Practical Time Management Tips for College Students
Published September 17th 2022
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Time is a resource worth maximizing. As a university student, you'll likely have different assignment deadlines. Still, you'll need to balance your responsibilities at your job and at home. That's why effective time management skills are essential. Time management is about regulating the number of hours you spend on specific tasks through planning. It requires goal-setting, organization, prioritization, and stress management.
Time management is crucial because it lets you focus on important tasks and complete more in less time. In the process, you achieve your academic goals with less pressure and still make provision for recreational or extracurricular engagements. In order to organize your time properly, you need to identify the time-wasters in your life.
Ask yourself if you spend too much time on social media, phone calls, or aimless web browsing. It is easy to get distracted, so paying attention to those activities that take your focus away from your studies is the first step to becoming more productive. Here are helpful tips for proper time management in college.
Create a To-Do List
You won't be able to utilize your time properly if you do not know what to do with it. So, identify those tasks that need to be executed and prioritize them based on how much time you need to complete each and when they're due. Sometimes you may not be in the mood to do specific types of work. If you do not have a pressing priority, start with tasks that resonate with your mood.
For instance, if you feel focused and well-rested, you can spend your hours studying for a test or working on a project that requires your undivided attention. If you are in a creative mood, you could prioritize completing a writing assignment.
Set Routines
Having specific routines can help you maximize your time. Consider studying during the early hours of the day if you feel the most productive in the mornings. Then, you can spend the rest of your day attending classes, completing assignments, and going to your job. If you're working while schooling, you'll need an effective means of transportation when shuttling between campus and your job.
If you use a car or motorbike, ensure you have a current UCA student parking permit and drive safely, especially if you ride a motorbike. The Barnes Firm, a team of motorcycle accident lawyers, points out that motorcycle accident victims often sustain more serious injuries because motorcyclists and passengers are left more exposed to the road and to the weather/elements.
Break Down the Tasks
If you have huge projects coming up or major exams to prepare for, you could become overwhelmed by the volume of work before you and get anxious or procrastinate. To enable you to cope with such tasks, break them down into smaller ones and set long and short-term goals. For instance, if you have a lot to cover for an exam, divide the course topics into different sections and study them in bits. Start with the simpler or shorter areas and tick off each section you study on your to-do list.
Unless you have mastered the art of multitasking, try to do only one thing at a time. Juggling multiple tasks or assignments might make you less productive. So, avoid switching to a different task before you complete one you're working on. Also, consider turning off your electronic devices and applications to avoid distractions. Technology can help you get work done since it allows you to write papers and store documents easily. However, technology can also hinder your academic success if you spend most of your time texting and checking social media updates without creating enough time for your studies.
Reward Yourself
When you complete your assignments early, you can reward yourself for your efforts. Consider taking yourself out to dinner or just relaxing during the remaining hours. Even if what you achieved is a small step in a bigger project, a small reward can give you renewed drive for the subsequent tasks.
You can watch your favorite show or chat with a friend or family member. When you've given yourself sufficient time to decompress, you'll likely wake up the next day feeling prepared for what's ahead.
Delegate Tasks During Peak Periods
In college, there will be times when your schedule is tight because of tests and assignments looming over you. During such periods, consider delegating non-academic tasks if you can or temporarily suspending a few of them. If you live with family, you may ask them to help out with some household chores and errands until your workload lessens.