Let's be real, time is something every college student feels like they do not have enough of. There is never enough time in the day to hang out with friends, call home, do homework, work on a class project, go to work, eat, workout and actually have a life. If you are like me, you probably do not like to choose and end up stuffing everything into is few hours as a possible. Here are a few tricks I have learned to make time management a bit easier.
Never underestimate the power of making lists
Mark down all you have to do and give yourself a general time line of how long it should take to complete the tasks. Checking them off can be very satisfying to be able to mark off a task!
There is an app for that..
You could use the Reminders App that comes on all IPhones or buy a more expensive one from the app store. One way or another, you most likely have access to digital organizer.
Block out your time
Do you ever feel like you had more time high school? It is a probably because you had a set schedule. You had set aside to get up on the same time everyday, go to classes, to study, and even to eat. If you played sports, you also had time set aside to workout and be active. Maybe that is one idea we can keep from high school, create a schedule for yourself where you block out time to complete the tasks you need to. Set aside time and stick to it! You will be surprised as how much more time you really have when you are not wasting it.
Identify how you spend your time
The first step to figuring how to have better time management is realizing how you spend your time. Make a list of all you do during the day as you do it! Record that you spent an hour on Instagram. Record how long and what you did.
Forcing more hours in the day will only led to stress
Acknowledge that you can cut away from your sleep without negative side effects. If you try to cut away your sleep your work, studying and health will suffer. This is not an area you gain an extra hour for homework from.
Start your day ahead of schedule
The worst feeling is running late to class and looking like it also. You set the pace for your day when you wake up. If you are waking up late and crunched for time, your whole day will began to follow.
Stop waiting until the last minute
If you have time to do it today, do it today. Do not wait until Monday when it is do. Because chances are you will have thirty other things to do Sunday.
Show up early instead of on time.
Plus this is the perfect opportunity to give yourself a few minutes of free time or time on social media.
Acknowledge you have to do something and set a time to do it
If you find out about a due date for a project, set a time to work on it as soon as you can. You will have more time to work on and you are less likely to forget (which, let's be honest, our time gets limited when we realize we have more than one approaching due date for things we have not started.)
Make time for free time
I am a big advocate of planning everything and blocking out a time for it. However, we should not pack our schedule so tight that we do not have free time. It is important to unwind!
Stay Organized with more than just your planner!
Planners are great, but if the rest of your life is in total chaos then your time management will still suffer.
Prepare the night before
Set your clothes out the night before, pack your backpack, set your keys aside and even prepare your lunch if you carry it. The tomorrow you will thank you.
Stay up to date!
Do not let your emails pile up, If you do chances are you will miss important information (like class is canceled or possibly moved to another location.) Stay informed to avoid having last minute changes.
Acknowledge you a lot to do but you are capable of doing it
Do not discourage yourself! Focus getting it done and reward yourself.
This is just a starting point to getting better control of your time management skills. Research different tips and advice. Then actually apply them, otherwise, you used time management tips to waste time.
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