Hello readers,

First off I hope all of you had a happy Halloween and you are enjoying the frigid New England weather.  A few weeks ago I went to a NH Teen Voices~Youth Advisory Board meeting where I met with fellow youth-in-care to talk about a number of different topics. One thing we talked about was my blog that I am writing for all of you. I was very happy to hear everyone’s comments and ideas to make my blog more useful. One young teen asked me to write about time management. Time management is a challenge for everyone; everyone has to face it at one time or another whether now as a high school student or later during your college years. Time management, in my opinion, is even more challenging for youth-in-care.

Being a youth-in-care is very stressful no matter where you are; whether you live in a foster home or some sort of residential placement. I don't know everyone’s individual situation, but from my experience it is very difficult to get everything I need to get done on time. Being a senior in high school I have to worry about due dates for college registration, when to get my transcript release and teacher recommendations in, and everything else that comes with applying for college. I also have homework from all of my classes and various projects and papers that are due all around the same time. On top of all that I have all the meetings and appointments that come from being a youth-in-care. And like all teenagers, I want to have a social life and to be able to hang out with friends and try to get my license and a job. So basically my schedule is pretty packed. So this blog is going to be about exactly that: time management and how to make it all work.

For me, the key to time management is my planner (some call it an agenda book). My planner is my lifeline; it lists all my homework assignments, meetings, appointments, and school activities. My planner basically gives me a list of what needs to be done and its due date. I make it my goal every day to write everything that needs to be done in that little book. When I get back home the first thing I do is pull it out and look at what needs to be done. When it comes to homework I do it based on what is due first. Once I figure out what is due first, I do it in order that my classes are. For example if I have an assignment for my child development class that is due the same day as my economics class, I do my child development assignment first because it is before my economics class. Sometimes if I have a lot to do I go as far as making a schedule of what needs to be done when. I make a table listing out the hours I have before I go to bed.  Then I block out specific times based upon how long it should take me to complete each task.  That way I have a better organized idea of what needs to get done.

Another tool I use besides my planner is post-its (sticky notes). I use sticky notes almost every day. I actually use them so much I have two little pads of them in my pencil case, as well as a few pads of them at my house. I use those as little reminders of things I have to do, due dates, appointments, etc. Basically it’s just another thing to help me organize my time and help me remember to get things done.

It's going to sound a little strange but another tool I use is my foster mom. I always tell my foster mom everything that I need to do and when it needs to be done by. She is a huge help to me. Its just another way to make sure everything gets done when it needs to.  She knows how hard it is for me to remember everything that needs to be done, especially with everything else that is going on, and she offers me encouragement and helps me stay on task.  I use every resource I have to make sure everything gets done because it is very important to keep my grades up, complete all my work and get everything done on time, especially since I am planning on going to a four year college.

Time management is something you are going to need throughout your life, which is why it is important to start to practice it as soon as possible. My advice to you is go and get a planner if you don't already have one and get into the habit of using it. I would also go out and buy some sticky notes if you don't already have some and always inform whoever you live with of what you need to do. It might seem annoying to you at first, but it will help you get everything done, and it will eventually become a habit.

I hope this blog was useful to you and helps you better manage your time.  Proper studying can also help you use your limited time wisely.  For information about study tips click here .

As always if you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment about any other topic you would like me to discuss. Also, don't forget that www.nhheaf.org and www.joecollegeblog.com are excellent resources for all things college.

Happy Planning,
Meryssa