8 Time Management Strategies for the New School Year

8 Time Management Strategies for the New School Year

So how was your summer?

Did you get to take a family vacation? Were you able to spend quality time with friends or relatives? How far down your summer reading list did you get?

After a jam-packed summer filled with trips and activities, do you feel like you need a break from your break? You’re not alone.

If your summer vacation was supposed to be relaxing but wasn’t, we’ve got some time-saving tips that can help you and your kids head into the new school year fresh…and even refreshed.

Following these practical principles can help set up your child for a successful school year:

8 Effective Time Management Strategies for Kids and Parents

1. Customized Study Session

Take a moment to reflect on the previous school year. What worked well and what didn’t? What successes can you capitalize on for the new school year? For example, did you learn that your child studies better after running around outside for a few minutes? Then allow them to let off some steam before cracking open a book. Does your child concentrate better with or without music? Whatever motivates your child, create the conditions that will support their ability to focus and get the most out of their study session.

 2. Plan Together

There are many things you can do to help your kids get ready for the school year. Try shopping for school supplies with your kids. Allow them to select binders and folders in their favorite color or style. Buy each child their own planner and have them organize it their own way. Involving your kids in the planning stages can relieve some of your stress and help them get excited about returning to school.

 3. Streamline Your Mornings

Strategize how to simplify the before-school hours for everyone in your family. The night before, select outfits, make lunches and organize everything your kids will need for school the next day. This will help make morning preparations more efficient and less stressful.

 4. Know Your Brain Type Know-Your-Brain-Type

The preparation for learning begins long before your child sets foot inside a classroom. It starts inside their brain. Identifying your child’s brain type will make it easier for them to learn. There are 16 different brain types. To discover your child’s brain type, fill out the free Brain Health Assessment. It only takes 5 to 7 minutes to complete. (And yes, adults can take it too).

 5. Productive Study Space

Determine the best place in the house for your children to study. Create a comfortable space where they can keep school materials organized. Any quiet area with adequate lighting and a writing surface can work as a study space. Make sure the study zone is out of the earshot of a TV and free of devices or other distractions.

 6. Give Them A Break

If your child becomes exhausted from intense studying or if it’s been a while since they got up to stretch their legs, give them a break. Although it sounds counterintuitive as a time management strategy, research demonstrates that taking breaks actually improves focus and efficiency. If your child concentrates on a particular task for too long, their cognitive control system can begin to fail. By switching their attention to something else for a brief period, they can return to their original task with renewed focus.

 7. Quality Sleep

Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night has been shown to help your child’s brain function at optimal levels. When your child doesn’t get enough sleep, they have overall decreased blood flow to their brain, which can disrupt thinking, memory, and concentration. One of the best ways to improve your child’s study habits (and grades) is to make sure their mind is sharp and well-rested.

 8. Healthy Snacks

Rather than wasting time making after-school snacks, prepare healthy snacks in advance. Store snack bags of celery sticks and apple slices in the refrigerator or serve your kids snap peas or baby carrots right out of the bag or container. For more variety, purchase an organic vegetable tray, which should provide several days’ worth of healthy snacking for your kids. If your kids are picky eaters, disguise healthy treats as something fun, like this delicious penguin snack. Study time is precious, so make the most of it.

At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to give you and your children the energy, focus and mental sharpness you need to be successful in school and life. For our full list of supplements, visit us at BrainMD.

Keith Rowe
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