Included in this article: 

• Time Management
• Effective Study Habits
• Balancing Extracurriculars & Academics
• Stress Management
• Mindset

Mastering study skills is an absolute must-do for high school students. Not only is it essential to excel in high school, but it is also a great tool to have as you navigate higher levels of education, including college and beyond. High school is where many build the tools they need as they grow academically. With the insight of some of my own strategies as well as techniques that have been proven to give you the upper hand, you will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to finish all assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities with ease. In this blog, I have outlined some tips that show how to make the best use of the time available  as well as develop good study habits. They are built to get you on the path of success, especially due to the high-stress life many students live. The common misconception that many adults have concerning student life is that all kids need to focus on  good grades. However, this is simply not the case. Students need to focus on schoolwork of course, but they have a lot more on their plate, including social lives, extra curricular activities, and finding themselves as people. Teenage years are crucial to the development of a person, so spending time on yourself is vital. However, this is often overlooked due to overlooking its importance or even bad time management. 

Time Management

• Why Time Has to Be Managed

It’s more than just scheduling; it is setting the intention of maximizing your productivity. Fail to plan, and you plan to scramble. In the past, you may have been able to get out of planning out your day, but high school is where that changes. Every day, every hour, every minute, every second counts, and by having a rough plan of the day, you can organize what you need to do and when you plan on doing it. There is simply too much going at this point to be reliant on luck. You have to take charge of the situation and give yourself the best odds to succeed, and the only way to do that is by managing your time wisely. This means putting in time for your academics, your physical health, your extracurriculars, and finding the time to set aside for yourself to ensure you don’t burn out or lose focus on the tasks ahead. 

• The Power of Advance Planning

Likely the most practical technique in regard to time management is to write things down. Have some sort of a planner, whether that be an electronic diary, a notebook, etc. so you can set your week out in advance. This is by far the easiest and one of the most effective ways to stay on top of your work. Mark in the crucial deadlines, tests, or any other events that are taking place. Assign yourself set times to study, complete your homework, review your classwork, complete extra curricular activities, and relax during your built in relaxation periods. You can truly bring your anxiety down by a significant amount if you stay honest with yourself and have a clear plan to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

• Prioritizing: The ABC Method

One of the most important aspects of planning is realizing that some things are more important than others. An exam tomorrow should take more importance than an exam taking place in a week’s time. Not everything is about timing, however. For example, if you know you struggle more with math, set aside an increased amount of time to review your math classwork and homework. This allows you to combat your deficiency in that area with an increased devotion of time and energy. To rank your work in terms of importance, use the ABC method;

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A tasks — are tasks that are actually urgent and important (studying for a test tomorrow)

B tasks — are important but not urgent (working on a project due in one week)

C tasks — are neither urgent nor particularly important (browsing in social media).

Put first things first, and do the A tasks; after that, move to the B tasks. You can do C tasks when you have time or not at all if they really don’t add any value.

• Avoid Procrastination

Therein lies the bane of productivity in time management—procrastination. If a task appears very challenging or time-consuming, then there is the natural tendency to put it off. By succumbing to procrastination, however, you may experience both increased stress levels and a decrease in the quality of your work. By leaving things till the last minute,  you are adding even more pressure onto yourself than there already is, which simply complicates your life. Instead of waiting till the final hour to write that massive essay, break it into smaller parts. Write an outline on Monday, the introduction on Tuesday, and so on and so forth. By giving yourself time you can ensure that things don’t pile up and that you hand in your absolute best work. Due to the goals being smaller and more achievable, they will also make you feel good when you complete them, and therefore they will give you the momentum to keep going. Another important aspect is to reward yourself when you stay on schedule and complete those smaller goals. This helps you in the future to stick to the task and not procrastinate as the reward will have associated that positive feeling with that of getting those small goals done. 

Effective Study Habits

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• Finding Your Best Study Environment

Where you study makes a massive difference. Some students respond best to total silence, while others respond better with a little background noise. Test different locations—perhaps your bedroom, the library, or maybe even a coffee shop—to help find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to explore and find what’s best for you, as it makes a bigger difference than you may think. 

• The Pomodoro Technique: Study Smarter, Not Longer

One of the most effective focuses and productivity enhancers in terms of time management is the Pomodoro Technique. The idea of it is quite simple: to have a break for 5 minutes after each 25-minute session devoted to studying. Then, after four of those, a longer rest pause of up to 15 to 30 minutes is to be taken. Using this method, you will not experience burnout, and your mind will be fresh and willing to grasp more information in an effective manner. This relates back to the idea of rewarding yourself upon completing smaller goals, which, in this scenario, are the smaller study sessions. I do not recommend using your phone during the break, but instead getting up, moving around, drinking water/snacking, and maybe reading or speaking to someone. Anything that is engaging and can get you out of your study space without involving a screen, as it is proven that using screens during these short break times will hurt your focus when you return to studying.

• Active Learning: Engage with the Material

Engage in active learning. This may include summarizing what you have read in your own words, teaching it to someone else, or creating flashcards. Active learning will force you to process and comprehend the content, and, hence, you will remember it better. This forces you to retain every aspect of the information and also allows you to analyze what you know and what you need to review. 

• Practice Makes Perfect: The Role of Repetition

Part of the key to success in any subject is repetition. Don’t bring your notes up to date the night before a test; such reviewing should be part of your routine. It may be as convenient as spending 10-15 minutes each day going back over the most important points. As you repeatedly come back to the material, you’ll build your understanding and gain a better understanding for exams.

