A Better Week – How Teenagers Use Their Free Time

A
For many teenagers, a school day is already quite busy. They attend lessons, complete homework and may also take extra classes or join activities after school. This means that the way they use their free time can have an important effect on the rest of their day.

Mai, a 15-year-old student, used to spend a large part of her free time watching short videos on her phone. She often told herself that she would watch only a few videos before starting her homework. However, one video often led to another. Sometimes, more than an hour passed before she realized how much time she had spent online.

As a result, Mai often started her homework later than planned and went to bed quite late. She knew that this routine was not ideal, but she found it difficult to change.

B
One month ago, Mai decided to make one small change rather than completely change her lifestyle. She made a simple rule: homework had to come before social media.

At first, following the rule was harder than she expected. When she returned home, she wanted to check messages from her friends immediately. She also noticed that having her phone beside her made it difficult to concentrate. Even when she was not using it, she sometimes looked at the screen to see whether a new message had arrived.

Mai therefore began leaving her phone in another room while she studied. After several days, she noticed that she could finish her homework more quickly. She had not stopped using her phone, but she had changed when she used it.

C
After improving her study routine, Mai wanted to find something more useful to do with some of her free time. She chose cooking because she had always enjoyed watching her mother prepare meals.

At first, Mai’s role was quite simple. She washed vegetables, prepared ingredients and helped clean the kitchen. Later, her mother showed her how to prepare several easy dishes.

Cooking gave Mai more than another activity to do after school. She began to feel more confident because she could prepare food without always asking her mother for help. It also became a way for her to contribute to family life.

Her younger brother eventually became interested as well. The two sometimes cooked together, although they did not always agree about what they should prepare.

D
Mai also changed the way she spent time with her father. Before her new routine, they were often in different rooms during the evening. Mai usually studied or used her phone while her father watched television or did other things.

Now, after dinner, Mai sometimes goes for a thirty-minute walk with him. The walk is not a serious training programme. Instead, it has become a regular opportunity for them to talk.

Mai tells her father about school, friends and things that have happened during the day. Her father also shares stories about his own experiences. Mai says that the physical activity is useful, but the conversations are what make the walks especially valuable to her.

E
Mai’s new routine has not made every day perfect. There are still evenings when she spends too much time on her phone or finishes her homework later than she planned. The difference is that she now notices these habits more quickly.

She has also changed her idea of what “free time” means. In the past, she mainly thought of free time as an opportunity to relax with her phone. Now she sees that it can include many different activities: cooking, walking, reading, listening to music or simply talking to someone.

Mai’s experience has taught her that improving a daily routine does not necessarily require a major change. A small decision, repeated regularly, can gradually influence the way a person spends their time.