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By Lena Pearson

For the Clemmons Courier

The 2024-2025 school year is officially underway for West Forsyth, and the Titans are slowly getting back into gear. Whether students encounter policy changes or difficult new classes, many find that the trickiest part of beginning a new school year is abandoning their summer routines and relearning how to manage their time. Although the first week of school is generally tame, the late nights spent rushing last-minute homework assignments become increasingly more common as the year progresses. As a notorious procrastinator and an avid, but ashamed, user of the phrase “I’ll just do it later,” it’s time to finally kick these habits and focus on effective time management.

As a senior, I have nearly hit rock bottom more times than I’d like to admit in my high school experience. There have been far too many instances in which I submitted an assignment exactly at 11:59 p.m., just to remember about my huge math test the next day. It seems almost impossible to be stress-free when balancing grades, extracurriculars, and a personal life all at once, but if done properly, it doesn’t have to feel like the world is ending. One of the most effective methods for balancing multiple different responsibilities is by prioritizing certain tasks over the others. Often when I feel overwhelmed with the amount of homework I have, I make a note of what is the most urgent, and what can wait. This practice allows for tasks to still be completed, but with the most important ones finished first. 

One of the leading causes of procrastination is being surrounded by distractions such as cell phones and television. Although electronic devices can be used as helpful and informative tools, they are practically unavoidable and can be a hindrance in focusing on school work. Not all use of electronics is negative, but setting aside separate times to use them is crucial to staying on track. In order to begin an assignment and complete it without any distractions, it’s important to have all electronic devices turned off and out of sight until the job is finished. I have found that keeping my devices in a separate room while doing homework allows for me to stay on task when I would otherwise be looking at my phone every few minutes. It may not be an easy switch as our devices are with us at nearly every second of the day, but it is a change that has made the largest impact on my quality of work. Not only am I able to finish an assignment more efficiently than I would with a distraction in hand, but it strengthens my ability to focus on one task at a time. 

In my journey to adopt new habits, I’ve learned that time management is all about perspective. When I’m putting off an assignment as simple as answering a few questions or reading a couple of chapters, I think about two things: how long it will take to complete, and how relieved I will feel afterwards. I’ve come to realize that certain tasks aren’t as daunting as they may seem when compiled into a long to-do list, and they often take less time to complete than it takes to worry about them. It’s very easy to get in your head and feel overwhelmed with your middle of the year workload, but the best way to move forward is to choose an assignment and tackle it. 

Whether you take standard or AP level classes, high school course work is never easy to manage. Due to distractions and other activities that may occupy your time, it’s common for academics to be put off until the last minute. It’s never too late to leave old habits behind and grow as a student, so consider using some time management strategies to maintain focus as the school year continues.