Tag Archives: life skills

Time Management

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As finals slowly approach, I have often found myself stressed with school and sports. Balancing school, sports, and extracurriculars has proven to be a struggle in my life and many others. Learning how to manage time has proven to be a beneficial skill in life, but it is challenging to learn. 

Here are two ways you can master time management:

  1. Creating a To-Do List
  • There’s a reason why creating a To-Do list is so popular: using a To-Do list can help you keep track of homework, upcoming projects/tests, and chores around the house. To-Do list lets you plan your study time and mark what you complete. Using a list helps you monitor your assignments. A bonus is that checking off a task is a motivator to finish homework.
  • If you prefer to keep track of your To-Do list online, there are many websites (and apps) to do so. I enjoy Pomofocus; this website has a To-Do list and a Pomodoro timer. This leads me to my second point–use a timing system!
  • Benefits: Checking off tasks creates a sense of accomplishment, limits stress, and lessens procrastination.
  1. Utilizing Timing Techniques
  • A timing system allows for the allotted time of working and breaks. The Pomodoro Strategy arranges 25 minutes of work time and 5-15 minutes of rest time. This enables users to have time for work and breaks. Studies have shown that people with gaps between study sessions are more productive than those without. 
  • The Pomodoro Technique has helped me set realistic goals when studying by creating small steps that gradually build up to my main objective.
  • Benefits: Increases accountability, reduces distractions, and improves productivity.
  • An extra note: Looking ahead in the next week or two is essential when planning your study time. This can help you stay on top of upcoming tests and projects.

Final Notes!

Since I have used these strategies in school, I have never missed an assignment and had time to study for exams. Though these two tips seem like small factors in the large scheme of things, setting a To-Do list and timing techniques significantly improve time management.

Organizing your time is essential to being a successful student, employee, and athlete. Using these methods will help you maximize your productivity in a small amount of time.

Thank you for reading!!

– Gwendy M.

Life Skills for Teens

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Book Review: Life Skills for Teens: The Ultimate Guide for Young Adults on How to Manage Money, Cook, Clean, Find a Job, Make Better Decisions, and Everything You Need to Be Independent

“Life Skills for Teens” by Vivian Foster is an inclusive guidebook that provides young adults with essential skills they will need to maneuver through the real world. The book covers various topics, from cooking, cleaning, managing money, fixing cars, performing first aid, and many more.

She presented the material in an easy-to-understand manner. The book is organized in a way that is easy and accessible for beginners. It is organized into various chapters covering different skills. Every chapter begins with an introduction to the specific topic and step-by-step instructions for the task.

The book includes many practical tips and real-life examples that young people can practice and relate to. One of the chapters is about managing money and the expected financial problems for teens, and she suggests ways to avoid them.

The author also includes valuable advice on creating a budget that you can stick to, which is an important life skill for anyone. It’s one I am learning, and it’s tough. But hey, the teen years are the best time to learn these habits.

This book includes abundant illustrations and photographs, which make it easy to follow the instructions. The accurate and details images provide a perfect visual reference for each step in the process.

“Life Skills for Teens” is an excellent resource for teens starting out and learning to maneuver the adult world. This book covers various topics and provides practical advice on how to master essential life skills. It is very well-written, precise, easy to understand, and packed with helpful resources. I recommend it to anyone looking to develop life skills and a successful mindset.

Happy Learning!

Bella H.

Investopedia

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Investopedia is a website that provides financial advice about stocks. There are countless sources that teach you how to invest. Also, you can look to Investopedia for information about how stocks are doing, as it shows if they are falling or rising. 

However, all of these aside, my favorite resource on Investopedia is the Stock Simulator. This feature allows users to “purchase” fake stocks with virtual money. This way, beginners along with more advanced stock owners can experience the stock market without having to risk their own money. 

In order to play this Stock Simulator, you only need to create an account with Investopedia. After you get that taken care of, the website is free to access. To start off, you are given 100,000 dollars (buying power) to purchase whichever stocks you would like. But, don’t worry, Investopedia also shows you if a stock’s value is projected to increase or decrease, and whether you should buy or sell the stock. Fortunately, Investopedia provides this type of help on purchasing stocks, so you can choose the right stocks to virtually invest in on the website. 

Some stocks that I have found to be successful on Investopedia and in the Stock Market recently (as of November 2022) are the Goldman Sachs Group Incorporation share and the stock of Costco Wholesale Corporation. 

If you’re interested in purchasing a share in a stock in real life, I highly suggest you try Investopedia first to research a bit about it. You can learn how to manage your stock as well as how to choose stocks wisely. Also, purchasing the stock in Investopedia before you buy in real life can help show you the patterns of that stock. Enjoy trading stocks on Investopedia!