Time Management For High School Students: 22 Hacks

Looking to organize your life and make high school a breeze? We’ve gone to great lengths to make that a reality!

High school life requires a lot of time from students. There are lots of activities ready to drift you away from having total control of time.

Happily, this article comprehensively discussed time management for high school students.

You will learn what time management for students means, the importance, and 22 time management tips for high school students.

Does the list seem overwhelming? You have the liberty to pick the ones that best fit your circumstance.

Ready? Let’s not waste time!

What Is Time Management For Students?

Time management for students refers to the way students organize and plan how much time will be spent on specific tasks.

Good time management allows students to work smarter and not harder, helping them get a lot done in less time, even when the pressure is high and time is tight.

When a student fails to manage time effectively, it leads to stress and damages efficiency.

For some students, it seems there is never enough time during the day. Amazingly, some are still making good use of the twenty-four hours available to everyone.

So, what’s the secret? It’s good time management!

When you use the techniques of time management for high school students discussed here, you can achieve more with less time and enhance your ability to function more effectively.

But why is time management important for students?

Time Management For High School Students

Time management is so vital for high school students. For example, time management helps students:

• Attain greater efficiency and productivity
• Reduce stress
• Enhance opportunities for academic advancement
• Achieve career goals
• Earn a better reputation.

Time management for high school students is so important that failure to manage time effectively can lead to several undesirable outcomes. These include:

• Higher stress levels
• Poor work quality
• Missed assignments deadline

Now, to the main point, what are some strategies of time management for high school students? Let’s find out!

22 Time Management Tips For High School Students

1. Have A To-do List

Looks a lot like a cheap start? Not at all! Let me ask you this: Do you have a to-do list? If you answer no, just don’t ignore this point!

One of the first ways to manage your time as a high school student is to know what to do each morning.

In fact, time management experts call to-do lists the foundation of time management.

When you do not know what you should do, you’ll waste precious time finding out what you should do and when you should do it.

With a to-do list, you can allocate your time to several tasks that require your attention.

It might simply appear like you don’t need a to-do list. It is easy to think that by default, you know what to do.

While that might be true, and I won’t object to it, having a to-do list will make a world of difference when it comes to time management for high school students.

Your to-do list can have a not-to-do list. What does that mean? Here is a resource on what it is and what to add to a not-to-do list.

It can even give you further enlightenment on how to design your to-do list even during covid-19.

2. Get  A Weekly Schedule

You need a plan for the week. And that plan has to begin with a master schedule.

By default, many of your schedules are fixed. For instance, lessons and lectures are mandatory activities that are part of your day-to-day activities.

But outside of this schedule, you have your own time! 

You should split the time into blocks that include reading, research, eating, exercise, hobbies, sleeping, and socializing.

Okay, here is a disclaimer: You won’t always stick to your schedule!

This disclaimer is vital because it’s easy to lose grip on one’s schedule and drift off completely.

But having this in mind will prepare you ahead of the random event likely to happen in college.

There are times a quick drink can stealthily turn to an all-night party. This will make you wake up late, leaving you behind schedule.

But, stuff like this happens. I’ve been there. Don’t beat yourself when you experience it.

How can you beat this? Have a framework. 

That will help you get back on track each time you are off track.

Your schedule doesn’t mean that you’ll have to do similar tasks each week. 

Therefore, instead of having a Monday to Sunday schedule, you could start with 

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and so forth.

That way, each task can be unique for every week.

A well-planned schedule will ultimately result in effective time management.

Read Here: How To Make A Daily Schedule

3. Utilize ‘Dead Time’

Students have a lot of dead time in their lives. What exactly are dead times?

Those times you spend commuting, waiting for appointments, and queuing are activities that would waste our time.

While your phone can be an awful distraction, it is an effective tool for utilizing the dead time well.

So, how can you use these times? They are perfect for listening to audio recordings or checking your notes for exam revisions.

They can be a perfect time for researching online, reading notes, or even drafting an essay.

You can do these when you are traveling on public transport or when waiting to see a doctor.

Dead times shouldn’t be for watching movies, checking social media pages, or other less productive tasks.

4. Steer Clear Of Distractions

Avoiding distractions is one of the challenging time management tips for high school students to apply.

Some students fancy distractions. They love getting distracted with chats, social media recent updates, Twitter trends, Facebook and Instagram stories.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of distractions that come in student’s way. Sadly, distractions and procrastination go hand in hand.

It is easy to procrastinate when distraction sets in. But here is a recommendation:

• For tasks that take longer than thirty minutes, turn off your phone or set it on vibration.
• Let your computer be on full screen, so you wouldn’t have to open other tabs.
• If you have to listen to music, let it not be those with lyrics.
• Do not study on an empty stomach.
• Place water or candy next to you if you need to reward yourself.

Keep these bullet points on a piece of paper and stick them on your wall, desk, or system.

