As college students, it can seem impossible to find the time to juggle responsibilities. Between club meetings, long lectures, exams, and a social life, things get overwhelming fast. Without proper time management skills, it’s easy to lose track of things and miss deadlines. However, developing specific life hacks and tools has helped me master the art of time management and never miss a deadline again.
Google Calendar
This has by far been the most helpful online tool I’ve ever used. Although any regular calendar could technically work, I personally prefer Google Calendar for many reasons. You can color-code each event to keep track of things more easily and view the calendar in multiple settings based on the specific category you pick (e.g., by month, day, or year).
I first started using Google Calendar frequently at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester. Each month, I go through my assignment deadlines, exam dates, club meetings, weekend trips, and miscellaneous events. After going through and organizing each section, I color-code the category in my calendar.
Google Calendar can be a helpful tool for overcoming procrastination and avoiding cramming all your studying into the night before an exam. In my experience, what works best for this is dividing all my assignments into sections and assigning a portion of work per day. This relieves my workload and avoids this sense of being overwhelmed with difficult or lengthy assignments, such as research papers.
In the end, I always feel accomplished. By staying organized, I can turn in every assignment at least a couple of days early, giving me ample free time to reset my mind.
To-do Lists
Making lists is one of the most effective ways to manage time, as they can increase productivity and help prevent unfinished tasks. In turn, intrusive thoughts are decreased, and self-satisfaction is increased.
Creating a good to-do list can be very simple. One major tip I utilize is the SMART method, which means making a list of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for the day. This way, you won’t overestimate the amount that you can get done and leave the day feeling fulfilled by your progress rather than disappointed by the lack thereof.
Limit screen time
One of the most significant hindrances to productivity is scrolling. While scrolling can be seen as a common phenomenon, limiting this digital screen time can do wonders for the brain. Digital media has been found to pull attention away from tasks and interfere with productivity. By taking time away from social media, you’re much more likely to feel motivated to complete your goals. Not only that, but it also increases quality of sleep, which in turn will increase performance throughout the day.
One of the best ways that I limit my screen time is by setting app limits in my phone settings. You can choose which apps to limit and for how long during the day. This is an essential tool, as it holds you accountable for the time you spend on your phone and makes you aware of how long you’re scrolling. Once you set limits, the amount of time spent on each app becomes more valuable, so you stop mindlessly scrolling and start using social media intentionally.
Overall, mastering time management doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re someone with the motivation to increase your productivity this semester, using these tips can help you reach ultimate success!
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!