How many times have you waited until the last minute to study for a test or work on an important project, only to feel rushed and pressured by having to do so much work in such a small amount of time? If you are like most people who procrastinate you probably even make excuses for your last minute antics by saying things like, I work better under pressure. But the truth is we do not, because if we are trying to throw things together at the last minute worrying about whether or not we can pull it off, then we are not working at our best potential.

I know what youre thinking. Youve got a lot of things on your plate and there is no way that you can manage it all. Believe it or not, managing your time makes life easier. Why? Because managing your time and setting priorities can help you do all the things you need to do and still have time left over for yourself. The better you organize your life, the more youll be able to do with it. This means more time for friends and family, more time to devote to your schoolwork and more time for you to do the things that you enjoy.

In order to manage your time more effectively, get yourself a planner that organizes your time weekly and daily. Take fifteen minutes on Sunday or Monday morning to plan your week and write down the important things you need to do each day. Once youve planned your schedule for the week, you can adjust it each day as needed.

The great thing about a planner is it will help you remember important things like: appointments, telephone numbers, email addresses and friends birthdays. The bottom line is successful people take control of their time by planning their schedule. The more effectively you manage your time, the more time youll have to do the things that you truly enjoy.

Excerpted from Cassandra Mack's book, "Young, Gifted and Doing It: 52 Power Moves for Teens."