Time management is one of the most common problems that college and university students tend to encounter. But put home assignments, extracurricular activities, kids, and part-time jobs in the mix, and the web of everyday commitments gets even tougher to deal with.
If you find it hard to manage all the issues on the plate, teaching time management skills can help you deal with all the responsibilities during the day and cut down on stress. Once you make sure to figure out your main time needs and cut off distractions, you will have an opportunity to plan a solid schedule to be able to succeed in class while still enjoying your academic journey.
So, whether you’re a first or senior year college student trying to work part-time and raise a kid at the same time, the following time management strategies will help you stay organized and cope with your assignments within the deadline.
Write Things Down
It’s always like that – college students are sitting in a class about to leave when the professor starts making a very important announcement. You have two essays due in a week, you have to search for some online assignment help, and get ready for an exam that is in four days. When you leave class, you’re sure you will remember all the issues on the list.
How often have you found yourself in a similar situation? How many times have you been in a panic the night before the exam because you forgot? It is highly recommended to save yourself from the mess that studying the night before usually turns into and put everything down the very moment you hear it.
Even if you’re 100% sure that you will keep in mind every due date, make sure to write it down, just in case. What is more, many students recommend going through course calendars at the beginning of every college semester and putting down every other important date. Once you’re aware of what is coming up, you will have an opportunity to be better prepared in advance.
Ask for Professional Help When Needed
If you feel like you can’t cope with all the assignments on the list, make sure to approach online experts for help. For instance, if it’s an essay that you have no time to accomplish, look for online assignment help to make sure you will submit your project within the deadline.
Plan up a Weekly Schedule
To be well-prepared for any crunch times, make sure to start planning out your weekly schedule as soon as possible. It is recommended to make a weekly priority list to include daily tasks and complex projects. Feel free to break down more difficult projects into segments that are easily manageable. If you do so, you won’t feel overwhelmed and anxious because of the academic overload.
- If you have a term paper or coursework due at the end of the semester, for instance, never procrastinate until the last two days before the deadline expires! If you create a solid weekly schedule, you will have enough time to perform in-depth research, create an outline, as well as work on a rough draft. If you believe that this or that paper will take you five weeks to accomplish, make sure to work backward from the set date in order to have the best possible deadline for yourself.
Create a To-Do List Every Day
As every other week starts, make sure to sit down with your calendar and create a list of all the tasks that you have to cope with every day during the upcoming week. If you do so, you will have an opportunity to see whether you achieve all the weekly goals or not. In order to prioritize your daily tasks, it is recommended to mark each with the low, medium, and high importance letters (L, M, H).
Choose to Work in a Productive Workspace
If you write your essays better when your favorite music is on, choose some of the best songs that you like and set them as the background music instead of using headphones. If you find it difficult to work with any background noise, make sure to purchase noise-canceling headphones or choose to work on your assignments in a quieter environment, such as the college library. Stay away from places with low lighting, strong smells, or extreme temperatures. It is important to cut off social media in order to focus on the tasks at hand. Students usually tend to experiment with various workplaces before they finally find the most comfortable environment where inspiration finally kicks in.
Make Enough Time for Well-Balanced Meal and Sleep
Let’s face it, you’re not a machine. So do not even try to play as if you are. Both your physical and mental well-being will determine how successfully you will cope with all the assignments that you get in college. Make sure to get adequate sleeping time, and you won’t feel guilty if you include some fun activities into your schedule.
Stay Offline During Study Sessions
Stay away from Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and the rest of the websites that may distract you from your designated study hours. If you spend a lot of time on those social websites, you simply prolong your study time.
- As an alternative, feel free to use social media platforms during downtime that you should schedule in advance. Of, even better, ensure to plan up an in-person meeting with the people that you communicate with online.
- If you’re an addict and can’t stay away from those websites, it is recommended to install an app that will help you focus and block distractions.
Create a Study Group
When the semester starts, ensure to make a plan with your fellow students to have regular group study sessions. Working on your essays, book reviews, and reports in a group can be really helpful. What is more, you will soon realize that studying becomes even more fun when you’re surrounded by classmates who happen to be in the same boat.
Finally, it is important to reward yourself when you’re done with the job. This will help you to stay away from burnout and focus on the most complicated tasks. For instance, you can reward yourself by treating yourself to the things that you really enjoy, whether it’s having your favorite snack or watching some nice TV show on Netflix. If you’ve been working on a college project for a couple of months in a row, then make certain to take a week off to reload.
All in all, we hope that high school and college students have found our time management tips very useful and effective to enjoy their academic life.
