Time Management

Sometimes we have more control than we realize, and can eliminate stress. Time management skills can help with this.

Example:

Sophie is a very active 10th grader. She is on the softball and soccer teams. She has an after school job 2 days a week. She takes flute lessons. And she just got a new puppy that she takes care of herself. By the time she does all her activities AND finishes her homework, she barely has time to relax and hang out with her friends and family. She is exhausted and irritable by the end of the week.

And now her best friend wants the two of them to try out for the school play. Sophie doesn’t want to disappoint her friend, and she does like theater stuff, but she is going crazy trying to figure out how to fit everything in. How can she do it all when there are only 24 hours in the day? Maybe if she slept less… Just thinking about it and worrying is kind of making her feel sick.

After another sleepless night worrying, Sophie realizes something: she CAN’T do it all. In fact, she doesn’t want to even if she could! Sophie not only decides to NOT try out for the play (her friend will understand) she also decides to not play softball this year. She’ll stick with soccer and flute and her job–but that’s enough. She knows that if she has more time to herself and her puppy and friends, she will b a lot happier. And she sleeps really really well after making that decision!