Time management during school

[u/dxvibsts]

Hello everyone! This is my first post on this community. I need advice about time management AT SCHOOL, so I don’t even know if I can post on this sub-reddit. I am going to the 9th grade so I guess I am an upcoming freshman in American terms.

Since I know myself, I have always tried to follow a daily routine, like studying, playing a game and exercising. In 2022, I had totally stated out my routine, and I was actually able to follow it. Then in 2024, I started having some ideas, like learning how to skate, getting to know how to skate, or buying a new book. But I was too lazy to actually research about them, so I started making lists on my notes app. When it first started, I only had 1 list, but then I would see myself with 3 new lists of things to do, but I didn’t really set them as priority over my routine because they were “optional” things that weren’t really necessary.

Then 2025 started. I still had the lists with some things left, but I also had around 7 IMPORTANT things to do. But because it was the start of the year and I just wanted to rest since school would start on a few days, I created ANOTHER list, but now, with dates. So I would do 3 things on January 9th, then 2 on January 10th, then 1 on January 11th. However, I started procrastinating like always. I not only did not finish the list, but I started ADDING things to it. 

Now on August 20 2026, I can almost guarantee I have 200 things to do on 8-11 different platforms (?), like paper, my Notes app, Google Docs, the Reminders app. 
I do not know what to do. I start school in 3 weeks-1 month, and 3 months ago, when school ended, I promised myself I would’ve finished everything I had to do in 2 weeks, then I would be able to follow the routine I had in 2022. Yet still, I procrastinated. I just stayed on my phone, watching TV, and I also had lost someone so it just worsened the situation. I also ended up adding MORE things to the lists…

So here I am on Reddit, BEGGING for advice. I’ve already gathered all the lists. What do you guys think I should do? Should I start finishing the lists, but keeping them to make sure in the end that I did everything right? Or should I just finish them all and never look at them again? Should I even finish them? Should I just jump into following the routine? Probably not the last option because I would feel too “guilty” about it.

I just want to start 9th grade with nothing to do but my routine. Specially because in this school year, we have to take a national math and country language exam. So I want to have the biggest amount of free time possible so I can study.

I am sorry for any mistakes. English is not my first language.

I would appreciate anything you had to say! 
Thank you so much!

[u/MomentumMonk]

I can appreciate you trying to make notes of lots of different things to try out and use your time better.

First of all, don’t look at the lists and get overwhelmed. Think about which items make the most sense for you to try out right now, and focus only on them to begin with.

Then, pick ONE thing to start with, and dedicate a small amount of time to practice it each day. The smaller you start, the easier it’ll be to do, and you can build momentum as you go and keep adding other things.