You can use the following technique for efficient study so you can avoid distractions. This formula is called Pomodoro techniques.

• Work or study for 25 min.
• Take a break for 5 min.
• Repeat the process four times.
• Then, after the fourth cycle, reward yourself with a 30 minutes break.

The rate of memory intention you’ll obtain from this method is quite fascinating, and it will help you save time too.

Set a timer for those cycles.

You can go beyond 25 minutes. What is more important is to know how long you can keep your focus. 

If your focus can endure for an hour, use that in place of 25 minutes.

5. Change Your Scenery

It is vital to get your environment right. 

For instance, some students have figured out that they cannot work well when their desks and surroundings are cluttered and untidy.

And that shows that we all have our preferences and idiosyncrasies.

For instance, some students will work better when there is music underground. Others will do better without music. 

Nevertheless, there are times when this environment will not be there for you. Therefore, do not be scared to change it a little.

A little switch might just be what you need.

• For instance, you might want to have your task done in a different room.
• You might want to sit under a tree
• Use a different floor
• Get a cup of coffee.

So, sometimes, you might just need a new environment that will help you stay focused!

6. Strop Procrastination

Okay, I’m sorry if this sounds like I’m judging. 

I really want to give you the benefit of the doubt that you aren’t a chronic procrastinator.

Is that a relief now? Great!

According to recent research, procrastination is one of the common ways students waste time. It subtly starts when you put off the task for a later time.

Happily, your to-do list and schedule will stand in for you! At least you have these two armies on standby. What else?

That leads us to the next point.

Also Explore: How To Stop Procrastination And Start Studying

7. Prioritize Tasks

As a high school student, do you know your priorities? You aren’t alone if you don’t!

It’s common among students to push aside more vital tasks.

When you do not know what your priorities are, you will emphasize things not needing urgent attention. Thus, you will spend time on less urgent tasks.

A well-prioritized life makes you less stressed and more effective. How do you prioritize?

It starts with your to-do list.

Go through what you’ve got to do for that day.

You should group similar tasks. For instance, use time and subject to group your tasks. For flexibility, you can use something else.

Then, number them in the order you wish to complete them.

Start the day with the easiest task so you can relieve anxiety and kick-start productivity.

Years ago, the feeling that I had a lot to accomplish was often discouraging. 

But with a prioritized to-do list, the anxiety has vanished.

If you have the same feeling, it could be that you’ve not taken time to prioritize your time. Give it a shot!

8. What Sleep Does

Late nights are part of college, and that’s undeniable. 

But if you want to manage your time as a student, you’ve got to make it a habit to get sufficient rest.

Many students might find it easier to stay throughout the night watching a movie or studying instead of jumping on their bed to have a nap.

It is also easier for students to feel like they’ve wasted time sleeping. 

But the reality is that healthy sleep is vital in limiting stress and helps people stay alert and go on with their tasks.

To manage your time more effectively, you should get quality sleep!

You can anticipate late nights during the weekend, but be more regular during the week as that will compensate for any loss during the weekend.

Occasionally, find time to sleep in the afternoon, and don’t feel guilty when you do.

Also Read: How To Break The Cycle Of Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night

9. Have Both Short Term And Long Term Goals

It is also crucial to have both short-term and long-term goals.

These are vital in helping you complete tasks effectively and faster.

What should your long-term goal looks like in reality? It could span from 1 week to 1 semester. 

Usually, short-term goals should be between one to two days, but they can span a week.

When you effectively manage your time this way, you tend to have a clearer goal. 

You will know what you should get done and the time needed to do it.

You can divide your long-term goals into hourly, daily, or weekly tasks.

10. Reward Yourself

You need some incentives. These are excellent motivators to keep working on your goals.

Naturally, humans and especially students, are wired to work harder at tasks that incentivize reward.

Doubt it? Now, why do you study hard for A’s? Why do athletes train hard? Why do workers work harder?

You study hard for A’s, an athlete works hard for medals, and a worker works harder for promotion and salary increment.

For this time management for high school students, the incentive could be a piece of candy or a glass cup of water.

You could get something else as a reward but start small and with less expensive items.

11. Use Reminders

If you don’t have a problem using technology to plan your time, your smartphone could be a stress-free way to use reminders.

As one of the time management tips for high school students, use reminders in two ways.

• To remind you of a task you should do.
• To remind you when you should complete the tasks.

If using technology isn’t your fancy, write it out in a planner.

The advantage of having your reminder on the phone is that you won’t always be with your planner.

If you forget things like I do, you can’t just help it but use a planner.

In the past, one of my sweethearts told me how bad I was when it comes to being forgetful. 

But all that has changed since I started using a reminder.

More people will call me and tell me to remind them about specific tasks. 

Set your reminder as soon as possible. The First point in this article on staying organized explained a simple way to use reminders.

