We all get the same 24 hours in a day. It’s a universal truth, unaffected by our wishes to speed up, slow down, or time travel. While we can’t control the relentless ticking of seconds, minutes, and hours, we absolutely can control how we utilize those 24 hours. This fundamental truth lies at the heart of time management, a critical life skill that impacts everyone, from kids to adults. For today’s teenagers, especially student-athletes, the demands on their time are immense. Juggling school, homework, practices, workouts, meetings, and specialized training can feel like a constant uphill battle. This is precisely why sports serve as a powerful microcosm for learning time management. Among the many life lessons gleaned from athletics, honing time management skills stands out as one of the most practical and enduring. It’s a skill every individual will need to navigate life successfully.
A Timeless Challenge: Insights from Centuries Past
The importance of time management isn’t a modern phenomenon. Consider these timeless observations from the 1700s:
- William Penn: “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”
- Benjamin Franklin: “You may delay, but time will not.” and “Lost time is never found again.”
These quotes, centuries old, resonate just as strongly today, highlighting the perpetual struggle to make the most of our limited time. More recently, other insightful individuals have weighed in:
- Stephen R. Covey: “The key is not in spending time, but in investing it.”
- Jonathan Estrin: “The way we spend our time defines who we are.”
These perspectives underscore that effective time management isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about intentionality and self-definition.
Empowering Teen Girls With 5 Time Management Strategies
Helping teenage girls develop strong time management habits now can pave the way for them to become more productive, efficient, and less stressed adults. It’s an investment that yields significant returns. For parents and adults looking to guide their busy teen athletes, here are five practical tips:
- Understand Their Developmental Stage: Autonomy is Key – It’s crucial to remember that it’s developmentally appropriate for tween and teen girls to seek autonomy and make their own decisions. They may not always ask for or immediately follow your advice, and that’s normal. As frustrating as it can be for parents, recognizing this stage is the first step toward effective guidance. Books like Untangled by Lisa Damour offer valuable insights into navigating these years. Even though they may not show it, they are listening. So:
- Keep Talking: Continue to offer advice and share your insights. Don’t withhold information just because you think they won’t listen.
- Don’t Expect an Immediate Response: They might not give you the immediate gratification of acknowledging your wisdom. Trust that your suggestions are being tucked away in their minds and will surface when needed.
- Build a Village: Surround your daughter with other positive adult influences whose voices will resonate with her. Coaches, mentors, or family friends can reinforce the values and skills you’re trying to instill.
- Swap the Planner for an Appointment Book – Instead of a traditional planner with blank lines for each day, opt for an appointment book. The key difference is that an appointment book breaks down each day into 15-minute intervals, allowing for a visual representation of time.
- This format encourages them to “make appointments with themselves.” By blocking out non-negotiable activities like school (8 AM to 3 PM), practices, workouts, and other fixed commitments, they can clearly see their available free time. This visual aid makes it much easier to fit in smaller tasks, like a quick homework assignment between school and practice, and helps with prioritizing.
- Reverse Engineer the Day – Once they have their appointment book, encourage them to reverse engineer their day. This means starting at the end and working backward. For example, on a Monday evening, they would plan Tuesday by:
- Deciding on a bedtime.
- Blocking out essential homework or assignments.
- Filling in practice times and school hours.
- By starting with their desired bedtime and working backward, they’ll land at their starting point for the next morning. The next step is to then consider what needs to be done first thing in the morning to be prepared. This method helps prevent important tasks from being overlooked and reduces stress by creating a clear roadmap for the day.
- Master To-Do List with a Daily Focus – Having a master to-do list is great for keeping track of everything, but trying to tackle all 20 items at once can lead to analysis paralysis – feeling overwhelmed and doing nothing. Instead, encourage them to prioritize just three to five items from that master list each day. This approach makes the day feel much less overwhelming, helps set clear priorities, and ensures that the most important tasks get done.
- Prioritize Sleep: The Foundation of Productivity – This is a big one. Prioritizing sleep is fundamental for productivity, managing stress, and overall well-being. While your teen may not want to be given a bedtime, you can empower them by:
- Providing the Facts: Share information about the benefits of adequate sleep for athletes, students, and overall health. Numerous resources online can quickly make your case.
- Granting Autonomy (and Natural Consequences): Let them make the decision about their bedtime. If they choose a time that results in them feeling terrible the next day, they’ll learn from the natural consequences of that choice. This fosters good decision-making.
- Suggesting a Nighttime Routine: Encourage a relaxing nighttime routine (e.g., dimming lights, a hot shower, self-care activities) that promotes faster, better sleep and makes going to bed more appealing.
Time management is a challenging, age-old problem, and no one expects themselves or teenage girls to become overnight experts. However, by consistently making an effort to apply these strategies and form good habits, they’ll be making significant progress towards developing excellent time management skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. And progress towards any goal is always something to celebrate!
What time management tips have you found most effective, either for yourself or for the young people in your life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
