How to manage your time
Time management is figuring out how to use your time wisely so you can get things done without feeling too stressed or overwhelmed. Maybe it’s planning out your day or week in a way that helps you balance school, activities, work, other responsibilities, and free time.
Why is it important? Well, without good time management, you might end up rushing to finish things at the last minute (or not finishing them), which can make you feel anxious or even cause you to let yourself and others down.
Managing your time well helps you stay on top of your responsibilities, gives you more control over your schedule, and leaves room for fun and relaxation.
Think about it like this: time is something you can’t get back, so learning to manage it means you can do the things you need to do (like homework, chores, a shift at work) and still have time for the things you want to do (like hanging out with friends, gaming, or your hobbies).
Plus, it helps build good habits for the future, whether that's in school, your job, or just everyday life.
When you manage your time well, you’ll feel more organized and less stressed while having more time for the things you enjoy!
Practical tips for managing your time
-
Write down what you need to do each day or week and prioritize the most important tasks. You could use your notes app on your phone or try a new app like Google Tasks or Smile Todo.
-
If something feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller, manageable pieces.
-
Set aside time to focus on one thing at a time (like studying without checking your phone).
-
Give yourself a certain amount of time for each task so you don’t spend too long on one thing. You could even reward yourself after you’ve dedicated a certain amount of time to a task.
-
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018, November 28). Teens and their experiences on social media. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-and-their-experiences-on-social-media/
Bruce, E. S., Lunt, L., & McDonagh, J. E. (2017). Sleep in adolescents and young adults. Clinical Medicine, 17(5), 424–428. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.17-5-424
Cregg, D. R., & Cheavens, J. S. (2022). Healing through helping: An experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695
Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76(76), 320–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.02.014
Dickens, L. R. (2017). Using gratitude to promote positive change: A series of meta-analyses investigating the effectiveness of gratitude interventions. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 39(4), 193–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2017.1323638
Gautam, S., Jain, A., Chaudhary, J., Gautam, M., Gaur, M., & Grover, S. (2024). Concept of mental health and mental well-being, its determinants and coping strategies. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 66(Suppl 2), S231–S244. https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_707_23
Halperin, D. (2014). Environmental noise and sleep disturbances: A threat to health? Sleep Science, 7(4), 209–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2014.11.003
Jo A, I., John M, M., & Nicola S, S. (2021). The Association between Gratitude and Depression: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.23937/2643-4059/1710024
Ko, K., Margolis, S., Revord, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1663252
Medic, G., Wille, M., & Hemels, M. (2017). Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nature and Science of Sleep, 9(9), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s134864
Melbourne, P. N. H. and D. S. D. D., University of. (2021, July 19). Mental health ≠ wellbeing. Pursuit. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/mental-health-wellbeing
Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(1), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.09.002