SAN JOSE, CALIF.— After finally mastering my daily routine, I’m excited to share the positive changes I’ve begun to notice.

Managing life can be very difficult, especially during high school, when things are constantly changing and evolving. But high school is also the time to explore different activities, hobbies, sports, and people. Just like adults, teenagers feel more confident and secure when their daily activities are predictable and familiar. I know that there’s just so many different phases that occur throughout one’s high school experience. I also know the significance of a routine, when needing to manage navigating yourself through ups and downs. Routines play a crucial role in a student’s life, offering both short-term stability and long-term benefits. They can also help reduce stress, leading to better mental health, more time to relax and less anxiety.

For instance, the person I am today is completely different from the person I was four years ago, when I was starting high school. Throughout these four years I’ve gone through various phases of my life consisting of different people, hobbies, emotions, experiences and mindsets. 

It used to be significantly hard for me to keep track of all my assignments, deadlines, sports practices, and friend/family matters. My grades were falling, my relationships were struggling, and I overall didn’t feel quite like myself with the constant burden of all the things consuming my time and energy. 

When life gets chaotic, it becomes more and more difficult balancing all the obstacles and tasks occuring, which is why I knew I needed to learn how to manage everything going on. As I experienced my ups and downs, I’ve significantly learned that the key to a good life is being able to manage your circumstances, by having a well rounded routine. Having a routine breaks you from bad habits, creates structure, and overall contributes to the productivity of an individual. 

Here’s how I would start. Write out a list of all the things occupying your life and mind, and all the things you have to manage. Then in two separate columns, sort your list by what is in your control and what is out of your control. When you have your list of the things you’re responsible for and your days currently occupied by, start writing down your day to day routine, and incorporate all the things you want and can do. Write out the structure of what you want your day to look like on a daily basis. It’s important to make your schedule to your liking, by incorporating time and activities for your self interest/benefit. 

Routines help you both short term and long term. When experiencing waves of stress, depression, or anxiety, setting up your personalized routine can help you get out of your unhealthy habits, such as spending an excessive amount of time rotting in bed. Just this small step can help kickstart the process of practicing healthy, and productive changes in your life.  In the day-to-day, routines provide structure and predictability, eliminating uncertainty of one’s decisions. Consistent routines help students manage their time effectively, enabling them to prioritize tasks, maintain focus, and meet deadlines. 

Some of the healthy habits I developed because of inviting more structure and familiarity in my routine, are better mental health, improved grades, daily runs with my dog, no procrastination on assignments, gym time, more time for self care, and healthier relationships with myself and my peers.

Jessica Martinez, who is also a senior at Silver Creek also describes how having a routine throughout high school has helped her. “Having a routine has helped me establish more discipline and management skills, which have contributed to the rise of my grades, athletic ability, relationships, and overall success. When I had a lot going on in my personal life, I felt so overwhelmed and unmotivated. However, I learned that it’s more about discipline than motivation.”

Mastering a daily routine has been transformative in navigating the unpredictable journey of high school life. By incorporating structure, prioritizing tasks, and dedicating time to self-care and interests, I’ve experienced significant improvements in my academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being. Through the ups and downs of my teenage years, I’ve learned that the key to managing life’s challenges lies in creating and sticking to a personalized routine. The key to success is not about having motivation, it’s about having discipline.