With only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, time is incredibly limited. As such, time is a valuable commodity and a resource that's well worth making the most of, especially when you’re a college student.
To aid you, in today’s well-detailed post, we have compiled certain effective time management tips and techniques for college students. These strategies will help you achieve what you need to get done or at least have just enough time to get everything you’d want to do.
Use a Calendar
Do you know that about 86% of college students claim they struggle with time management? Only 17% often use a digital calendar to help manage their time effectively. Again, 30.3% of college students use a digital calendar frequently.
If the words of any top college essay writer on a reputed academic website like AllEssayWriter are anything to go by, it is crucial to use a calendar to manage your time efficiently. After all, it is impossible to manage a busy academic schedule without planning.
Start entering your commitments into the calendar at the beginning of every term. Mark deadlines and exams for all subjects with color coding. Apart from class times and work shifts, your calendar should also reflect fixed commitments like extracurricular activities or weekly study groups. Further, you can use digital calendars like Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Calendly, etc.
Make a Note of All Deadlines
As a college student, you will need to take several classes at a time, and in every class, you'll be required to do different assignments and tests with different due dates. While this can become overwhelming, it doesn't always have to be, especially when you're practicing time management.
Hence, try jotting down all deadlines on a digital planner or a paper notebook. Setting clear and time-bound objectives offers each task you complete a sense of direction and purpose.
Begin with Small Tasks
When you have a lengthy to-do list, you may feel defeated simply by looking at it. Rather, you can write it in an order that will work in your favor. Try placing all the small and low-level tasks at the start of your day's to-do list. By completing these small and plentiful tasks, you'll gain momentum and can already go into the day with a sense of achievement. Again, if you've large tasks that will take countless hours or days to work on, try to break them down into smaller parts. Doing this will enable you to stay inspired instead of staring at the task without knowing where to begin, as the size of the task can provoke fear.
Make the Most of Campus Resources
When you’re studying at one of the top colleges or universities in a country, you’ll always have access to a diverse range of resources to support your academic journey. Ensure to make the most of the research facilities, libraries, study groups, and tutors available on campus. Making the most of these resources can improve your learning experience and enable you to manage your time effectively by streamlining the study process.
Use Breaks Smartly
Do you have 15 minutes free between classes and have nothing to do? Rather than scrolling through social media, pick up your textbooks and start doing your assignments and homework. If you're feeling a tad bit overwhelmed, try to use short breaks to make do-lists to have a clear understanding of when the deadlines are coming up.
Prioritize Tasks
The key to effective time management in college is to set priorities. Prioritizing tasks can allow learners to focus on the most important work first. You can also use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks based on their urgency and criticality.
Find a Dedicated Study Time and Space
Identify a place to study that is free of distraction from friends, family members, or hobbies. Fight the temptation to use your cell phone or engage in messaging and scrolling through social media. If your designated space is occupied, ensure to plan a venue like the library or local coffee shop.
Work Out Your Optimum Study Method
Identify the best time and situations for you to work and study efficiently. Whether you study better at night or morning, or you can do your assignments better at home with music as a background or in the library quietly, knowing your study preference will make you an efficient and effective student.
Avoid Multitasking
Multitasking is a myth. It generally leads to reduced efficiency and increased errors as a college student. Hence, try to focus on one task at a time. Master the art of organizing yourself in the classroom if you want to accomplish your full academic potential.
Master the Art of Saying NO
Your friends ask you to go to the movies, but the due date for an important assignment is tomorrow. You know you won't be able to write anything if you go out. In such situations, you'll need to say a strong NO! Your teacher won't extend the assignment deadline, but you can surely go to the movies and have fun the next day.
By implementing some or all of the aforementioned time management strategies, you may discover that you have more time in a day. The idea of organizing time effectively can feel liberating, as you'll be more productive. In turn, you will have more time to do things you wish to do as you have managed to get done all that you need to. Good luck!
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