12. Do Not Multitask

Okay, this isn’t for everyone. The truth? Some are good at multitasking. 

If that sounds like you, you might have to move to the next point.

But if you aren’t and are contemplating multitasking, I’d advise you not to do it!

Statistically, you can’t be 100% efficient if you want to get multiple things done during the same period.

If you are working on two tasks at once, you might have difficulty putting your all into the tasks.

Excitedly, all the previous points we’ve discussed can save you from multitasking.

13. Minimize Deadlines

There are times your schedule can be extra busy. But how can you help it? Minimize deadline. How can you do that?

It is simple!

Let’s say you want to submit an assignment in 3 weeks. You can minimize the deadline to a week or two.

When you start the assignment, minimize the deadline to 2-3 hours instead of giving yourself the whole day.

Experiences have shown that you will be able to finish up the task faster than you think. 

And the time left can be used for the day you think your schedule will be busy.

14. Implement The 2-Minute Rule

This rule is quite similar to the previous point. What does the 2-minute rule suggest?

If a task requires 2 minutes or less to complete, do it right away.

At first, it might be difficult, but as someone who has benefitted from the rule, I cherish it so much!

If you follow the rule, it can change your time management skill as a high school student.

15. Be Realistic

I don’t need to say much here. But this is what you should keep in mind:

You can’t do everything. So, be sure the task in your to-do list takes into consideration what you could do.

Don’t get drawn into planning fallacy.

16. Start Early

Do you have “in-the-zone time?” What does that mean first?

“In-the-zone time” means the time of the day when you are most productive.

Many students are often productive in the morning. On the other hand, others hit their peak at night.

If you’ve not figured out yours, some experiments are needed. 

Nevertheless, always wake up in the morning.

Use the early hours of the day to do some tasks that don’t demand being completely alert.

For instance, you could exercise, do laundry, wash, and others.

17. Review Your Performance

That is an essential aspect of time management for high school students.

Reviewing your performance allows you to know what’s working and what’s not working for you.

Always ensure that you record your progress.

You can even audit your time to perfectly understand what you spend your time on and how you can improve.

Review your time every end of the week.

18. The Power Of “No“

I will call the ability to say “no” a life skill!

When you say Yes when you should have said No, you are inviting problems.

We often say No to avoid being called selfish or rude or to avoid straining our relationships with others.

Sadly, if you say Yes, you won’t be able to organize or prioritize your time.

Therefore, learn to say No to people who want to use your time to serve their agenda and protect their resources.

It takes practice, but you will be comfortable with it over time.

Never feel guilty about it.

19. Switch Writer’s Block

You’ve sat down to write an essay or handle an assignment, and you aren’t feeling it.  

Don’t be sad! Stand up! Just switch the time with another activity. Want an example?

Let’s say on your list, “wash clothes” is on the list. 

You can wash the clothes, and then when it’s time to wash the clothes, you might write the essay or handle the assignment.

But if you still aren’t feeling it, repeat the process till you feel excited doing the job. Of course, this doesn’t encourage procrastination. 

I find washing clothes, cleaning the room, or ironing clothes a better alternative when I hit a block.

Something else might help: Include micro-breaks into your to-do list. They are effective in getting you back to normal.

20. Exercise Regimen

You shouldn’t ditch your exercise regimen. It doesn’t have to require lots of time from you.

There is strong evidence that a 10-minute workout is as effective as the longer sessions, as long as they are steady and consistent.

21. Stay Away From Party Animals

Okay, this isn’t an insult! 

But the truth is some folks are only for parties all the time. They won’t get down to business when it’s time for study.

So, stay away from these people to avoid getting stuck in this lifestyle. If you do, you won’t achieve your goals.

Sure, you can have some fun, but it shouldn’t be all day!

Put some work in there and expect some great results.

22. Do Not Strive For Perfection

Let’s crown it with this! 

Perfectionism can be counterproductive, and you should be sure that it’s not a hindrance to your productivity.

Perfectionism can make you spend more time on a job than you would.

Try all you could to deliver your best. But aiming at delivering the perfect job will sap your time and increase your stress level.

Final Thoughts

So, when do you want to start implementing these time management tips for high school students? Tomorrow? No! 

It will be difficult to implement one or two of these tips if you postpone it.

Now is the time to do it! 

Find a note now. Fix your to-do list—at least for the rest of the day.

Then, draft a schedule. A quick help:

Make a list of the deadlines you need to meet for the semester

Get a planner. You could get some from amazon.

Write out your personal goals—either long-term or short-term.

Make the schedule for the next day

Set a reminder

Then keep up with it!

There you go with time management for high school students! Interestingly, you can apply these time management tips during covid-19. 

We hope these time management tips for high school students will help you become more productive and efficient.

Have questions, comments, or suggestions? Leave them below. Thank you for reading!