By now, you’re no stranger to the daily juggling act of work, home, and life. But what happens when your little one grows up into a teen or tween with a packed schedule of school and social commitments? Suddenly, you’re not just managing your own calendar — you’re running theirs, too.
Soon enough, your fledgling will be leaving the nest, and your starring role in their life as personal assistant and life coach will be downgraded. With a little guidance, however, they can master managing their own time and step into adulthood with confidence.
Read on to discover why time management is a game-changer — and get six practical techniques to help your teen take charge of their time, now and in the future.
Less stress, more balance
Good time management isn’t just about staying on top of a busy schedule—it’s excellent for your mental well-being, too. Teens and tweens today are booked and busier than ever, and it’s not a coincidence that youth mental health issues are also on the rise. Anxiety, ADHD, coping with bullying and social media pressures are a lot to cope with, but learning how to manage their time will also help them learn how to cope with the effect of life stressors and strike a healthier balance.
6 practical time management tips to try
Here are 6 simple time management tips you can use to help your child stay on top of their schedule without the stress:
Encourage an earlier wake-up time. No one loves to sleep in more than a teenager on a Saturday. But those who get an earlier jump on their day are more likely to be motivated to accomplish their to-do lists. (Just make sure that your kid is getting the required 8-10 hours of sleep they need each night — being well rested is key!)
Give goal setting a whirl. Encourage your teen to set daily, weekly, monthly and even longer term goals, and write them down on a whiteboard or prominent place. Having a visual of what they are setting out to accomplish will make it more manageable.
Keep task time phone-free. Distractions are everywhere, and with over 90 percent of teens getting a phone by age 14, that’s never been more true. Consider having your teen mute or turn off their phone while working on homework or a task, and maybe even collect it for safekeeping if you think the temptation is too great to keep the phone within arms’ reach. You can, however, strike a compromise by planning for a “distraction break” — allow 5 minutes of phone use for every half hour of work that gets completed, for example.
Break up bigger tasks. Teach your kid to take that big, overwhelming school project when it’s first assigned and break it down into bite-sized chunks that they can chip away at much more easily. Before they know it, the work will be done by its due date — sans night-before freak out.
Use a timer. Whether on an alarm clock, kitchen timer, phone, or asking Alexa to keep time, have your teen utilize a time-tracking method to block out productivity time. This will help them stay focused and stick to a set schedule.
Share, support and show by example. Modeling your own ways of managing your time reinforces how it can ease stress and create balance. Check in and let them know you’re always available to help sort through anything that’s worrying them, but still give them space to work through their goals on their own. Also, share your own experiences of when you didn’t plan ahead so well, and how tough it can be when you are rushing and anxious. Be open about the fact that you may not always have it all figured out — and that’s okay.
Remember, every child is different. The goal isn’t just to get your teen to complete tasks on time, but to help instill lifelong habits that will help them stay organized and reduce stress. With a little support and guidance, they’ll gain the confidence to manage their time effectively — now and in the future.
