Case study
- 4 min reading
- 6 min activity
In this case study you meet two young people whose time feels out of control. First you look at what is really going on: stress, too much to hold in the mind, and digital habits. Then you talk with one of them and help him find small changes that bring back a sense of control.
- Recognise how stress, cognitive load and digital habits affect time.
- Practise helping a friend find small, realistic changes.
- Think about which small change could help you.
Two cases
Joseph goes to an Italian course three mornings a week. In the evenings and at weekends he delivers food by bike through an app. His residence permit must be renewed, and the documents are due in three weeks. He has not opened the folder yet. The delivery app is on all day, also during the course, and his family group chat sends many messages. He goes to bed late, he has missed the course twice this month, and he says: "I am always behind."
Hamid has the theory exam for his forklift licence tomorrow at 9:00. He tries to learn all 40 safety rules in one evening. His thoughts keep going back to his family and their safety. At midnight he "just checks" social media. He stops at 2:10, sleeps badly and arrives at the exam tired and in a hurry.
Cognitive load means how much your mind has to hold and handle at the same time. When it is too high, even simple tasks feel hard.
What is affecting their time?
Look at moments from Joseph's and Hamid's cases. Is the main problem stress, cognitive load or a digital habit?
Talk with Joseph
In the break after the course, Joseph sits next to you. He looks tired. You are his classmate and friend. You are not his teacher and not his boss.
A break after the course
Joseph tells you how he feels. Choose what you say as his friend.
What brings back control
None of these changes makes Joseph's life easy. His shifts, his permit and his worries are still there. But small changes make the next step clearer:
- One small first step
Not "do the permit", but "make the document list".
- A time and a place
"Tuesday 12:30, in the library" is easier to keep than "sometime".
- Support
A friend, a teacher or a migrant help desk can make a heavy task lighter.
- One digital change
The phone on a chair at night instead of in bed, or the app on silent during class.
In Unit 3 you will practise these strategies one by one.
Read Hamid's case with a friend or in your class. Together, answer four questions: What feelings make time hard for him? What is outside his control? What is one small change he could try tonight? Who could help him?
In short
- Stress, cognitive load and digital habits often come together and make time feel out of control.
- Advice like "be more disciplined" adds pressure. Listening and one small step help more.
- A small first step with a time and a place, plus some support, brings back a sense of control.