TEEN TALK: Time Management Without Burning Yourself Out
By Randall Rojas
Randall Rojas is a software development student at Central New Mexico Community College with an interest in both programming and design. He enjoys creating clean, simple visuals that still tell a meaningful story, and this project focuses on highlighting important figures in U.S. military history. His goal is to combine technical skills with creativity to build projects that are both informative and visually engaging.
Time management is something I handle a lot differently now than I used to. Going to school full time while also working full time can make it feel like there are never enough hours in the day. There is always another assignment, another responsibility, or something that needs my attention. I have learned that managing my time is not really about trying to fit everything into every day. It is more about deciding what matters most and making sure I leave room for the other important parts of my life too.
For me, school has become one of my biggest priorities. I try to get my schoolwork done before I focus on everything else because I know how important finishing college is for my future. That does not mean I ignore my family, friends, or social life. Actually, I try to do the opposite. Once I know my school responsibilities are taken care of, I can enjoy spending time with the people I care about without constantly thinking about an assignment I should be working on.
The difficult part is that even with a schedule and good intentions, burnout can still happen. When you are balancing school, work, family, and everyday responsibilities, sometimes it feels like you are constantly doing something for somebody or working toward the next deadline. I have had to learn that taking some time for myself is important too. Whether that means relaxing for a while, stepping away from schoolwork, spending time with people I care about, or just giving myself a chance to slow down, those breaks help me stay grounded.
Military-connected teens may already know what it feels like when life does not follow a predictable schedule. Moves, deployments, changing schools, family responsibilities, sports, jobs, and preparing for college can all compete for your time. One thing that can help is deciding what absolutely needs to get done first and then planning around it. You do not have to accomplish everything at once. Sometimes a realistic plan for the day is better than a huge list that leaves you feeling like you failed because you could not finish everything.
There are definitely times when I feel burned out, but I remind myself why I am doing this. I know that college is the best thing for me right now, and I know I need to finish what I started. At the same time, reaching a goal should not mean completely losing yourself along the way. Make time for your responsibilities, but make time for yourself and the people you care about too. Finding that balance is not something you figure out once and never struggle with again. It is something you keep working on – and sometimes simply recognizing when you need a break is part of managing your time too.
Image Used: Daily Planner Template.webp Description: Daily planner / schedule template. Source: Wikimedia CommonsCredit: Mifrah92 Rights / License: CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Source Page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daily_Planner_Template.webp File Note: Converted from WEBP to PNG for file compatibility; image content was not altered.
