Being in college is not a walk in the park. With a full load of classes, student activities, and work, you make feel like there’s not enough time in the day. I’ve felt this way on numerous occasions, and I think these time management tips will help all of us students handle our busy workload.
1. Buy a planner. My high school gave out agenda books for free and I never wrote in mine, so when I came to college, I definitely did not see the point of buying one. Boy, was I wrong. My freshman year, I let time escape me and pulled so many all-nighters that I lost count, all because I did not realize I had things due the next day or meetings to attend. Planners help me start my day off the right way because I wake up having a list of all of the things I have to get done for the day.
2. Prioritize your schedule. What are the things that you absolutely have to get done? Is there something that can wait until tomorrow or the weekend? If so, wait. If you are feeling stressed out, do the things that you have to absolutely get done first.
3. Get off social media. Sometimes I spend too much time on Twitter or Facebook. We’re all guilty of it, but when I know that I have more important things I need to take care of, I delete some of my social media apps for the time being, especially during finals week. We have all lost hours stalking people we barely know, but when you have things to do, you cannot afford to let social media be your downfall. If you have to, ask one of your friends to change your password for you or deactivate your accounts.
4. Turn your phone off or put it on silent. When I have things to do, I cut my phone off. Everyone will understand if you don’t reply to their messages for a few hours. I know when my phone is on, I constantly check it wondering if someone texted or called me. Turn it off or turn it on silent, and you’ll get so much more done.
5. Learn to say NO. I personally used to be a “Yes Ma’am.” If someone asked me to do something, I felt awful saying no. However, it got to the point where I was doing so much for everyone else that I didn’t have enough time for myself. Learn to say no to people. It’s not being mean and they should understand that you are a busy student.
6. Plan for interruptions. If you have a strict schedule, interruptions can totally throw your day off. So, plan for them. If you schedule thirty minutes to an hour for interruptions, then if something comes up, you can handle it. Personally, I always give myself an hour leeway so that if something is due at a certain time and you get interrupted, or if it takes a bit longer than expected, you still have time to get it done.
7. Learn to take time for yourself. Sometimes having a “me” day is necessary. If you’re too stressed and overwhelmed, you won’t be able to get anything done. Take some time for yourself. It will clear your mind and allow you to concentrate when you have things to get done.
8. Sleep and Eat. You’re no good if you feel tired. Getting a full night’s sleep or even taking a nap and eating a good meal can give you the energy you need to finish a task and have a productive day. You can’t focus if you’re tired or hungry, and sadly, coffee is not the cure to concentration.
9. Stop procrastinating. Do not wait until the night before something is due to complete it. If you have a free day or weekend, space out your work a little bit.
10. Shorten your morning routine. You do not have to apply makeup to go to class or work and you do not have to straighten your hair all the time. When you have more pressing matters to handle, a sloppy bun is acceptable. The amount of time you spend on makeup and hair can go towards studying a few more minutes for an exam or preparing for an upcoming meeting.
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