Time management is the process of planning and organizing your time between different activities. Good time management allows us to focus on our priorities, deliver better results as well as strike a work-life balance. In other words, it gives us control over how we spend our day and our lives.
College students often struggle with time management. Juggling between college assignments, part-time jobs, and family affairs is no easy feat. So they’re often stuck in situations where there’s no time left for vacation breaks. Or to unwind by listening to music or watching online movies via Cox cable bundles or other connections. But time management is no superpower. It is a skill and a habit that can be developed quite easily. Here are some time management tips for college students.
#1. Make a Schedule
First of all, it is extremely important to create a schedule and follow it. So find an organizational tool such as a calendar or a pin-up planner and add your priority list to it. You can find several time management apps to help you in this regard. Secondly, think of a time when you are most active. Then plan your study sessions during that period. Take out some time for socializing as well. But, do not compromise on your sleep to meet a friend for drinks. For most people, seven to eight hours of sleep is essential in order to remain alert while studying.
#2. Do One Thing at a Time
According to research conducted by the University of London, people who multitask drop in their IQ just like those who don’t have a good night’s sleep. So if you trying to do multiple tasks at a time, your productivity levels are likely to drop. In order to resist the urge to do several things at a time, remove all distractions such as social media and electronics. Ask yourself if you can do without certain gadgets. Turn off your mobiles if possible. And most importantly, don’t start another task if you have not completed the first one yet. If you’re a habitual multitasker, it can be rather hard to break this habit. However, it’s totally worth the effort.
#3. Utilize Your Commute Time
College students usually use their commute time to scroll through their social media feeds or surf the internet. Rather than wasting this time on trivial activities, use it to think about a concept or topic that you haven’t been able to grasp fully. You could also spend your commute time listening to an audiobook or writing in your gratitude journal. This is a very simple tip but it can greatly help you become a better student.
#4. Find Time to Unwind
It’s good to have a plan and schedule but that does not mean you overwork yourself. It is not possible to study non-stop. If you force yourself to work without breaks, the results would be far from qualitative. Therefore, make it a point to take small pauses, be it for coffee, meditation or music. You need to clear your mind in order to regain your energy and find the motivation to move forward.
On weekends, keep one day for studying and the other for relaxing. Hang out with your friends, go skating, spend some time in the outdoors. Do anything that pleases you and lifts your spirits. But don’t be negligent about your sleep as it would spoil the next day and make it impossible for you to give due attention to your work.
#5. Be Flexible & Realistic
A lot of college students tend to overestimate the work they can accomplish in a day. When they are unable to deliver according to the goals they’ve set, they get discouraged and lose the motivation to work/study. Therefore, it is important to be flexible and realistic in your approach. Have goals that are achievable and bear in mind that there may be unexpected interruptions from time to time. So give yourself that extra time margin. You should not panic or be harsh on yourself as that would not do you any good.
