Students get stressed too!
Managing Time and Responsibilities
Juggling multiple responsibilities and managing commitments and appointments on a daily basis is often a challenging and complicated task to succeed at. Being a teenager, living on my own, attending high school and working 30 hours weekly always keeps me on my toes.
I find that the best way for me to cope is to get a lot of rest, eat three nutritious meals each day and stick to a consistent schedule. I always make it a point to stick to a daily schedule and organize my time in a planner, so that I will know my responsibilities inside and out. Although it may feel like you never have any spare time it is important to set aside one or two hours a day to wind down and relax. Participating in activities and hobbies that you enjoy can help relieve unwanted stress and make you feel better about yourself. If in fact you decide to follow the advice that I have to offer, you must be aware that it is almost impossible to succeed at anything if you are not self-motivated and dedicated to completion. You may want to try giving yourself rewards when you reach a goal. This will enable you to have something to look forward to and something to help you stay on track.
Young people often have the misconception that the older you become, the easier it will be to manage your time and responsibilities. Many think that once there is no school to attend and no homework to complete there is less stress. According to Hilary McLeod, a full-time guidance counsellor and co-op teacher at Lorne Park Secondary School in Mississauga, "the older you become, the harder it gets!" McLeod is an extremely active mother of three who spends most of her spare time as the sponsor of the student activity counsel, the vice chair of the worship committee at her church, as an active member in a women's group. "Learning to manage time effectively is a skill that you become better at with time and experience. So keep trying to find ways that best suit you and make it easier for you to personally manage."
Dave Omeir, a 25-year-old graduate of Seneca College in Toronto said that he was, "a mess in high school," and that he, "never completed assignments on time due to disorganization and misplaced priorities. High school was a game to me. It was all about partying and having fun with my friends, but when I was introduced to college I really had to smarten up!" Omeir graduated as a Resources Engineering Technician upon completion of his four year program without any financial assistance. He says this taught him the importance of organizing and planning his time effectively. "Working at a job after school was complicated to manage because while I was working I couldn't finish my homework and study for tests." Omeir uses post-it notes and displays them on his bureau mirror so when he wakes up in the morning he can see what he has to do during the day. He suggests students shouldn't try to remember everything they have to do because it is likely they'll forget. "You must write your responsibilities down on paper so that there is an accessible list close by."
Personally I feel that every one can be successful at managing time and responsibilities if they have mastered the skills of organization, dedication and motivation. It is easy to say that you will complete an assignment on a certain day, but when that day comes you have to put all your efforts and energy into reaching your goal. Even if it means missing Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five on Wednesday night! If you have something that has to be done you must have self control to give up some of the things you love. The most important thing to remember is that you can be who and what you want to be if you put your heart and mind into achieving your goals.