LIFE SKILLS How to plan your time
Before you move to the exercises below, read the text. Then read the following explanation about HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIME and LIFE SKILLS PROJECT
How to Plan Your Time
Planning your time properly helps you stay organized, complete tasks efficiently, and reduce stress. Here’s how you can do it:
✅ Be Systematic – Take just few minutes every day to plan your schedule. Doing this regularly makes it a habit and keeps you on track.
✅ Be Realistic – Don’t overload yourself with too many tasks. Write down only the tasks you can realistically complete within the day.
✅ Break Down Large Tasks – If you have a big project, divide it into smaller, manageable steps to make progress easier.
✅ Prioritize – Decide which tasks are most important or urgent and focus on them first.
✅ Plan Time to Relax – A balanced schedule includes breaks! Make sure to give yourself some time to rest and recharge.
✅ Tick Off Completed Tasks – Mark off tasks when you finish them and use that information to plan for the next day.
LIFE SKILLS PROJECT
Part A: Create a To-Do List for Three Days
For the next three days, each evening, write a to-do list based on the above advice.
Part B: Answer These Questions in Your Notes
- What tasks from your list did you complete?
- Were there any tasks you didn’t complete? Why?
- Was the to-do list useful? Why or why not?
- Will you change anything about how you organize your time? If yes, what?
Part C: Prepare Your Presentation
Summarize your answers and be ready to share your experience with the class. You can talk about:
- How planning helped you
- Any challenges you faced
- What changes you will make moving forward
1 In pairs, say how often these are true for
you − often, sometimes or never.
1 I feel I don’t have time for anything.
2 I do everything at the last moment.
3 I don’t have time to rest
Students’ own answers
2 Listen to a conversation between Kareem and Rashed and answer the questions.
1 Who do you think has better grades? Kareem
2 Who has more free time? Kareem
3 Who is more stressed? Rashed
3 In pairs, read the opinions about planning your time. Do you agree or disagree with them?
1 When we don’t have a plan, we usually do nothing.
2 Planning takes too much time.
3 Good planning helps you to have more free time.
Students’ own answers
4 Read the forum entries opposite and match headings A–E with entries 1–3. There are two extra headings.
A Don’t plan your free time
B Use a calendar to plan (2)
C Switch off social media (1)
D Never plan too much
E Concentrate on the important things first (3)
5 Listen to an expert talking about how to plan your day. Complete the advice below with the words and phrases from the box.
break / energy / every day / important / relax / tick off
• Be systematic − find time to plan every day; it only takes about three minutes.
• Be realistic − write down only the tasks which you have the time and energy to complete.
- Break down larger tasks into smaller parts.
- Prioritize – decide which tasks are important or urgent.
- Plan some time to relax too.
- Tick off tasks when they are finished and plan your next day.
6 Do the task below
LIFE SKILLS |Project
A For the next three days, prepare a to-do list each evening. Use the advice from this lesson to help you.
B Make notes to answer the questions below:
• What things from your to-do list did you do?
• Were there any tasks you didn’t do? Say why. • Did you find the to-do list useful? Say why.
• Are you planning to change anything about organizing your time? If yes, what?
C Prepare a short presentation to share your findings from point B with the class.