Balancing Extracurriculars & Academics

• What are Extracurricular Activities and Why Are They Important?

Though academics are unequivocally important, high school is also a time of self-discovery through extracurricular involvement besides what goes into the pursuit of academic excellence. Whether through sports, music, or volunteer work, extracurricular activities can enrich your high school experience and help you learn quite a few things, including working within a team and taking on leadership roles. I highly recommend taking part in at least one or two extracurricular activities as they allow you to grow outside of the academic department and lead to you becoming a more well-rounded person. Colleges also look for your involvement in things beyond academics which is where extra curricular activities can help you make that jump in their eyes. 

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• Time Management for Extracurricular Activities

Balancing academics with extracurricular activities can indeed be a difficult task and requires some planning. The first step is to clearly define how much time you must devote to each activity per week. Then, ensure that your week is balanced enough to give plenty of time to your studies and to your extra-curricular activities. It all comes down to finding that golden balance of being able to take care of everything without being too overwhelmed. If you do start feeling too stressed, drop the extracurriculars you don’t see helping you or that you don’t particularly enjoy. You have to be true to yourself and know your limits while simultaneously pushing them to ensure you are constantly growing and becoming who you aspire to be. 

• Boundaries

Extracurricular activities are always interesting, and they can be difficult not to get swept up in, but your academics always come first. Remember to always keep your priorities straight. Your grades are the most important thing, and ensuring you understand the content you are learning is imperative. Start to learn how to set limits or turn down those activities that get you off your studies. For example, if you have a set study time at 5pm every day and your friend is to invite you to lunch, you have to be able to say no. Be clear, firm, and reasonable. Time management is important, and time should also be set aside for your friends as well. However, if you have a schedule, follow it and ensure everything has its proper time. 

Stress Management

• Recognizing Stress Signals

The situation of high school can pile on a lot of stress on an individual, particularly one with many commitments at hand. The ability to recognize signs and symptoms associated with stress is very important. These include being easily irritated, constantly fatigued, having a lack of concentration, and simply not being able to sleep. If stress is not managed properly, it can severely damage your mental health as well as your academic performance.

• Physical Activity

Engaging in exercise on a regular basis is a key factor in lowering your stress levels. When carrying out exercises, the body releases endorphins, which are identified to lift the body’s mood. Find something you enjoy doing and incorporate it into your daily life. Some great examples include going to the gym, jogging, going for walks, swimming, yoga, and playing sports. Physical activity helps you lower stress, ensure focus, and keep your energy level high. While doing something you enjoy, you also have an opportunity to socialize and get out of the house. All of these things come together to make physical activity an essential part of your day. Therefore, finding time for it is important to help find balance in your schedule. 

• Sleep

Never underestimate a good night’s sleep. Proper sleep is necessary for cognitive capacities, memory, and your overall well-being. You must be sleeping 7-9 hours on a regular basis and try to have a bedtime. Of course, things can happen and once in a while you may go over whatever time you impose, but try your best to hit the hay at that set time. Cramming the night before a test actually does not do you much good, whereas studying in the day and getting proper rest at night ensures you are better prepared for the exam. 

• Finding Healthy Outlets

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In addition to regular exercise, it is wise to find an outlet through which you can release any pent-up stress and tension. This can be achieved through any hobby that interests you. As I’ve emphasized before, time for yourself is necessary; it is not a luxury. Coping with the stress of high school becomes much easier if you also focus on things that make you happy and relaxed.

Mindset

• Embracing a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be further developed through dedication to effort and persistence. View all obstacles or setbacks as examples from which you can learn and gain. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” try to shift that negative narrative and turn it into “I can’t do this yet.” This use of language goes a long way to what you will actually do in terms of classroom performance and general resilience.

• Realistic Goals

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Goals are your focus and motivation tools. In order for them to work, however, they must be realistic. Challenge is a welcome but not up to the extent that you can’t achieve it. Better, divide the bigger goals into the chucks and keep track of what you have achieved and where you stand. It will not only help keep you on track but also bring you confidence as you push forward. 

• Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

Look carefully at who you are hanging out with. Associating yourself with the right crowd is important. Aim to surround yourself with people who constantly push themselves and have traits you admire. The more time you spend with someone, the more you pick up from them. If you surround yourself with the right people, you will, given time, pick up their positive habits. However, this goes the way as well. If surrounded by the wrong crowd, you can eventually slide into bad habits that take you away from the path to success.

• Gratitude Practice

Life goes by fast, and there is always something happening. Every once in a while, take a step back and spend a little time thinking about some things you are grateful for. This might be a supportive teacher, a good grade, or just the fact that it’s a sunny day. An attitude of gratitude can illuminate your mood, boost your resilience, and keep you positively oriented. Everyone goes through highs and lows. Being grateful for the small things can uplift your spirits during those lows and help you overcome whatever challenge you may be facing.

Final Thoughts:

High school will teach you many things, but one of the most important may be time management. Hopefully this blog will have taught you the importance of planning, setting priorities, developing effective study skills, balancing academics and extracurriculars, managing your stress levels, and maintaining a positive mindset. If you are to put all these tools together to use, you will find yourself breezing through whatever challenges life throws at you. You will experience many things in high school, as it prepares you for your next chapter. Having the right attitude towards meeting academic goals and enjoying the process at the same time is what makes it all worthwhile. 

Reviewed by Dr. Kaisar Alam and Muhammad Rahman