3 answers
Griffin
Student
Longview, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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How do can I work on staying on top of my homework as a senior in High school to prepare me for college??
AS a senior in high school I struggle with being organized and staying on top of my work. I want to be successful in college and am curious if anyone has advice?
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3 answers
Melanie Anderson
Associate Director
58
Answers
Elmont, New York
Updated
Melanie’s Answer
Hi Griffin!
This is a really good question! I am proud of you for getting on top of this before you go to college. I know being a senior is a lot with the college applications and senior activities. In order to get better at being organized, you should improve your time management skills and the good news is these skills will be useful in college and anything else you decide to do.
Something that I use is a calendar or a planner. You can have one digitally like an app or physically to keep track of your commitments. Record all of your tests, assignments, work times if applicable, extra curricular activities and personal engagements as well. Don't forget to block out time to study, eat, relax and rest. Having a calendar is a great foundation for organization which is a staple in time management. Prioritization is an important part of time management. Once you know all of the things you have to accomplish, you have to prioritize what is urgent and important. It doesn't mean that the other things don't need to be completed, you just need to figure out what needs to be completed and when.
If you have big tasks, break them down into smaller pieces so that you can complete it timely. I was once asked, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, so that is what you should think about. No, not eating elephants but breaking big tasks into small ones.
Doing a weekly reset/check in will be helpful. Checking to make sure you completed everything you needed for the week as well as looking at your future assignments will help to make sure nothing is missed. It will also give you an opportunity to review your notes.
You won't be organized overnight, but you can start small and make small changes to build a routine.
I am rooting for you, Good Luck!
This is a really good question! I am proud of you for getting on top of this before you go to college. I know being a senior is a lot with the college applications and senior activities. In order to get better at being organized, you should improve your time management skills and the good news is these skills will be useful in college and anything else you decide to do.
Something that I use is a calendar or a planner. You can have one digitally like an app or physically to keep track of your commitments. Record all of your tests, assignments, work times if applicable, extra curricular activities and personal engagements as well. Don't forget to block out time to study, eat, relax and rest. Having a calendar is a great foundation for organization which is a staple in time management. Prioritization is an important part of time management. Once you know all of the things you have to accomplish, you have to prioritize what is urgent and important. It doesn't mean that the other things don't need to be completed, you just need to figure out what needs to be completed and when.
If you have big tasks, break them down into smaller pieces so that you can complete it timely. I was once asked, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, so that is what you should think about. No, not eating elephants but breaking big tasks into small ones.
Doing a weekly reset/check in will be helpful. Checking to make sure you completed everything you needed for the week as well as looking at your future assignments will help to make sure nothing is missed. It will also give you an opportunity to review your notes.
You won't be organized overnight, but you can start small and make small changes to build a routine.
I am rooting for you, Good Luck!
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Griffin 👋🏻...
A lot of seniors feel this way, so you’re not behind at all. Staying organized isn’t about being naturally disciplined—it’s about building tiny habits that keep you from drowning in last-minute stress.
One thing that helps almost immediately is having one place where everything lives. Not five apps, not random notes. Just one planner, one Google Doc, or one notes app where you write every assignment and deadline the moment you get it. Your brain relaxes when it’s not trying to remember everything.
Try to break your work into 20–30 minute blocks instead of waiting for a long stretch of “motivation.” Sit down, set a timer, and just start. Most of the time, starting is harder than finishing.
Pick a small daily routine too. Something like: check your planner in the morning, do one small task after school, and review tomorrow’s deadlines before bed. It’s boring, but it keeps your workload from piling up.
If you struggle with focus, remove friction. Put your phone in another room, clear your desk, and work somewhere you associate with school, like a library or a quiet corner of your house.
College isn’t about being perfect; it’s about knowing how to catch yourself before things get out of control. If you practice these small habits now, even imperfectly, you’ll walk into college already knowing how to manage your time instead of learning it the hard way.
A lot of seniors feel this way, so you’re not behind at all. Staying organized isn’t about being naturally disciplined—it’s about building tiny habits that keep you from drowning in last-minute stress.
One thing that helps almost immediately is having one place where everything lives. Not five apps, not random notes. Just one planner, one Google Doc, or one notes app where you write every assignment and deadline the moment you get it. Your brain relaxes when it’s not trying to remember everything.
Try to break your work into 20–30 minute blocks instead of waiting for a long stretch of “motivation.” Sit down, set a timer, and just start. Most of the time, starting is harder than finishing.
Pick a small daily routine too. Something like: check your planner in the morning, do one small task after school, and review tomorrow’s deadlines before bed. It’s boring, but it keeps your workload from piling up.
If you struggle with focus, remove friction. Put your phone in another room, clear your desk, and work somewhere you associate with school, like a library or a quiet corner of your house.
College isn’t about being perfect; it’s about knowing how to catch yourself before things get out of control. If you practice these small habits now, even imperfectly, you’ll walk into college already knowing how to manage your time instead of learning it the hard way.
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Griffin. You should set aside specific times each day to work on your homework and stick to them. You can use a planner, or even your phone's calendar, to keep track of assignments and important dates. This way, you can stay organized and know exactly what you need to do each day.
It also helps to break down big assignments into smaller tasks. For example, if you have a research paper, you can start by picking a topic, then do research, then write a draft, and so on. Breaking it down makes it less overwhelming, and you'll feel like you're making progress every time you finish a part.
You can also use apps to organize your tasks and set reminders to help you stay on track.
One of the biggest distractions these days is your phone, so it's important to find ways to focus. Try to create a designated homework space free from distractions like your phone, social media, or TV.
Don't be afraid to reach out to your teachers if you're having trouble keeping up. They can give you extra help or explain things in a way that might make more sense. And if you're struggling to meet deadlines, they may be able to work with you.
It also helps to break down big assignments into smaller tasks. For example, if you have a research paper, you can start by picking a topic, then do research, then write a draft, and so on. Breaking it down makes it less overwhelming, and you'll feel like you're making progress every time you finish a part.
You can also use apps to organize your tasks and set reminders to help you stay on track.
One of the biggest distractions these days is your phone, so it's important to find ways to focus. Try to create a designated homework space free from distractions like your phone, social media, or TV.
Don't be afraid to reach out to your teachers if you're having trouble keeping up. They can give you extra help or explain things in a way that might make more sense. And if you're struggling to meet deadlines, they may be able to work with you.