For any student, effective time management is a constant worry. When you add work, family, and social obligations to the mix, these tasks become much more difficult.
You’re not the only one juggling a hectic schedule while pursuing your degree. According to a Georgetown University research from 2015,40% of students aged 16–29 and 76 percent of students aged 30–54 work while in school. As you might expect, if you’re a student with competing goals, time management in college is critical.
So, what can you do to improve your time management skills? We’ve put together a list of Time Management Tips For College Students to assist you in staying on top of your schoolwork.
Table of contents
What Is Time Management?
Time management is the process of consciously planning and controlling the amount of time spent on specific activities, with the goal of improving effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
It entails reconciling the limiting nature of time with numerous demands on yourself related to a job, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments. When you manage your time well, you have “options” over how you spend your time and how you manage your activities.
What Are The Benefits Of Time Management?
Because you only have 24hrs in a day and you want to make the most of it, it is easy to get caught up in a flurry of activities and end up doing less. Here are some more reasons why time management is so important in school:
1. It helps you achieve your goals faster
Effective time management allows you to be more productive. Rather than multitasking, you concentrate on one thing at a time for a set amount of time. In this manner, you give it your all, allowing you to achieve your objectives more quickly.
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2. It helps you prioritize your work
When making a schedule, prioritize the things that must be completed right away. Getting your assignments done, for example, comes before a study session or study group. You can schedule a time to work on your assignments before heading to a study group if you manage your time well. This implies you’ll be able to finish important chores on time because you’ll be able to plan and set aside time to work on them.
3. You get more done in less time
You can focus more on a task if you set out time for it. If you stick to the schedule, you have a better chance of finishing the assignment than if you dive in without a plan. Consider finishing a project or completing homework. If you don’t schedule a time to work on them, you’ll most likely forget to do so. If you have a strong timetable, you can devote sufficient time to each task to achieve your deadlines.
4. Reduces stress
When you have a lengthy list of things to do and not enough time to complete them, you easily get agitated. You can prioritize tasks and tackle them first with good time management. You’ll know what you need to do and how much time you have to finish each assignment this way. Because you have ample time to complete everything, you will feel less anxious and stressed.
5. Prevents procrastination
Procrastination is a dangerous habit that can lead to stress, frustration, and poor grades. Setting aside a specific time for a task provides the drive you need to complete it. It assists you in overcoming laziness, which is a common cause of procrastination. Proper time management also allows you to set aside adequate time to conduct research or seek assistance completing the assignment. One of the most prevalent reasons why students procrastinate is a lack of knowledge on how to approach a task.
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6. It boosts your confidence and offers Improved career opportunities
You can complete your work on time if you manage your time wisely. This instills in you a sense of self-assurance and accomplishment in your talents. Finishing a long to-do list can elicit similar sensations and serve as a drive to improve your time management abilities.
Effective Time Management Tips For College Students
By taking the time to arrange your priorities, you can give yourself the best chance of staying on track and organized as a college student. Here are a few effective time management tips you can employ:
1. Set goals
Setting short- and long-term objectives can assist you in making the best use of your time. You can create daily, weekly, or semester-level goals depending on your homework assignments, exam schedules, courses, and other factors. It will be tough to organize your time if you have no idea what you want to accomplish. You may work toward your objectives and make the most use of your time once you’ve decided what they are. A sense of satisfaction and accomplishment comes from achieving your goals.
2. Plan ahead
To achieve your objectives, you must plan ahead. You can make a to-do list and prioritize the activities at hand based on the deadlines and urgency of the submissions. For efficient time management, you must create a schedule. Setting aside time for leisure each day after you’ve planned out your entire day can assist. When you plan ahead of time, your work quality also rises.
3. Follow a routine
One of the most important time management techniques is to establish and stick to a routine. A set routine can aid in the development of good habits and the reduction of uncertainty. You can set aside time for studying and completing projects based on when you feel most focused during the day. Some of you may want to study first thing in the morning, while others may prefer to study late at night.
4. Stay organized
One of the time management ideas that might assist you in saving time is to be organized. Organize your notes and files to avoid wasting time looking for them. A tidy study space will make it easier for you to access your materials. Other tools you might need while learning, such as an online math calculator or industry-specific software, should be available. Staying organized gives you a sense of control and helps you relax.
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5. Avoid distractions
Distractions can cause you to lose sight of your objectives. Distractions abound; most students are primarily distracted by digital gadgets such as cellphones, tablets, and other devices. Avoiding all types of distractions is one of the essential time management ideas. It would help to determine what causes you to lose focus the most. You can either leave your internet-enabled devices in a separate room or utilize programs that will shut you out of the internet for a few hours to avoid digital distractions. This is one of the time management strategies that can help you stay focused on the task at hand and do it quickly.
