Over the summer, high school students are bombarded with a cycle of questions. From, “what are you planning to study,” to “what activities do you do in school,” the questions can be quite a bore to answer. But the one question that I hate the most is, “are you excited for school?”
Particularly, I think I cringe at this question because for most high school students the answer is quite obvious: No. However, over the course of the years, I’ve spent balancing all my activities, I’ve picked up some interesting insights as to why high schoolers claim to collectively “hate school.” The primary answer is severe, chronic sleep deprivation. Now, if you’re in high school, you know that you’re surrounded by people who are sleep deprived, and if you’re getting less than seven hours of sleep, you’re included in that population as well.
It’s almost impossible to expect high schoolers to do so much both inside and outside of school while averaging a decent amount of sleep. However,despite all the obstacles that may threaten a fulfilling high school experience there are ways to manage academics, extracurriculars, a life outside of high school, all while still sleeping!
Utilizing a digital calendar and to-do lists can make it easier for students to plan and manage deadlines, not only for academics, but also for upcoming events that may involve sports, clubs, and more. Furthermore, Eduavenues, an education strategy company dedicated to guiding high school students towards academic success, expounds more on the importance of time-blocking…..
“Instead of a to-do list, every task gets a specific time slot on a calendar. When the slot arrives, the decision is already made. You do not have to choose what to do; you just do the thing in front of you. The format is simple. At the start of the week, look at everything due. Block time for each task. Be specific: not “study chemistry” but “review chapter 5 and do problems 1 to 10.” Build in buffers, because tasks always run long.”
In my experience, the most helpful time management skill that I have acquired is getting things done during the commute to and from school. Passing periods in school can also be put to use. Most often we think of this time as insignificant, but they add up, allowing us to send necessary emails out, or complete an assignment for that looming class. By making the most of this time I find myself feeling less overwhelmed after the school day and gloriously, less sleep deprived due to having fewer things on my plate.
After all, school isn’t that bad in itself but it’s all about managing the burdens that come with it. By knowing how to work our way around school, we can better pour our time and energy into places that actually energise us whether it’s through hobbies like baking, reading, or writing an article just like this!