It’s that time of year again: summer is over, school is back in session, and stress is building up. It’s not new–we go through this every year. But many students feel additional stress after falling behind. They may forget to do their homework or study for a test; this is normal, and many of us learn the hard way. However, there are ways to get ahead this school year, including good time management habits. In this article, I will discuss some ways that you can make this school year the best one yet, starting with pure organization. 

You’ll forget many things you learn in high school, but important life skills–such as time management–will last a long time. According to IB Junior Gwendolyn Connors, “if we don’t have time management, nothing gets done.” She adds that she has seen some of her friends struggle with managing their time, and that it is something to take seriously. Especially in the IB program, we all know someone who struggles-not due to the work, but because he or she doesn’t know how to manage it. For those not in IB, it’s still important to learn this skill because we will be adults before we know it. Going into college with this skill will put us ahead of our peers, regardless of our backgrounds. 

Personally, I learned the importance of managing my time the hard way. Freshman year of IB was a definite wake up call. I didn’t fail any tests, but I did forget to complete my homework a couple of times. I also procrastinated homework for my block classes because it wasn’t due for three days. I underestimated how much time it would take me to complete homework, therefore adding extra stress onto my life. I always considered myself an organized person, until that year. I quickly realized I had to figure something out, or else I would not survive this program. I got a physical planner and experimented with it. It took several weeks, but I eventually found a system that worked for me. Over the past couple years, I’ve updated my system. Initially, I only used a physical planner, but now I also use Google calendar for events, the Notebook app for individual todo lists, and my phone reminders for little things (i.e. submitting completed homework assignments). I also color code everything by subject, extracurricular activity, and significance of events. Yes, this may seem over the top, but this works for me, and it has reduced my stress tremendously. 

For the new freshmen–both traditional and IB–be prepared for a new educational journey. High school is not the same as middle school. We are treated like young adults, and it’s critical we meet that standard. IB Junior Julian Muëtzel advises freshmen to “not procrastinate” and “get your homework done as soon as possible.” Muëtzel admits he doesn’t have the best time management and that he’d have at least 20 hours of free time per week if he didn’t procrastinate. 

Of course, this is easier said than done. I’m an IB junior, and I’m still figuring it out. Every year is different, so it’s important to adjust accordingly. If time management itself stresses you out, that’s perfectly understandable. But it’s necessary to take time to figure out what works for you. You may think it’s a waste of time, but in my opinion, it makes the week so much easier. Every Sunday, I block out around fifteen minutes to write my week in my physical planner. I record all my events, due dates, and I color code them so I can see what is important. Then, I plan my homework time around the “non-negotiables.” This includes free periods, free time at home, etc. This may seem dumb, but it helps me start the week off fresh. If I go into the week without a plan, I feel stressed that I won’t know how to use my time. 

Time management is not an easy skill to learn. It takes practice–no one gets it right the first time around. As Connors says, “it’s okay if it takes time to find what works for you.” For example, I hate using the calendars on physical planners. However, there are people who absolutely love these calendars, hence why there are more flavors than chocolate and vanilla.

Hopefully you found this article useful. At the end of the day, it’s up to you how you’d like to approach time management. If writing down due dates on sticky notes is your forte, who is anyone to judge? Bottom line, you’re going to inevitably struggle at something in high school. Having good time management does not eliminate stress entirely, but it is a big help. I wish you the best of luck on your time management journey!!