Everyone starts off their school year with expectations of what they will accomplish academically. They tell themselves that they will never turn in late work, get a good sleep schedule, and stay on top of big assignments. In actuality, many students struggle to meet those expectations. Throughout the year — between football games, homework pile-ups, and studying for big tests like the SAT — they fail to keep up with work or struggle to manage their time after school. When you break it down, the solution to all these problems can be managed into three categories: organization, study habits, and time management strategies.

Organization is a key factor in the success of students in high school. Having your work organized can be very helpful to students who are juggling multiple homework assignments or extracurricular activities. The students of FGHS have been assigned official planners this year. Many students are often hesitant to use planners because, at the end of the day, taking extra time to write in it feels like a chore. The payoff is worth it in the end because writing down what you have to work on will help you keep track of deadlines. Another great way to stay organized is to keep folders for every class. Throughout the year handouts and loose paper can pile up and clutter your backpack. Putting loose papers in a class folder can help you keep track of worksheets and not lose important handouts from your teacher, which also saves you time.  

Speaking of time, another big struggle that students face is spending most of it studying. Whether it be for a big test or a five-question quiz, studying can be a struggle. However, there are ways to make it easier. The first thing you should do is find a study environment that works for you. Some people need quiet places to study and some people need white noise or busy environments, so keep in mind what your needs are. To keep your study environment productive always turn off your phone when you are studying. Your phone is your main distraction and puts you off task easily. The second thing to keep in mind when you study may seem surprising to some people: take regular breaks. Studying for hours on end is not only torturous, but it’s also not very beneficial to you. Taking short breaks between longer study sessions is a way to make them more bearable. Another thing that really helps you memorize and retain information is reading your notes through at least once a day — you’d be surprised at how much you’ll be able to remember at the end of the week and it will save you from cramming the night before a big test.  

While study sessions are a key to success in academics, an important thing to keep in mind is time management. A common complaint of students with a larger homework load is that there aren’t enough hours in the day. There are a few strategies that you can practice that can help you keep track of time. The first thing you can do is prioritize. Do assignments with closer due dates first, but keep in mind that you might want to spend more time on things that are worth a higher percentage of your grade. Plan ahead if you know you have a big assignment coming up but you have plans with your family or have a trip scheduled, write lists of things you need to accomplish every week in your planner, and if you have a job be sure to keep in mind how your work schedule overlaps with your school schedule.

Knowing ways to stay organized, study well, and planning ahead can help your school year go more smoothly. Throughout the year students who change their habits to focus on these topics become successful and happier than those who don’t. All in all, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re not alone in this and you may not be the only one struggling with academic management. Your friends can help you, teachers are more than willing to work with you, and you are more capable than you realize. Good luck!