Today is rung 5 of 7 on this topic
Managing a real workload
Can do: Runs one calendar covering school, activities and commitments, and protects sleep within it.
Why it matters
The first year where school plus extracurriculars can genuinely exceed the hours available. The trade-offs have to be made deliberately.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Says yes to everything, then loses sleep as the shock absorber for every scheduling failure.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"Show me next week. Where is the time for the essay due Friday?"
Solid looks like: Specific blocks visible in a calendar, and sleep not the flexible item.
The full activity for this topic · 30 minutes
Block the Whole Week
- 1Block fixed commitments first: school, travel, training, sleep.
- 2Count what's actually left. It's usually less than they think.
- 3Place study blocks in the remaining time, with the biggest task in the best block.
- 4If it doesn't fit, something has to go — decide what, deliberately.
- 5Review on Friday: what actually happened versus the plan?
If it's too hard
Plan three days at a time.
If it's too easy
Plan a whole term including exam periods and deadline clusters.
Say this
"It doesn't fit. Something has to come out — and it isn't going to be sleep."