Time management is one of those things that everyone seems to struggle with in IB especially in DP. Whenever we try our best to plan things out, to make sure we’re up to date on our summatives and projects, we still somehow manage to fall behind. It might be helpful to hear the experiences of the current juniors and seniors, as well as teachers, and see what struggles they face, and how they try to make the most of their time.
I’ll start.
Hyonsan Kim (Grade 11)
Normally, I can’t focus at home, so I try to finish as much work as I can during study hall. I write down in my planner all the things I need to do for that block ,in order, and then get to work on them. During the weekends, I go to the Taejeon library (관평도서관) to concentrate. Not being able to work at home also means that I try to get most of my homework done during free time at APACs instead of afterward. The upside is that I can focus better, but the downside is that I’m so tired.
Samuel Hyunmin Chu (Grade 11)
I definitely have an existential crisis every now and again, and usually end up watching food videos to relieve the stress. But since I can’t put off my assignments forever, I have a system in place that helps me manage my time. For studying, I usually set a timer for one specific subject. For instance, I might set a 1 hour timer for Biology and not stop until I’m done, or stop even if I’m not done. I think that figuratively speaking, you shouldn’t look up when you’re working. It means when you’re working on one thing, don’t think about all the other things you have to do because that’ll just add more pressure.
Yongsuk Kim (Grade 12)
Note: Some tips for writing college essays!
I honestly don’t manage my time well, but my first advice is to use something like a planner and/or calendar to keep things organized. This is quite specific, but I really recommend coming up with at least the outline for your college essays before the start of your senior year over summer break (A lot of us are really regretting not doing that). It’s also helpful to organize the essay prompts, transcripts, recommendation letters you need for each college into a spreadsheet, where you can then check off each after you’re done with them. Also, keep track of your extracurriculars. It’s helpful to keep, like a list of them, in a folder with all your other “College” stuff.
Mr. Thorne (TOK Teacher)
I usually create a digital checklist of the things I have to do, and sometimes set alarms too. One thing I recommend for writing English essays or papers is to start with freewriting any ideas you have in mind, before worrying about the specifics. It helps get you started, and can also make the process less boring and stressful.
Ms. Heinz (Humanities Teacher)
When I was attending college, I would write down everything that must be done the following week on Sunday, and then put it as a schedule in front of the notebook, so that I always knew what I had to get done. When it comes to long-term projects or assignments, I would write down my actions after class, but start the next day, because doing homework on the same day as class would give me burnout. I think time management also has a lot to do with perspective though, because it was a lot easier when I was in college than now as a teacher.
Conclusion: Some Key Takeaways
At the end of these interviews, one thing I noticed was that managing your time well doesn’t necessarily mean the stress or anxiety goes away. In my opinion, it gives a lot of nuance to time management, and shows how while it’s definitely a defining part of the IB program and academics in general, it’s not necessarily going to fix everything or ensure success. Components like determination, interest in the subject, and your social life are also key. I think that’s why it’s so important to reflect every once in a while on your life, to see if the way you’re living is benefiting you, and to identify what you need to change.