Time Management = Stress Management A parent education workshop/ discussion group facilitated by Aptakisic Junior High School social worker, Carolyn J. Lewis, LCSW
Stress is a feeling that s created when we react to particular events. It s our body s way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness. Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance is some way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=7s_bb7r8nmu
Stressors The events that provoke stress are called stressors. They cover a whole range of situations, everything from outright physical danger to making a presentation in front of classmates to having a difficult test.
Major Sources of Stress in Junior High Academic Stress Social Stress Family Stress
Signs of Stress Overload Anxiety or panic attacks Feeling constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried Irritability and moodiness Physical symptoms (e.g. stomachaches, headaches) Allergic reactions (e.g. eczema or asthma) Problems sleeping Sadness or depression
Practical Stress Management Time Management Making Choices Planning and exercising control over the amount of time spent on specific activities in order to be efficient and productive. We must teach our kids how to best utilize their available time to maximize learning and decrease stress. We have 24 hours in a day. Everything we do and need to do has to fit into those 24 hours! Even if we want our kids to do it all, and they want to do it all, sometimes something has to give. What will you choose?
Time Management Have-to s Family responsibilities School and homework Sleep Eating and personal hygiene Want-to s Goals Activities Down time Short term Long term
Have your child: plan ahead for long term assignments! keep a calendar or assignment notebook with school, extracurricular, and home responsibilities. prioritize the order in which to complete homework. complete more difficult assignments first. take short breaks. carve out time for relaxation and use of technology but set limits on time so he/she can get back to work. be proactive and ask for help if he/she is confused. plan ahead to avoid cramming the night before an assessment.
Tips for Managing Schoolwork HAVE YOUR CHILD: budget enough time. For each project your child must undertake, calculate about how long it will take to complete. Then tack on another 25% as a buffer against mistakes, interruptions, or unanticipated problems. set aside a time each day to study. study in blocks of 30-45 minutes, taking a 5-minute break in between. look over notes everyday. Even if your child doesn t have homework or an upcoming assessment, he/she should take 5-10 minutes each day to review. This will prevent having to cram before a test. write down assignments as soon as they are given. study and complete the hardest assignments first while most alert. prioritize the have-to s and want-to s. break large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. chunk study time. If there is a week to do an assignment, figure out how much time (plus the 25%) it will take. Then divide by the number of days until it s due and do a little bit each day. keep materials organized for easy access. Time wasted looking for materials and supplies is time consuming and stressful!
Beating Procrastination Have your child: do the least desirable work first. They should study for the hardest class or do the most boring chores first, to get them out of the way. think small. Set up small goals. Need him to clean his room? Focus on one bookshelf or area of the closet at a time. set a timer and work on a chore or task for set periods of time. say I choose to instead of I have to. We often rebel when we feel we have to do something! jump in! Stop waiting for the right moment and stop talking about what to do and just do it!
Getting Organized Have your child: make his or her lunch, set out clothes, and prepare items needed for school or activities the night before. clean out his/her locker once a week, on a set day. He/she should take home loose papers to sort and organize. make a place for everything in his/her room. Loose school papers can be kept in at home folders, for example. take a few minutes every day to straighten up work space and personal space at home, keeping study supplies easily accessible.
Time Traps to Avoid You and your child should avoid: overscheduling your calendar. committing to too many activities. cutting down on sleep to squeeze more into the day. giving up when he/she has a setback managing time. failing to set goals!
Other Ways to Manage Stress Take a stand against overscheduling. Be realistic. Get a good night s sleep. Learn to relax. Treat your body well. Watch what you re thinking. Solve the little problems. Build resilience/try to see the positive side. Maintain a healthy diet. Exercise. Listen to music. Laugh.
For questions or follow up, contact: Carolyn J. Lewis, LCSW AJHS School Social Worker 847-353-5524 clewis@d102.org