It's Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and your teenager is asking you to drive to the store for supplies for a project that's due tomorrow. Sound familiar? You're frustrated because you're just hearing about this now, and your kid seems stressed and overwhelmed.
Before you blame procrastination, consider this: your teen is essentially juggling seven different jobs with seven different bosses who all have different communication styles. No wonder they're struggling to keep track of everything! The good news? You can teach them a simple system that will end those last-minute panic sessions for good.
Set up one central place for all assignments.
This could be the school's online portal if it's well-organized, but I also recommend a small notebook that lives in their backpack. Every time a teacher assigns something, they write it down. There's brain science behind this: writing things down helps commit them to memory, especially when teachers announce assignments verbally that don't show up online for days.
Get a monthly paper planner or dry-erase calendar.
Skip the daily planners. You need a big, month-at-a-view where they can see everything at once. Start by writing in all their outside commitments: piano lessons, soccer practice, family events, and church. This gives them the "lay of the land" for what's already taking up their time when they're not in school.
Do a quick daily check-in together using two simple questions.
First: "Was anything assigned today that's due tomorrow?" Write those urgent items on today's square. Second: "Was anything assigned today with a future due date?" For tests and projects, write the due date on the calendar, then have a planning conversation about when they'll prepare, considering their other commitments.
Let them drive the process while you ask guiding questions.
Don't take over and start planning for them. Ask things like "How much time do you think you'll need to study for this test?" and "Looking at your week, when do you see yourself fitting that in?" They need to make the decisions and do the writing. You're just there to help them think it through.
Help them see the bigger picture to reduce anxiety.
When they're freaking out about a project due in three weeks, use the monthly view to show them there's time to plan. Break big projects into smaller milestones and write those on specific days. This prevents the overwhelm that comes from trying to hold everything in their head.
This isn't just about getting better grades. You're teaching your teen a life skill that will serve them in college, their career, and beyond. When they can see their time visually and plan ahead, they'll stop feeling like everything is an emergency. Plus, they'll start making better choices about how to spend their time, sometimes even saying no to social events when they can see it conflicts with important schoolwork. That's the kind of time awareness that will benefit them forever.
Check out the TOP Student Planner here: https://www.megansumrell.com/student
- The Annual Plan-a-Palooza waitlist is officially open!
If you're tired of setting goals in January only to abandon them by March, Plan-a-Palooza is going to be a game-changer for your 2026 planning. This isn't your typical goal-setting workshop; it's a planning experience that incorporates ALL the roles in your life, so you can actually achieve your goals while still having fun and time for yourself.
The workshop happens October 15 + 16, 2025, and tickets go on sale August 1st for $47. But here's the awesome-sauce part: join the waitlist now and you'll get a $10 off coupon, plus first access when tickets drop. Trust me, this workshop fills up fast because it's the only planning event designed specifically for women's real lives - Learn It!
Raising teens can often feel like you need a PhD in about twelve different subjects, which is why the Learn It! free interview series is such a relief. This week-long event (August 4-10) features over 30 experts covering topics like study skills, nutrition, ADHD support, and even how to take pictures of your teens when they don't want to cooperate.
Each day has 4-5 interviews available for 24 hours, so it's totally manageable to watch, plus every expert includes a free gift. I'm actually one of the speakers sharing time management tips specifically for teens, so you know it's going to be good stuff!
5 VERIFIED Reasons Why ClickUp Beats Asana & Monday.com for Entrepreneurs
Are you drowning in project management chaos and wondering which platform will actually help instead of creating more work? After 20+ years in corporate tech installing every project management tool imaginable, I'm breaking down exactly why ClickUp beats Asana and Monday.com for growing businesses.
You'll see the real cost breakdown between these platforms (spoiler: it's not what you think), why Asana's interface will drive you absolutely crazy and waste your time, and which advanced automation features actually matter when you're trying to scale your business. Plus, I'm explaining how ClickUp handles the constant pivots and changes that come with entrepreneurship, because let's be honest, we're not running Fortune 500 companies with predictable workflows
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This Week’s Buzz: How can I break an old habit and create a new routine that actually sticks?
Ever plan for a one-hour break but somehow end up binge-watching TV for three hours instead? You're definitely not alone in this struggle, and here's why willpower alone isn't going to fix it. Instead of trying to change the behavior (like telling yourself you'll only watch one episode this time), I'm sharing why a complete pattern interrupt works so much better.
Think of it like this: rather than fighting the urge to snack at 3 PM by choosing healthier snacks, sometimes you need to do something totally different at 3 PM instead. I'm breaking down how to create these pattern interrupts for any habit that's gotten out of control, plus the seven-day rule that makes new behaviors actually stick.
Remember, this video is updated every Wednesday, so don’t miss it! Head to The Pink Bee app to watch now.
Friend, don’t forget—just 15 minutes of planning today can set the tone for your entire week. You’ve got the tools, you’ve got the tips, and now it’s time to take action. Let’s crush this week together!
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