Being a high school student is not easy. It’s likely the first time in your life that you’re given a substantial amount of responsibility. But with this responsibility comes the burden of managing your time and your life by yourself. Finding time for your classes, sports, extracurriculars, downtime, and socializing with friends, is no easy task. But it doesn’t have to lead to you suffering or sacrificing your mental health. In fact, making your high school experience a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable is as easy as ABC.
Ask for Assistance
One of the hardest things for high schoolers to do is ask for help. It may seem like you’ve failed a task or that you couldn’t handle it on your own. But here’s a secret: no one goes through life doing everything by themselves. When you’re having trouble understanding concepts in a class, don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher. Your teachers are ultimately there to help; they don’t want to make your life worse. If you’re ever struggling to get work done for whatever reason, tell your teacher and most of the time, they’d be happy to make accommodations. If you’re having trouble finding time to complete your work in a club, tell the other members. If you can’t hit certain goals in your sport, ask your coach what you could be doing better. Don’t let your pride stop you from doing what’s best for you.
Be Brief
Ok, maybe “brief” isn’t the best word, but I had to alliterate everything. What I mean is that you should plan your time in high school by being selective regarding what extracurriculars, classes, and sports you want to do. You can’t take every honors class, be president of every club, and go Division I in three different sports. You have to pick and choose which things you’d like to participate in. Pick a few things and get very good at them. This will not only make it easier to make serious improvements, but allow you to devote time to your mental and physical health. Among these things are getting enough sleep, reflecting on your day, and having fun with friends.
Create A Calendar
This one has been a lifesaver for me in high school. Think about each minute of your day and how much time goes unaccounted for. This could be time when you’re scrolling through social media, playing computer games, or procrastinating on work, without realizing how much time is really going by. If you make a calendar and stick to it, you’ll be surprised by how much time you save. Set time limits to complete your homework and put aside some downtime. It doesn’t even have to be a complete and comprehensive calendar, just take a few minutes each night and think through each thing you want to get accomplished the next day and when. In addition to that, making a calendar will ensure that you’re always properly organizing your time and getting to places on time. That way, you’ll never miss an important meeting and information that could be critical to your success in high school.
The Caveat
Don’t get too excited yet! While these may be tips to help you succeed in high school, they don’t guarantee success. There are so many other factors at play that it's hard to perfectly plan out the next four years, especially at a time where you’re still trying to figure out your interests. But following these tips, regardless of the path you take, will make your life more productive and more enjoyable. Good luck!