Tips to Help Your Teen Stay Organized and Study Smarter This School Year

As the new school year ramps up, the hustle and bustle of academic life is once again upon us. For teenagers, juggling classes, assignments, extracurricular activities, and social commitments can be quite overwhelming. Here are some tips to set them up for success and help your teen feel like they can stay organized and study smarter this year:

1. Establish a Dedicated Space for Their Materials

It’s actually a myth that studying in the same place all the time enhances your studying endurance. Instead, have a “command center” for your teen where they know they can find all the materials they’ll need, but encourage them to mix up where they actually do their studying. This variation builds different connections with the material they’re studying so they can recall it more easily.

For lots of teens, getting started is the hardest part, so simplifying this process by making sure they know where everything is AND that they can choose where they’re going to do the actual work can be helpful!

2. Use Digital Tools Wisely:

Teach your teen to leverage digital tools like calendars, task management apps, and note-taking platforms to keep track of assignments, deadlines, and important dates. Google Calendar, Microsoft OneNote, or dedicated study apps can help them stay on top of their responsibilities. 

What’s important is that you find a system that works for them. While you may prefer a paper planner or particular calendar app, they may need to use a reminders system on their phone. The key to this is making sure it’s something they’ll actually use.

3. Prioritize and Plan:

Help your teen develop the habit of creating to-do lists that rank tasks by priority levels. By listing tasks and assignments in order of importance, they can tackle the most pressing matters first, reducing last-minute stress.

4. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps:

Large projects can be daunting, especially for teenagers. Teach them how to break down assignments into smaller, manageable tasks. This approach makes it easier to track progress and prevents them from feeling overwhelmed.

5. Set Realistic Goals:

Encourage your teen to set achievable goals for each study session or week. Accomplishing these smaller goals can boost their confidence and motivation, making them more likely to stay organized.

These goals don’t just have to be school-related. Maybe their goal is to have more time to spend with their friends—how can you work together to make that happen while not sacrificing their studying time?

6. Develop Time Management Skills:

Time management is a crucial skill for students, but it’s tricky to learn. Teach your teen techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, where they work for a focused 25-minute interval and then take a 5-minute break. This can enhance their productivity and prevent burnout.

7. Regularly Declutter and Organize:

A cluttered physical space can lead to a cluttered mind. Encourage your teen to declutter their study areas and organize their materials regularly. This includes clearing out unnecessary papers, organizing digital files, and keeping their workspace tidy. Having a weekly or monthly system in place can help this task feel less daunting!

8. Minimize Multitasking:

While it might seem efficient, multitasking can actually hinder productivity. Advise your teen to focus on one task at a time, helping them complete tasks more effectively and reduce mistakes.

On the other side, encourage them that if they feel themselves burning out on one subject or task, they can switch to a different activity. This switching actually helps them get more done instead of just slogging through something they don’t feel like they can dedicate their full attention to.

9. Encourage Consistent Routines:

Consistency is key to staying organized. Help your teen establish a daily routine that includes set times for studying, eating, sleeping, and engaging in extracurricular activities. A predictable schedule can enhance their time management and overall well-being. When they know what to expect, they’ll be more likely to use these times for their dedicated purposes.

10. Foster Communication Skills:

Encourage open communication with teachers, peers, and family members. If your teen is facing challenges or needs clarification, they should feel comfortable seeking help. This proactive approach can prevent misunderstandings and last-minute stressors.

11. Learn from Mistakes:

Mistakes are inevitable, and they offer valuable learning opportunities. If your teen misses a deadline or faces a setback, help them reflect on what went wrong and how they can prevent it in the future.

Resilience is your ability to bounce back after stress or failure. Here are some tips to help grow your child’s resilience >>

Quick Fixes only Go So Far to Help Your Teen Stay Organized

If you’re frustrated by your teen’s inability to work independently, structure their time productively, and complete work on time, it may be a sign of weak thinking and learning skills.

At LearningRx, we target the skills your brain needs to have in order to plan, prioritize, and organize time and materials effectively. Executive function skills like these are hard to teach, but by targeting the underlying cognitive skills, many students experience growth in these areas as well!

Our Study Skills program is also a great option for teens who need some extra help organizing their time and creating a plan of action to take that burden off of you as a parent. Click here to learn more! >>