How to Create Your Own Daily Schedule

Learn how to organize your day and manage your time by creating a personalized daily schedule that works for you. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. List your non-negotiables. Write down the things that have to happen every day, like school hours, meal times, and bedtime. These are your 'anchor points' that you build the rest of your day around.
2. Add your must-dos. Write down your homework, chores, or music practice. Be realistic about how long these actually take—it is better to give yourself a little extra time than to feel rushed.
3. Schedule your fun time. Now, add in the fun stuff! Whether it's playing outside, reading, or drawing, make sure you put 'me-time' on your schedule so you have something to look forward to.
4. Visualize your day. Use your ruler to draw a grid or a timeline on your paper. Place your tasks into the time slots. Use different colors for school, chores, and fun to make it easy to read at a glance.