taking up more time than it is providing you benefits).
Another thing you can try is to maximize your other time. No one said you have to study all at once. Perhaps studying in small chunks of time is actually better, so keep your notes handy and study a little while you eat breakfast, while you stretch, while you brush your teeth, etc. Choose to turn off your device (no doomscrolling!) and maybe opt for less TV time (or whatever your recreational poison is) so you have more time for the things you NEED to do.
Get good sleep, but not too much sleep! As Dante said "Under the blankets is no way to fame." But if you can focus on a good routine that allows you to go to sleep at the same time (preferably fairly early) and get up early, you can be productive while everyone else is still asleep. That quiet time in the morning while your mind is fresh can allow you to get in good study and homework time and help you retain more of what you study.
Finally, humans learn best when they can connect knew knowledge to knowledge they already have. So develop good study techniques that allow you to remember new material easier by aligning it to things you know well (e.g., sports, math, music, etc.). Rather than have to study the same things over and over, get the most out of your time with studying focused on association and connection.
Randy recommends the following next steps:
Tom Clement
Manage a training business
8
Answers
Wiscasset, Maine
Updated
Tom’s Answer
A "to do list" can truly be your personal lifesaver. It's like a roadmap for your day, guiding you through the tasks you need to tackle. Prioritize this list and relish the satisfaction that comes from crossing off completed tasks. Remember, it's okay not to have time for everything - that's why prioritizing is crucial. There's a plethora of handy apps out there designed to help you plan and manage your time effectively. Give a few of them a whirl and discover which one suits you best. Here's to your success!
tarana hudson
customer service
1
Answer
Huntsville, Alabama
Updated
tarana’s Answer
First let me say geat job and congratulations on maintaining a 3.6 gpa with a busy schedule like yours. One option i suggest even being older is to purchase you a planner or to setup a planner on your device for better time management. Working with children i always feel like i don't have time for myself, so i list all the responsibilities i have to do for that week and i also schedule me time between. to me it has helped me stay focus and not so overwhelmed because im not trying to keep in my memorized and i see the hours within the week to schedule more proactively. Hope this helps you out!!
Tarana
Tarana