Time management for students: Tips for going back to school this fall
According to a study, 46% of people said that for one to two days each week, they feel a lack of control in handling their tasks. This loss of productivity and control can add up over time. If you're a student, this can mean the difference between letter grades and accomplishments.
Time management is a crucial part of maintaining control and handling the most important things that you need to do each day. So, how can you get a better handle on your time?
These tips will help you learn all about time management for students so that you can thrive and excel in your studies.
Start a journal
Maintaining a journaling practice helps you manage both your time and your mind. Many people struggle with time management skills because their minds are simply too active and busy. Having a wandering mind can lead to anxiety and decision fatigue, which can leave you stuck in your tracks accomplishing nothing at all.
Instead, take out a notebook each morning or evening and write some free-form entries. This will help you to release the things that are bothering you while also planning out your days and weeks.
Many students and professionals have used the Bullet journal method for staying organized and planning their weeks. This method turns your entire journal into a planner that you check to make sure you're using forethought and accomplishing your tasks one by one.
Use technology to help you
There's plenty of technology available that can help you with your time management techniques. Set alarms and alerts that will keep you on track with everything that you need to accomplish.
You can set up push alerts across multiple devices to make sure you're not missing important details or engagements. Figure out which apps work best for you and customize them for your needs.
Set your calendar
A calendar is one of the simplest, yet most effective time management tools that you can use. The problem that many people make is trusting their memory or writing things down in multiple locations.
Map out your weeks, months, marking periods, semesters, and as much of your year in advance as you can. By plotting out these engagements, it's easier to know when you have a test, project, or paper due.
Consider the type of calendar you want to use and stick to it religiously. This could be a combination of a monthly calendar, a wall calendar, a planner, or a calendar app on your smartphone. Add dates to your calendar as soon as you get them so that there's no time to lose track of it.
Recognize and address procrastination
Procrastination can rob you of a lot of your achievements. When you're getting ready to go back to school, resolve more than anything to defeat procrastination.
The first step is recognizing the root of procrastination. It doesn't mean that you're lazy -- it's actually a form of anxiety in many cases. You may have anxiety about performing well on the assignment or might dread the moments when you don't know an answer or feel lost in a subject.
Change your perspective and recognize that everything is trial and error. With this in mind, stick to your time blocks of work and studying no matter how it feels. Jump on tasks as early as possible, because the more you procrastinate, the more difficult it is to get on track.
Avoid letting things pile up
One of the benefits of time management is that it helps you lower your stress levels. This happens because stress only compounds when you let tasks pile up.
Plan out your time so that you can break down things you need to do point by point over the course of however many days you have. This lets you rack up small wins each day, rather than saving it for the last minute and stressing out that you're now up against the clock.
Develop a habit of starting on homework assignments or projects as early as you can so that you don't run into these issues.
Map out your daily tasks
As a student, recognize that you have to balance your school work with every other part of your life. Just like you have to balance your courseload, you still have other life obligations that you'll need to account for.
Include these tasks in your planner and to-do list as well so that they don't end up inadvertently interfering or conflicting with your schoolwork. This way, school, family life, extracurricular activities, and jobs can all get their due time.
Make room for fun and downtime
Above all, make sure that you also learn how to strike a balance in your life. You're a full-time student, but when you've done your work for the week, make sure you always leave yourself some time to decompress.
Unwind with your loved ones and engage in the hobbies and activities that offer the most fulfillment. This way, you will come back to your school work revived, rested, and eager to put the work in.
Time management for students 101
Time management for students is a matter of the utmost importance. When you are able to master your time, the sky is the limit to what you can accomplish as a student. Develop these habits now so that they carry over into higher education and eventually, your career.
