Mastering Time: How UAE teens excel in studies and extracurriculars

“Time management is essential for student-athletes like me. I focus on one task at a time, studying for four to five hours after school and training for basketball for one to two hours,” she says.

Al Anani organises her schedule using both an app and handwritten planners. “Keeping track of my daily schedule, I make time for school, sports, sleep, and breaks. I also use study apps like Gizmo and Quizlet, which help me review my lessons with flashcards, quizzes, and notes.”

She adds, “I take a 15-minute break after 45 minutes of studying. After learning a lesson or topic, I try to explain it to a classmate who needs help. This helps me remember what I studied. Finally, I check off completed tasks to stay motivated.”

She admits her main distractions are her phone, social media, and fatigue. “To manage these challenges, I take breaks and reward myself for completing small, practical tasks. I prioritise rest and spend time with friends to maintain my mental well-being. When I feel tempted to procrastinate, I remind myself of my goals and the satisfaction of finishing tasks ahead of time. Setting my goals helps me deal with procrastination effectively.”

“Every Saturday evening, I plan my week — classes, assignments, and personal time — using Google Calendar. I follow the 50/10 rule: 50 minutes of focused work followed by a 10-minute break,” he says.

“I’m a visual learner, so mind maps and diagrams are my holy grail. I use Notes on my iPad to organise learning, and then Quizlet and AI platforms like NoteGPT to create flashcards. Another habit that’s helped is active recall: I close my devices and try to teach the topic out loud. My younger sister thinks I’ve gone mad, but it works.”

When procrastinating, he admits, “I’ll clean my entire desk just to avoid writing an essay. My parents are supportive but have expectations. I remind myself that pressure doesn’t always mean perfection, and I tell my inner voice to shut up when it says I’m not doing enough.”

“Last term, I had five assessments in one week and barely slept while also working on my MYP personal project. I felt overwhelmed. After that, I took a full weekend off and played football until my legs gave out. It helped me reset, so now I prioritise proper breaks and avoid glorifying overexertion.”

“My weeks are structured at the start of each month using a calendar. I use Notion for study plans and timetables, Streaks to maintain daily habits, and the Journal app on my iPhone to manage and offload stress. The Forest app keeps me focused by growing a virtual tree while I study. The Einstein Priority Grid app helps me focus on important topics, even under exam pressure.”

His main procrastination trigger is his phone. “To limit usage, I set a specific time and have my sibling set a password so I can’t access it afterwards. This keeps me from wasting time when other tasks need attention.”

His formula for handling pressure is balancing selfishness with empathy. “It helps me understand others’ goals while considering how they affect my own, so I can make the right decisions.”

“Every day after school, I enter important events into my laptop’s calendar app, tagging them as ‘school,’ ‘tutor,’ or ‘home.’ I set deadlines and reminders for assignments and aim to finish work as soon as I get it so I have more time for test prep.”

She admits she procrastinates when given longer-term tasks, like studying five topics for a test next week, but stays on track by alternating work she enjoys — such as graphics, a subject she studies — with academic work. “I’ll do 30 minutes of graphics, then 30 minutes of studying. It’s more efficient than taking breaks to scroll on my phone.”

For big assignments, she breaks them into smaller tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. “I use Save My Exams to practise answering questions according to the mark scheme. Schools often overlook how specific wording can cost marks, so it’s important to memorise the types of questions.”

She says burnout sets in after intense testing periods. “During Year 10 mocks, I was stressed and focused on cramming as much as I could. Once exams ended, I lost motivation entirely. It came back once I started working on assignments I enjoyed.”

Outside school, she babysits, attends church, joins Bible study twice a week, and keeps active with bike riding, walking, and weightlifting. She also prioritises healthy sleep and eating habits.

Her go-to study method is solving past question papers. “I use the mark scheme to check my answers. If I’m wrong, I note the correct answer. If it’s a knowledge issue, I revisit the textbook or slides. If it’s exam technique, I rewrite the answer and practise more.”

On procrastination, she says, “When I delay studying, I tell my mom so she can keep me accountable. I set a timer for study sessions and remove distractions. I reward myself afterwards with a walk or baking a healthy treat.”

“My school has high expectations, but it’s the right amount of pressure to keep me motivated without being overwhelming.”

“I use red for urgent deadlines, orange for assignments with more time, and yellow for extra credit or work without deadlines. I complete homework quickly to avoid a backlog and keep time free for difficult topics during exams.”

On low-focus days, she starts with easy tasks before tackling harder ones. “Classical music helps me focus, especially when writing essays.”

She experiments with techniques like blurting, writing down everything she remembers on a topic, and the Feynman Technique, which involves simplifying concepts to teach them clearly. “They help me actively engage with the material.”

To prevent burnout, she schedules tech-free breaks with physical movement. “When I feel overwhelmed, I talk to my parents and create a new plan that fits my goals. These adjustments give me clarity and help me refocus.”