It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do: time management is an essential skill to help you succeed. Especially when we’re young, it can feel like the weight of the world is too much to shoulder and if one more person asks you to do one more thing, you’re going to scream.

Here’s an example: you’re in your last year of secondary school and play on the basketball team. Your grades have never been more important. You have seven friends and they all want to spend some time with you. Your parents don’t understand why you’re never home in time for dinner. Your ability to play at the absolute top of your game while maintaining good grades is crucial for getting into the right college or university. If this hypothetical sounds stressful to you, then you can already see how time management can help reduce that anxiety. 

In many cases, problems with time management stem from a fear of missing out—but living in the moment is not a good way to plan for the future! Being spontaneous may seem more exciting, but if you’re constantly going with the flow instead of planning your day, you’ll find you won’t have much free time left at the end of it all. This can lead to stress, burnout, performance anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. 

HOW TO BEGIN MANAGING YOUR TIME:

Time management reduces stress by giving you a sense of control over your own life! The simple act of buying an agenda or setting up a Google Calendar can make a world of difference for you.

• If you don’t want to plan out every minute of every day, that’s fine – just take stock of the big events, like games, practices, tests, interviews, and work days. Know what you absolutely can’t miss and make sure you have it written down.

• When something new comes up, make it a habit to check the calendar first. This gives you the chance to visualize your day and make a more informed decision about your schedule.
• Make sure you are scheduling at least an hour of free time for yourself every week! Put it in the calendar and make it non-negotiable. Just knowing you have time for yourself to look forward to can make all the difference in the world – this is a great example of how time management reduces stress.
• An action as simple as starting a calendar for next week’s activities can be an amazing stepping stone for progress. If you know what’s coming, it’s that much easier to prepare for and respond to it – and that is how time management reduces stress. Combined with our Super Patches, it’ll be easier than ever to make the most out of every moment. 

The key to good time management is focus. The ability to keep on task, stick to deadlines, and avoid procrastination is crucial for proper time and stress management. eSmartr can help you to achieve the focus you need with our VibroTactile  Technology™ inside a sleek Super Patch. This touch-based technology naturally increases your focus and decreases your stress, helping you to stay on task, perform better, and avoid feeling overwhelmed. When it comes to time management, a little extra focus goes a long way.