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When you're always on the go
Extracurricular activities are great, especially if you're organized and have a ''personal chauffeur.'' But one expert advises: Make time for free time, too.
By THERESA LINNERT
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 9, 2002
Family, friends, church, cheerleading, ice skating, drama, baseball, soccer ... and to top it all off, there's school!
When do we actually find the time to get a good night's sleep or eat a healthy meal? Even if it requires doing homework in the car or sacrificing a big event, we find ways to juggle activities in our busy lives. Here are some ways middle and high school students, and a very busy adult, manage their valuable time.
Amanda Mancini, 13, an eighth-grader at Dayspring Academy in Pasco County, attends drama class every day after school and is involved with a church youth group one or two times a week. She used to take ice skating lessons and once sacrificed a competition because of a huge exam the next day at school.
Amanda says that although quitting ice skating lightened her schedule, she would rather go back to doing homework in the car and return to the ice rink.
Brittany Williams, a seventh-grader at Westlake Christian School in Pinellas County, has a lot of activities to juggle. She is busy five days a week, participating in AllStar cheerleading, school cheerleading, choir, Spanish club and a Christian youth group.
"One way I manage my time is to work ahead with school stuff on days that I am not so busy," Brittany says.
Between activities, sometimes we have only 20 or 30 minutes. For example, when Brittany leaves cheerleading practice, she heads straight to her youth group. She has 20 minutes to change her clothes and catch a bite to eat. She brings another outfit and changes in the car, as her mom drives through Burger King.
So, how are we able to keep up with our friends outside of school? It helps if you and your friends share similar interests. Although someone like Brittany may be running in five different directions, many of her friends are involved with the same activities.
Kristen Agisotelis, an 11th-grade student at Palm Harbor University High School, has some experience with managing her time and her friends. This 16-year-old is involved in at least six extracurricular activities. Even with this busy life, she rarely has to sacrifice events for school.
"I try to get what I need to get done so I am able to do things I like," Kristen says. "I usually only get stuck when I procrastinate on projects."
She also uses her time resourcefully. "I work hard when I have time to do my work in class, but if I don't get it done, I try to do it as soon as I get home," she says.
But Kristen does have some downtime. She spends it by hanging out with her friends or catching a few Zs.
One teen's busy schedule can be a lot to juggle. But when a sibling is added to the mix, it can cause big complications.
Ashley Rogers, a seventh-grade honor student from New Port Richey, describes her schedule as hectic but fun. "Let's see, on Monday I have choir and dance. On Tuesday, I take voice and piano lessons. I cheer and take dance on Wednesdays. My Girl Scout troop meets on Thursdays, and on Sundays I attend church and my youth group.'
However, this busy schedule is further complicated by the crazy schedules of Ashley's brother and sister. Sometimes they have to leave one activity early just to get to the next activity a little late.
This can only be accomplished by changing clothes in the car and turning their family van into a fast food restaurant. When asked if she enjoys this schedule, Ashley replied that she wouldn't change a thing.
Of course, without a driver's license, it would be impossible to keep up these busy schedules. So, we do have to thank our "personal chauffeurs" (read: parents) for driving us around. Although Kristen's mom is still very involved with her daughter's extracurricular activities, she admits it's a lot easier now that Kristen has a driver's license.
But sometimes the parents' schedules can be just as busy as their kids'.
Take Linda Coleman, a Palm Harbor mother of three. In addition to working as a bookkeeper in her husband's business, she teaches Sunday school, volunteers with the children's choir at church and is on multiple fundraising committees. She also "chauffeurs" her children to cheerleading practice, soccer, and voice and piano lessons.
She puts in countless hours as a volunteer at school and manages to find time to be a Girl Scout leader. She was the official "nut mom" for the latest fundraiser for her troop.
"Stay on task," Mrs. Coleman advises. "Always be prepared and think ahead. If you really enjoy what you are doing, then the task doesn't become a burden."
Dr. Denise Frutchey, a licensed psychologist who has a private practice in Safety Harbor, strongly believes that children need a few hours a day for free, creative play.
"There are so many children who are incredibly overwhelmed because of their busy schedules. Many parents think they're stimulating and enriching their children, when in fact, they are overwhelming them," she said. "This can lead to anxiety and even anger."
Parents want what's best for their kids, and Frutchey advises that the best thing a parent can do is to schedule free time for their children every day.
So, if your life revolves around fast food restaurants and changing in the car, that's okay. But be sure to make time for yourself.
-- Theresa Linnert, 12, is in seventh grade at Westlake Christian School in Palm Harbor.
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Collegeboard.com has devised some time management tips for high school students that seem to fit just right for anyone. Collegeboard.com also suggests that you personalize your habits so that the tips suit you.
1. Make a "to do" list every day: Put things that are most important at the top and do them first.
2. Use spare minutes wisely: Try to get reading or homework done in between activities.
3. Know that it's okay to say "no": If you have five entries on your calendar already, it will probably be okay to say no to another request for your time.
4. Get more bang for your buck: You'll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don't wait to do it until late at night.
5. Review your notes after each class: You'll reinforce what you've learned, so you need less time to study or cram. You'll also be ready the next day if your teacher calls on you or gives a pop quiz.
6. Get a good night's sleep: Running on empty makes the day seem longer and your tasks seem more difficult.
7. Communicate your schedule to others: Let's say that phone calls are proving to be a distraction. Tell your friends that you take social calls from 7 to 8 p.m. -- if you're at home. It may sound silly, but it helps.
8. Become a taskmaster: Figure out how much time you have each week to do certain things, such as watch television. Give yourself a time budget and plan your activities (or favorite shows) accordingly.
9. Don't waste time agonizing: Have you ever wasted an entire evening by worrying about something that you're supposed to be doing? Was it worth it? Instead of agonizing and procrastinating, just do it.
10. Keep things in perspective: Setting goals that are unrealistic sets you up for failure. It's good to set high goals for yourself to achieve, but be sure not to overdo it. Set goals that are difficult yet reachable.
Source: www.collegeboard.com.
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