January 2025
The New Year brings resolutions to manage time more effectively. High school students especially think about time management, with busy and bifurcated lives as you bounce from class to job, from sports to home, and – let’s not forget – to friends!
But before you buy a planner and resolve to “Manage My Time Better,” do this instead. . .
The Unique Problem Facing High School Students
High school students don’t get to choose much that they do. Classes are mandated, paper topics assigned, job schedules posted, practice times announced, and even certain extracurriculars are expected from parents or peers.
Recently, one of my students lamented that very little in her life seems to come from “inside.” “It’s all outside expectations,” she complained to me. She must take THIS math course, rather than the one she wants, because of college admissions. She must play THIS sport because her mother played it during her high school days -- but she has never liked it.
Frankly, it’s hard to manage your time when it only holds tasks you don’t like. Instead of getting on with the task, you’ll distract yourself, get down on yourself, and -- when you’re finally into the task -- you’ll struggle to do your best.
Find Your “Inside” Motivation
How can you motivate yourself, with the “outside” demands of high school?
Break apart the “task” into what you like to do or want to develop.
Each “task” you’re facing isn’t one single activity. Every task is really a complex set of actions.
For example, writing a short paper for school isn’t just “writing.” It’s . . .
brainstorming with teachers, classmates or parents,
researching through websites, books, or interviews,
integrating your paper topic with something current in the news or an issue that touches your own life,
creating a metaphor or concept that will hold your ideas together,
presenting your findings to the class with a speech or visual presentation. . . .
Look at that list: brainstorming socially, researching deeply, creating poetically, relating to current news or personal issues, communicating through speech or visual presentation. See all those verbs of action?
Are one of those actions something you already enjoy doing or want to develop?
Make that action your motivation, instead of simply, “Writing a Paper.”
Here’s another example. One of my own kids dreaded the Swim Team he had just joined. It seemed to him like one single, repetitive activity of swimming countless lanes, diving into cold water most days at 6AM.
But the Swim Team became more motivating when he embraced some of its range of activities, like. . .
working out in the weight room,
offering quiet encouragement to teammates going through tough times,
managing team activities like meals, travel, and celebrations,
communicating with teammates and parents through regular email newsletters,
increasing his mental and physical fitness for the activities he truly loved.
Time Management Made Easier
When Life or School hands you an “outside” task you don’t want but can't dodge, find your Inside Motivation.
Each time you face that unwanted task, remember your Inside Motivation. It’s that compelling thing you already love doing or want to develop in your life.
Now, you’re managing your motivation. That’s the secret of productivity.
Time management just got easier when you’re managing tasks you love.
But, WHAT Do I Love?
Are wondering what activities you do love or want to develop? Contact me for an easy, online questionnaire that helps you zero in on what brings you joy or sparks your ambition. It also identifies those activities you're disinterested in, or you've been good at but now burn you out.
Can you manage 25 minutes?