Time management is a critical skill that students need to develop early in their academic journeys. Between school assignments, extracurricular activities, home responsibilities/expectations, and social obligations, students often struggle to balance their workload effectively. One of the most effective ways to improve student productivity is by integrating executive function coaching with digital tools like Google Calendar.
The Role of Executive Function Coaching in Student Success
Executive function skills—such as planning, prioritization, and time management—are essential for academic and personal success. However, these skills are not always intuitive and often require structured support. Executive function coaching helps students build strategies to break down assignments, manage their time effectively, and establish productive habits that will benefit them long-term.
When paired with simple productivity tools, executive function coaching can transform a student’s ability to organize their schedule and take control of their responsibilities.
Google Calendar: A Simple Yet Effective Productivity Hack
One of the most accessible and powerful tools for student time management is Google Calendar. Here’s why it works so well:
It’s visual – Students can color-code their calendar to keep track of their time commitments and schedule at a glance.
It’s flexible – Google Calendar syncs across devices, ensuring that students can keep track of assignments and activities from anywhere. Tasks and events can be moved and adjusted as appropriate/necessary.
It teaches ownership & encourages independence – When students schedule their own tasks, assignments, and free time, they learn to manage their responsibilities effectively. If conflicts arise, they can easily reschedule, reinforcing prioritization and planning skills.
Productivity for Students: Incorporating Google Tasks
While students may not commonly use advanced productivity tools, Google Calendar’s built-in Tasks feature provides a simple yet effective alternative. Tasks enables students to track their assignments and deadlines in an intuitive way.
Here’s how it can help:
✅ Assignments get due dates, appearing directly on their calendar with built in reminders.
✅ Tasks can be rescheduled based on real-time availability.
✅ Without even realizing it, students develop key project management skills that will benefit them in both academics and future careers.
To maximize productivity, students can schedule high-priority tasks during their peak focus hours. If a conflict arises—such as sports practice—they can easily adjust their schedule to maintain balance.
Reducing Stress & Overwhelm Through Better Planning
One of the most significant sources of student stress is feeling overwhelmed by deadlines and commitments. By using Google Calendar to visualize workload, prioritize tasks, and make real-time adjustments, students gain confidence in their ability to manage their time effectively.
This system is not about rigid scheduling—it’s about fostering independence and empowering students to take ownership of their academic and personal responsibilities.
Integrating Executive Function Coaching & Productivity Strategies
By combining executive function coaching with digital productivity tools, students can develop essential life skills that go beyond academics. Productivity concepts like Optimize, Automate, and Outsource can be adapted to student life, helping them create effective study routines. While students may not have others to delegate tasks to, they can automate reminders and optimize study sessions through better planning.
Practical Applications & Further Study
If you’re interested in testing this approach, try implementing Google Calendar with executive function strategies and track the impact on study habits and stress levels. Future research could explore how digital tools and coaching interventions improve long-term academic performance.
Let’s shift the focus from working harder to working smarter—setting students up for success both in school and beyond.