6. Ask for help
Time management advice can be obtained from your professors and classmates. Observing how your peers handle their time will assist you in remaining motivated. Additionally, because your students are in the same situation as you, their time management advice may benefit you. You can follow their advice, but make sure you stick to the time management methods that are ideal for you. It’s possible that what works for your friend won’t work for you.
7. Set time limits
Set time limits for specific jobs and activities. This will allow you to focus your efforts on a single task and avoid wasting time on a single project. If you know how long it will take you to finish one task, you may estimate how much you can accomplish in a given day. More time should be set out for longer or more difficult assignments. Attempt to accomplish the chores within the time limitations so that you may complete all of the tasks on your to-do list for the day.
8. Reward yourself
Reward yourself with a short break or a treat when you finish a task. You can avoid burnout by taking breaks. You can also use rewards to keep you motivated to achieve your objectives. Short pauses are preferable to long breaks since it is more difficult to return to the task at hand after a long rest.
9. Prioritize tasks
Determine which jobs are most critical and urgent, and allot time accordingly. Prioritize your tasks so that you can devote your attention to both your academics and your personal life. You can start with the easier jobs and work your way up to the more difficult ones. Prioritizing duties will assist you in completing assignments on time.
10. Learn to say no
Learn to say no to unnecessary commitments when you’re up against a deadline. Going to the movies or hanging out with your pals, however enticing, may cause you to cancel a few plans if you need to manage your time wisely. This does not imply that you should abandon your social activities. According to your study schedule, you can organize leisure activities.
11. One Task at a Time
Multitasking is a myth, according to neuroscience. While it may appear like you’re doing two things at once, your brain is actually performing one function at a time. It’s more exhausting to flip back and forth than to stay concentrated and move on to the next work after the first is completed.
12. Find your productivity zone
Early risers and night owls are two types of people. If you’re the most productive first thing in the morning, get up extra early. If you like to work in the dark, you can also stay up late. However, don’t force yourself to modify your routines just because it’s been reported that people are most productive at specific times of the day. Find and keep track of your most productive hours. What works for other people might not work for you. Period.
13. Take regular breaks
Working without taking breaks could cause more harm than good. We require breaks in order for our brains to recharge and then return to work. Breaks will help you improve your time management skills and feel more refreshed. You will notice a big increase in productivity as a result of this.
Of course, when you have a super-powerful flow, it’s fine to work in a lengthy string. However, doing so, in the long run, will exhaust you and diminish your inventiveness. Breaks are beneficial to your productivity and well-being, according to Forbes.
How Does Lack Of Time Management Affect College Students
According to Simplilearn, time management for college students is about making your day purposeful. It is about taking control of the time you have and optimizing it for focus, productivity, and above all, balance.
Here’s how lack of time management can affect college students:
1. Procrastination
The most evident result of bad time management is procrastination. Students who lack time management skills enjoy putting off things until the last minute, causing them great stress as they strive to catch up. You may completely miss deadlines if you’ve let too many chores languish.
2. Lower Grades And Test Scores
Your academics and test performance will almost surely suffer if you’re having trouble balancing the demands of your course load and test prep with internships or extracurricular activities. When you don’t keep up with your studies, you’ll be less able to understand or engage with new material, which might lead to a drop in your grades.
3. It leads to a lack Of Sleep
Staying up late to do assignments that should have been completed earlier will reduce your sleeping time. We understand the importance of sleep for college students, but poor time management might push bedtime to the bottom of your priority list. This can lead to exhaustion and disease.
4. Unhealthy Eating Habits
You are unlikely to eat three meals that day if you sleep through breakfast because you stayed up too late the night before trying to meet an assignment deadline. When you miss a meal, you’re likely to seek for snacks to compensate – and many students opt for junk food and other unhealthy options.
5. It leads to lateness in activities
If you sleep through breakfast because you stayed up too late the night before trying to fulfill an assignment deadline, you’re unlikely to consume three meals that day. When you miss a meal, you’re more likely to reach for snacks to make up for it, and many students choose junk food and other unhealthy alternatives.
Conclusion
It is not necessary to establish good habits for effective time management all at once. You can set realistic, small objectives by implementing one or more of the recommendations from this list. Choose a few of these tips that you believe will be most beneficial to you or will make the others easier to implement.
Frequently Asked Questions On Time Management
Time management is your ability to plan and control how you spend your day to effectively accomplish the goals you have set.
Some of the benefits of time management include reduced stress, increased productivity, and improved organization.
Most of the students prefer to study in the early morning, generally from 4 or 5 AM in the morning as the brain is more likely to concentrate. It could be the best option for students who have more stamina early in the day.
References
- Ramussen.edu – 11 Effective Time Management Tips for College Students
- Gradepowerlearning.com – 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE TIME MANAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS
- Daniel-wong.com – 45 Time Management Tips for Students (Advice From a Lifelong Straight-A Student)
- Tutorbin.com – Top 10 Time Management Tips for College Students
