How To Help Your Teen Be More Productive
By Cheryl Maguire
“ It is eleven o ’ clock . You should go to sleep now .” “ But I haven ’ t finished my homework yet .”
This common exchange between my 13-year-old daughter and me occurs more often than I care to admit . Even though she gets home at 2 p . m ., she often procrastinates completing her homework until right before bedtime . She is also a repeat offender of waiting until the last minute to start research projects .
Being productive when completing homework or in a job is an issue for many teenagers who are easily distracted by electronics , socializing or other fun activities .
Put Away Devices
“ The best tip for teens to improve productivity is to put your phone away . Our smartphones can be exceptionally useful tools , but they can also be exceptionally distracting ,” says Emily Price , author of the book , Productivity Hacks : 500 + Easy Ways to Accomplish More at Work--That Actually Work ! Price wrote the book based on 15 years of interviewing people ranging from low-level employees to CEOs . Price says , “ Everyone and every company has a different approach to ‘ how to work .’”
Price recommends that teens put their phone in another room when they are trying to be productive . If they need their phone for homework , then she suggests using “ Do Not Disturb ” mode to limit the distracting sounds of a “ pinging phone .” She says , “ Being disconnected for a few hours can make a tremendous difference to your productivity .”
Have a Dedicated Workspace
Price also suggests a dedicated workspace . She says , “ Having an ‘ office ’ or a place where you traditionally do your work can be great for a number of reasons . First , it can help put you in the mindset for ‘ work ’ when you sit down . Secondly , it can be a signal to other people in your home that you ’ re busy working and shouldn ’ t be disturbed .”
“ The most important thing when it comes to teens being productive in school and with homework or any jobs is
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