Sharpen the Saw: A Closer Look on Habit #7 of Highly Effective Teens
Working with so many high-achieving students, I can’t help but notice how many of them need to “take a personal day”. Here is a day in the life of most of my middle and high school students:
5:30-6:00 AM: wake up
7:00 AM: Go to school; stay focused for 5+ hours
12:00-12:30 PM: Eat lunch
12:30 – 3:00 PM: Back to class; stay focused for another 3+ hours
8:00 – ?? PM/AM: Study for a rigorous AP course load
To any adult, this schedule looks like a nightmare. It is comprised of at least 10 hours of straight focus, and barely includes any time for a meal.
Unfortunately, with college admissions becoming increasingly competitive, it is pretty unlikely that this kind of workload will change. BUT—this does not mean all is lost. It simply means that we must sharpen the saw pretty regularly. That means taking a break and doing things that help rejuvenate you (this does not include stalking people on Instagram). Go read a book (for pleasure, not Jane Eyre), take a mini-road trip, listen to music, play with the dog…you get the idea.
Stephen Covey recommends we sharpen the saw for an hour every day. While this may seem somewhat overindulgent, consider this an investment in yourself. And what better investment could there be?
