Managing My Time

Think about what is most important at that moment.

Make a list of what you need to do and when it needs to be done.

This can help you decide when to say “yes” and when to say “no”.

For example:

A child might be invited to a birthday party on the same day they have a sports match.

Trying to go to everything can make the child and family feel stressed and tired.

It is okay to say “no” to one activity.

You could send a card or gift to the party instead.

This helps set boundaries and keeps the day calmer for everyone.

Take time to plan what is coming up.

You do not need to plan far ahead.

Start by planning one week at a time — or even one day.

You can plan on a Sunday or the night before.

Talk with the child and ask simple questions like:

When will you eat during the day?

How long can you work on one task before needing a break?

What will you do during breaks?

Is the plan realistic?

Does the plan include meals, rest, and downtime?

 Write the plan down and look at it again later.

Plans can change, and that is fine.

Procrastination means putting things off until later.

It often makes stress worse.

Try planning backwards from the due date.

Work out:

how long the task will take

what steps you need to do

how much extra “buffer time” you need for surprises

Write these steps on a calendar.

Give yourself quiet time to think.

When you are calmer, you can come up with better ideas and solutions.

Break big jobs into small steps.

For example:

work for 30 minutes

set a timer

take a short break

have a snack or stretch

set a timer for a 10-minute break

repeat this a few times

This helps you stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

Some people like to start with the hardest task.

Others prefer starting with the easy ones.

Choose what works best for you.

These simple steps can help make big tasks feel smaller and easier to manage.

Think about the end goal and make a plan that works for you.