If your teen has a hard time getting out the door on time, forgets deadlines, or underestimates how long assignments will take—you’re not alone. Time management is one of the most essential (and trickiest) executive functioning skills for high school students to develop. The good news? With the right support, it’s a skill they can learn.
As executive functioning researchers Dawson and Guare put it, time management is “the ability to estimate how much time is available, how to spend it, and how to stay within time limits and deadlines. It also involves a sense of time urgency—the notion that it’s important to accomplish particular tasks within a designated time frame.”
If this is an area where your teen struggles, I can almost hear you yelling, “Yes! Exactly!” So let’s talk about what time management development actually looks like—and how to support it.
How Time Management Skills Develop
In early childhood, adults lead the charge. Parents and caregivers set the schedule, prompt transitions (“Okay, five more minutes of playtime!”), and adjust plans based on a child’s energy or mood. By second grade, kids are learning to read clocks and start connecting routines to specific times of day.
By adolescence, they’ve probably learned the basics—but “mastered” might feel like a stretch. Teens are often expected to manage packed schedules, juggle extracurriculars, and handle long-term assignments… all while their brains are still developing the very skills needed to plan and prioritize.
And to be honest, time feels different for teens. A test next week might sound like forever away—until you point out there’s a soccer tournament this weekend and practice on Monday and Tuesday. Suddenly, “next week” doesn’t feel so far off.
Why Time Management Is So Hard for Teens
Teens often underestimate how long tasks will take and overestimate how much time they have. That mismatch can lead to last-minute stress, missed deadlines, and a whole lot of tension at home.
But here’s the key: time management isn’t about controlling every minute—it’s about building awareness and learning to make intentional choices about time.
How You Can Help Teens Build Time Management Skills
1. Model It Out Loud
As you juggle your own tasks, try explaining your thought process: “I was going to start dinner now, but I only have 20 minutes before a call—so I’ll prep the veggies and do the rest afterward.” This helps teens understand how to estimate and shift time realistically.
2. Collaborate Around Routines
If you’re driving your teen to a dance, say: “We need to leave at 6:50 because it takes 10 minutes to get there.” Connecting plans to why they matter helps build internal motivation and planning habits.
3. Use Visual Calendars
Having a family calendar in a central place can help everyone stay on the same page. For tech-savvy teens, pair it with a digital calendar and set phone reminders so they don’t miss important things.
4. Let Them Choose Their Alarm
Whether it’s a sunrise clock, a smart speaker, or something old-school, giving your teen ownership over how they wake up can make mornings smoother. If possible, steer them away from using their phone—too many distractions.
Be Patient—This Is a Long Game
Learning time management takes, well… time! What works this week might not work next week, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Some days will go smoothly, and others won’t. Be flexible, encourage reflection, and keep experimenting together.
I’m Jessica Mintz, an academic coach who helps anxious high school students build the executive functioning skills they need to manage stress, stay organized, and reach their goals.
Want personalized support? Fill out my contact form here or book a discovery call!
And if you found this post helpful, check out my YouTube channel for more tips and insights on supporting successful students.