How to manage your time properly in order to lead a stress-free life?

Post by Jonathan Ko Wei Han (26 June 2020)

How does managing your time help to reduce stress?

Good time management is very important, especially for teenagers who need to juggle between studies, projects, co-curricular activities and even leadership positions, for some. It puts you in control of your direction and helps you to ensure that you are on the right track. Furthermore, when you manage your time properly, it would allow you to have more time to study for the upcoming tests, so that you would not feel so anxious when the exams are round the corner.

(Adapted from Stress Management Society)

What is the best method of time management?

The best method of time management differs from person to person. However, five useful methods would be as follow:-

1. Plan your day in advance

• Planning helps you to organize your work and allows you to know what you have to achieve at the end of the day. Do also practice the rule of priority - worksheets which are due on the next day should be the ones on top of your list, while worksheets due the next week could possibly be at the bottom of your list. After you return from school, instead of indulging into your games, why don't take a piece of post-it-note and write down your plans for the day?

2. Take regular breaks

• Sitting on the table for a few hours straight would not help, it would only worsen things. Your brain certainly needs a break after thirty minutes. This would allow your brain to refresh and would eventually increase your productivity at the end of the day, since your brain would be able to think better after a break.

• You may go for a walk near your house, or go read a chapter of your favorite book - it would certainly be beneficial for your brain.

3. Avoid distractions

• Put away your phone, or even turn off your mobile data. It can be quite distracting when your notifications keep popping up and it might caused you to be carried away easily. However, we understand that you fear missing out of the things happening on WhatsApp, Instagram or even Facebook. Therefore, do complete the things written on your list first, and the time left over would be the time for you to chill, relax and unwind!!!

4. Allocate your time

• For example, if you have five things on your taskbar, and you are given three hours to complete it, you should complete one thing every 36th minute. Of course, should you feel that you need more than the allocated time for a particular task, you can do so - but that leaves you with lesser time for your next task.

5. Reward yourself

• If you find yourself too bored in the midst of completing your homework, do set some rewards (i.e. eat a snack, listen to your favorite song or game for an hour) and you would find yourself more motivated to complete your homework :)

(Adapted from timecamp)

Conclusion

As above are some tips on managing your time, we hope that you can lead a stress-free life after practicing these tips. It is perfectly fine if you are feeling very stressed due to bad time management before reading this blog. To know more about the other sources of stress, stay tuned and remember to visit our website regularly for more updates! :)