Kids Learning Time Management Skills Help with Lifelong Stress Management
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As an emotional intelligence coach, one of the many causes of stress and poor decision-making skills for my clients comes from poor time management. When we don’t manage our time well, we stress ourselves out. Stressed people often make rush decisions because they simply don’t have time to gather all the information needed to make effective decisions. In this technology age of “get it now” and “do it faster” we can all feel rushed on a regular basis. It is a much different time than when I grew up where we taught “patience” as a virtue.
To help today’s kids transition into adulthood smoothly and learn time management skills as a way of life here are a few tips to help:
- Buy your child a watch – this helps them be conscious of time without having to rely on their devices and becoming distracted by all of the apps thechnology offers
- Have them write out their weekly schedule for mornings, after school and weekends to help them realize how much time things take to do
- Schedule a consistent time to have kids help with chores so they learn to factor this in as a norm
- Schedule device free time to help them remain creative and use their boredom for constructive things
- Pin down a specific time for homework to get rid of the ad-hoc plan that teaches people to do things on the fly (which creates a messy mindset)
- Schedule fun time the does not involve technology or competitive sports to show them the value of taking a vacation after they have worked hard when they grow up
- Pin down at least 30 minutes a week at a consistent time for family talks. This helps them learn to sit still for brainstorming sessions
- Create a regimen for bedtime that includes at least 15 minutes of wind down time before sleep (device free) to let the learn how to plan for time to refuel
- Always teach them how to build in an extra 15 minutes to commute time to help avoid the rushed feeling when they get to a place they need to be
Parenting is not always easy, but with a plan and proper time management it can be a little easier.
Photo: Woodleywonderworks/Flickr