If your teen on the autism spectrum is on the brink of adulthood or already there, I am sure you are thinking about independent living. After all, you aren’t going to live forever and you want reassurance your child can survive adult life without you. One step towards independence in adulthood is the ability to earn a living. If your child can find a job or career to earn income and pay his or her daily bills, then your child is well on the way to a more independent adulthood.
The Department of Labor statistics for people with autism attaining competitive employment are dismal. Most people with autism struggle to maintain employment or get hired, even after earning a degree. Helping your child develop foundational job readiness (or pre-employment skills) will help your child bridge the gap from unemployed to gainfully employed and earning a living.
In a prior blog post, we discussed the importance of certain pre-employment skills for workplace success. In this post, we are taking a deeper dive into one pre-employment skill- time management.
Time management is a crucial skill for workplace success, and it’s one that can significantly impact a young person’s career trajectory. As a parent, you have a unique opportunity to help your teen or young adult develop effective time management strategies that will serve well in an entry-level job or professional career. Here are some practical tips and strategies to guide your young adult towards mastering this essential skill.
Tip #1: Lead by Example
Your family life and your community are full of mentors who can teach your child effective time management skills. Here are some strategies for modeling effective time management:
- Model time management skills yourself. Show your teen how you prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and balance various responsibilities. Share your methods for staying organized, whether it’s through using a planner, setting reminders on your phone, or maintaining a to-do list.
- Find other mentors to model time management. Get your teen involved in volunteer work where he or she can learn how to prioritize tasks and get to work on time. The stakes are low with volunteer work. Hardly anyone gets fired and the adults overseeing your teen may be more supportive with skill development.
- Take a college course. Enroll your teen in an easy community college course on campus. Practice planning for getting to the class on time, including how to prepare in advance for on-time arrival. Start the semester off with good planning- review the syllabus and assignment deadlines. Plan priorities and discuss the importance of meeting deadlines.
- Help your teen get hired in an entry level job. Entry level jobs are good ways to start earning money and learning about good time management. Your teen can use this opportunity to practice getting to work on time and meeting deadlines.
Tip #2: Teach Prioritization
Help your teen understand the importance of prioritizing tasks. Discuss the difference between urgent and important tasks, and how to tackle high-priority items first. Encourage them to make daily or weekly task lists, ranking items by their importance and deadlines. This will help them focus on what truly needs to be done and avoid the stress of last-minute rushes.
- Help your teen build the daily habit of planning for the next day and prioritizing tasks. For more information about building habits, read this blog post.
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- Start very small. Practice prioritizing a cleaning project, such as cleaning out the closets in your home. Model how you would prioritize the tasks for the project.
- Find a simple productivity journal or priority planner to use for prioritizing tasks. Or divide a piece of paper into 4 grids and practice ranking the tasks into priority.
Tip #3: Set Realistic Goals
Setting realistic, achievable goals is a key component of effective time management. Teach your young adult to break down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks. This not only makes the project less overwhelming but also provides a clear path to completion. Celebrate their progress along the way to keep them motivated.
Tip# 4. Encourage the Use of Tools and Apps
There are numerous tools and apps designed to help with time management. Introduce your teen to digital calendars, task management apps, and productivity tools like Trello, Asana, or Google Keep. These can help them keep track of assignments, set reminders, and stay organized.
Tip# 5. Promote a Routine
Establishing a daily routine can provide structure and help your young adult allocate their time effectively. Encourage them to designate specific times for work, study, leisure, and rest. A consistent routine can enhance productivity and reduce procrastination.
Tip# 6. Emphasize the Importance of Breaks
Effective time management isn’t just about working hard; it’s also about working smart. Teach your teen the importance of taking regular breaks to rest and recharge. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break, can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.
Tip# 7. Foster a Growth Mindset
Encourage your teen to view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than failures. A growth mindset helps them remain resilient and persistent, crucial traits for developing strong time management skills. Praise their efforts and improvements, rather than just the outcomes, to reinforce this mindset.
Tip# 8. Practice Accountability
Holding your teen accountable for their time management can help reinforce these habits. Check in regularly on their progress with tasks and projects. However, be careful to balance accountability with independence; the goal is to guide them towards self-sufficiency.
Tip# 9. Discuss the Consequences of Poor Time Management
Help your young adult understand the real-world consequences of poor time management, such as missed deadlines, increased stress, and negative impacts on their reputation and opportunities in the workplace. Realizing the implications can motivate them to take time management seriously.
Tip# 10. Provide Opportunities for Practice
Give your teen opportunities to practice their time management skills in real-life scenarios. This could be through part-time jobs, internships, volunteering, or managing household responsibilities. The more they practice, the more proficient they will become.
Conclusion
Helping your teen or young adult develop effective time management skills is an investment in their future success. By providing guidance, tools, and opportunities for practice, you can empower them to manage their time wisely and excel in the workplace. Remember, developing these skills is a process, and with your support, your young adult can become a master of their own time.
