As college students we have a lot of task and assignments on our plates at once. I’ve decided to make a list of the five greatest time management tips that I have started to use and that I hope work for you as well.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

This is the most important key on the first day of class, but you can always start now. Even if you just trade numbers with someone in case you are not sure what is due or need to borrow the textbook, make a friend in every class. This creates a safety net for you and will save you from wasting time trying to figure out what you missed that one day in class when you were sick. Having a friend is also nice when studying so you don’t have to study alone. In the long run it pays off.

2. Break Large Assignments Down:

DEFINITELY! Whether you have a 8 page paper or an essay and two take home test due in the same week, breaking them down is key. If you break the paper into two pages a day or the essay and test into different days, the task at hand is very much doable. Breaking down large assignments into smaller ones helps make them more achievable.

3. Focus on What You Love:

Don’t join a ton of clubs and organizations just because they are “resume boosters” or your friends are doing it. Do what you love to do and do it well, remember “quality OVER quantity." Future employers would rather see you do a extraordinary job in one organization that you are truly passionate about than to do an ordinary job in five organizations that you do not really care for. This also saves you time by cutting down on your responsibilities.

4. Leverage Study Groups:

You will miss things when you are taking notes in class and that’s the harsh truth -- you don’t know what you don’t know. Before exams come around, and even for test, a study group can be very useful. With groups you save time by picking up new material you may have missed or not have covered thoroughly.

5. Shorten your Deadlines by a Week:

Plan ahead and make your deadlines come early. It is a lovely feeling to be done with a project early because you have time to go back and change things if needed before they are turned in to make them better. Also, if you miss your early deadline, you still have time before the actual deadline. This time management tool is great for college students who have trouble getting work done before a specified date.