Time Management Tips for College & University Students
Whether you were an efficient worker or practicing procrastinator in high school, good time management is a key element to a successful college career.
Even if you were efficient in high school, college can be overwhelming – there seems to be so much extra time!
Since most classes don’t meet on a daily basis, it’s easy to think your economics reading assignment can wait until later while you play a game of ultimate Frisbee instead. But beware: if this keeps up, by the time your midterm rolls along, you’ll have hundreds of pages of reading to catch up on.
The following tips will help you minimize your stress level and maximize your time for college fun.
- Determine what’s most important to you. What’s your first priority? What can be dropped? Write an ordered list of what you need to get done. Prioritize the items on your list.
- Control your distractions. Get rid of unnecessary jobs. Handle visitors well. For example, if you’re studying in your dorm room and don’t want to be bothered, lock your door. Avoid phone distraction by turning off your ringer and letting the answering machine catch your calls.
- Eat a good breakfast. Not only is this good in resisting the pressure of the “freshman ten” (you burn your breakfast calories during the day), but a good breakfast gives your body carbohydrates and sugars to keep you energized.
- When working in groups, delegate jobs efficiently. Often, people will hesitate to delegate jobs when working in groups, but take charge if there is not a designated leader.
- Get the most out of class. Go to class and be on time. Be well-prepared and ready for discussion. If you class is 400 people in a lecture hall, read the material to be covered (check your syllabus or ask your professor for one). I promise this helps (plus, you’ll feel super smart when you recognize the terms your professor talks about).
- One of the best things you can do to manage your time (then be managed by it) is to learn to say “no.” Say “no” to people asking you to play pool when you should study or when someone wants help with something at an inconvenient time for you. Suggest a different time to help when it’s more convenient for you.
- Remember that there’s a time for everything. Sure, studying for a long time is good, but take breaks. Take power naps when your brain starts frying. If the weather’s nice, a good game of ultimate Frisbee also refreshes the tired mind.
Everyone’s different; some people like rigid day planners, others can deal with a simple note pad. Adjust these suggestions to best suit your needs.
With good time management skills, you’ll find yourself a happier and healthier person.
Related reading:
- Time management tips to improve your grades
- How can knowing your priorities help you save time?
- Getting your life in balance
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I have noticed that there seems to be an increase in the concept of putting some real science into different “self-help” topics lately. I get sucked in sometimes and there is value in the discussions much of the time. I don’t have an issue with anyone wanting to better themselves to be healthier and happier. I am wary of anyone who doesn’t want to learn and improve on things if possible.
But, I can’t help seeing another pattern to these articles, which does cause me some concern and pause. In this case of “procrastination”, I am wondering about the reason’s or motivation that society has justified in attaching the guilt/criminality to the habit in the first place…. In other words, WHY, does it matter at all? Other then the fact that we know our employers don’t want us to be procrastinators, in nature, what does it really matter? (So I may not catch that rabbit today, I will catch the rabbit when I want/need to… Smile In my opinion, this is one of those false society pressures that we apply to ourselves for no good reason other then greed or peer pressure to fit in.
I have the same feelings/questions when someone claims that multi-tasking in somehow a cherished trait in a person in our modern society. If you aren’t multi-tasking then you are clearly not fit for the world etc…. Please, the idea that if you procrastinate or that you can’t multi-task you are somehow beneath others, just doesn’t sit well with me. It leads to judgment and prejudice in my opinion. Everyone procrastinates! …even really successful people. So I guess that lends itself to the advice of not being so hard on yourself when you procrastinate. That much I do agree with.
Overall, though I will continue to manage my own procrastination in my own private ways for my own reasons, and I would appreciate it that you not pass judgment and try to increase the pressure for me to conform to society’s greedy falsified ways.
Hi Abdul,
Thank you for sharing. Procrastination can have a snowball effect, it’s true.
What helps keep you motivated?
Many blessings,
Kate
Since most classes don’t meet on a daily basis, it’s easy to think your economics reading assignment can wait until later while you play a game of ultimate Frisbee instead. But beware: if this keeps up, by the time your midterm rolls along, you’ll have hundreds of pages of reading to catch up on.
Most students ignore the Time Management aspect. They don’t realize that it is the most crucial part of professional growth.