I was going to write this article in January, but I ran out of time. So, obviously, I myself am still trying to achieve good time management skills. There are surprisingly only three things required for this to happen; proper motivation, a productive environment, and an organized schedule.

Motivation is key to healthy habits and success. Everyone has their own form of motivation, whether it be listening to music or watching a movie that inspires you to work harder.  Of course, it’s also important to keep your short-term and long-term goals in mind and make sure you meet them at the end of every day or every week.

To create a productive environment, be sure to put away distractions such as your phone and sit at a desk or table, and not lie in bed. If you really need to focus without background commotion, wearing noise-canceling headphones while you work is very beneficial.

Obviously, it’s super important to keep track of your assignments and extracurriculars. If you know you’re going to be busy the next few days, try and finish as many assignments as you can so you aren’t staying up to an unreasonable hour. Something I like to do is complete my most tedious tasks and or assignments first so my workload gets easier as I go on.

The ability to manage your time well will not only lead to less stress and anxiety, but it may even help you build in extra time for yourself. Maintaining time for yourself is especially valuable, and will help you to relax and maybe even take a break from the demands of school and everyday life.