With a lot of daily responsibilities, college students typically have issues with time management. Some of them struggle with scheduling and prioritizing their tasks, and others are easily tempted by distractions. But time management skills are one of the key determinants of being successful academically and personally. Here are some effective time management strategies that can help you enjoy your college experience by setting your own pace. You will be able to accomplish more while pursuing a college degree and have plenty of time for yourself.
Create To-Do Lists
It's crucial to get organized and plan all your study activities ahead. You can create to-do lists in an old-fashionable way on a piece of paper and cross items off as you complete them. Besides, you can use your smartphone as a time manager. You can set reminders to keep due dates in mind and download one of the productivity or project management apps like Trello, which can serve you as digital to-do lists. If you are addicted to Facebook, you can install an app that blocks social media and other distractions during your study time.
Establish a Routine
Keeping a regular routine will help you avoid procrastination, which may result in feeling stressed and overwhelmed with the amount of coursework to be done. Define your long-term and short-term goals and build a schedule to achieve them. You should create a schedule at the beginning of the semester and prepare a weekly schedule at the beginning of every week. Start with a big picture and then provide the detail required to complete all tasks in your term schedule. Set deadlines to complete each assignment. You should also block off time in between the classes for such activities as running errands and reading. At the end of each day, you should spend a couple of minutes to evaluate your progress and to plan your activities for the next day. Sticking to a schedule will allow you to make the most out of your day.
Prioritize Your Assignments
You go to college to graduate with a degree, so your academic work should always be a priority when you set your schedule. Try to complete your homework as soon as possible and then feel free to focus on fun activities. Some of the study topics may be more complex and challenging than others, so they will demand more time to get everything done. You should always start your study sessions with the most difficult tasks or subjects. It will be easier to cope with the hardest topics when you are still energized. Don't try to multitask and do only one thing at a time.
Get Help
If you feel you can't cope with your workload on your own, reach out for help. Ask your friends or members of the family to support you during challenging times. They can help you with household chores, and you will have more time to stay focused on your studies or take a break. You can find lots of useful resources on the internet that help busy college students balance studies and social life, for example, Advancedwriters.com. Besides, you can join a study group or find a study buddy. Research has shown that collaborative learning is very effective and enjoyable. Studying together with your friends, you will be able to cover more material faster.
Develop Healthy Lifestyle Habits
When you get too busy, your health suffers. You should take care of yourself because you need to be healthy to stay productive. It's critical to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, drink a lot of water, and exercise every day. In this way, you will keep your energy level high and your mind clear. You have heard this advice before, but developing and keeping healthy lifestyle habits will help you accomplish more during your college years and avoid stress.
Manage Your Personal Time
It's important to schedule a time to relax. You can't study all the time every day and be productive, so you should be realistic with your expectations. Study in short chunks and take short breaks during long study sessions to give your mind a rest. You may have a snack, exercise, or get up and walk around. Schedule a specific time to have some fun and go out with your friends to reward yourself for completing lots of assignments, especially the important ones. Do something that makes you happy and share some time with your loved ones to stay healthy mentally.
Be Flexible
No one can foresee and plan everything. Obstacles are inevitable, so you should expect the unexpected. Leave some room in your schedule so that it is possible to move things around when you need it. But do your best to get back on track as soon as possible. Review your weekly schedule regularly and make the necessary adjustments if needed.
