One of the biggest adjustments between high school and college is increased flexibility with how you spend your time. Use these tips to make the most of your time!
The key to time management is efficiency. You can become more efficient by:
If you think you don't make good use of your time, then time management skills are where you need to start! Follow these four steps to strengthen your time management skills.
Often the first step in beginning to manage your time more effectively is to realize how much time you are spending in which activity. Perhaps the simplest way to get started is to track how you spend your time.
From the time you wake up until you go to bed, jot down all your major activities and how much time you spent doing each. Tracking your time forces you to recognize and acknowledge just how much time is being spent on each activity.
It can be especially helpful to do this at the beginning of the semester as you are adjusting to new professors' reading and homework loads. Having a general idea of how long tasks tend to take you will help you to use your time more effectively for the rest of the semester.
Click here to make your own copy of a blank time log, found on page 2 (OWU log-in required).
After tracking how you spend your time, it may surprise you to see how much free time slips away from you. Once you know how you spend your time, the next step is to free up time that you don't use productively.
Bring something to study with you wherever you go. Even 5-10 minutes of review can set you up for greater success in your classes.
Review mentally in the few minutes before and after class—in order to highlight the main points of the previous lecture or anticipate what might be coming next.
Contrary to popular belief a planner is not constricting. In fact with a good schedule in hand you will probably feel more organized and self-assured. After planning becomes a habit, you won't miss commitments and you will find yourself with more time than before.
You should have all of your commitments recorded in at least one location so that you can get a "big picture" view of your schedule. Remember to include the following:
It is recommended that you record these items on a digital calendar, which can automatically send you reminder notifications. These reminders can help you make sure that you never miss an important event or meeting.
Remember to keep this updated as you receive new information. At least once per week, take a look at your master schedule to ensure that the information listed is still accurate and relevant.
Just like it sounds, this type of planner shows your entire semester at a glance, preferably on one large sheet. As soon as you receive your syllabi, mark all exams, quizzes and major assignment due dates. This allows you to pinpoint especially busy times when several tasks or assignments are due at once and plan accordingly. Keep this posted in a visible place at all times.
A weekly schedule is similar to your master schedule, but includes more specific details about your assignments and responsibilities in a given week. For example, your master schedule may indicate that you have an English paper due on Friday, but your weekly schedule should break this down into more manageable tasks, like developing an outline and writing a draft.
Click here to access OWU's blank time management templates (OWU log-in required).
"Perfect" time management does not exist. There will always be more things you could or should be doing, so it's important to be both realistic and practical while you make a plan for completing your tasks.
Allow enough time to challenge yourself (you'll probably finish faster than you thought) but be realistic.
Use reinforcement to ensure that you stick to your schedule. Reward yourself for successfully completing a study goal.
If you feel refreshed and energized in the mornings, try to prioritize getting most of your work done before noon.
Conversely, if you feel most productive at night, plan your schedule in a way that allows you to do most of your work at night.
Do what you don't like first. This is sometimes referred to as "swallowing the frog," meaning that you start with the "unpleasant" tasks first. Use subjects you enjoy as rewards for getting through the ones you don't like so well.
Alternatively, do what you do like first to motivate yourself and get into a studying rhythm.
Whatever order you decide on, prioritize completing your most mentally challenging work when you are at your most energized, whenever that may be.
Break down larger tasks into more manageable pieces. Not only will you be able to cross more items off your list, you'll avoid feeling burnt out and unmotivated.
This video provides a quick and easy-to-follow guide for breaking down tasks and setting goals:
As a college student, you'll likely always have multiple things competing for your attention at any given time. Learning to be strategic about what you do and when you do it will help you to maximize your productivity. The following are various strategies for prioritizing your tasks and responsibilities:
Create a to-do list for each day of the week and mark items according to priority- low, medium, or high.
Include at least one item which you know you'll do early (eating breakfast) because the satisfaction of crossing it off will help motivate you.
Move undone items to the next day's list.
You will likely be expected to complete multiple tasks for each of your classes in a given week, though their priority may differ depending on the class. For example, reading a non-required supplementary article for your Philosophy class may be a lower priority than reading the required textbook chapter for your Biology class.
Consider the "due date" and effort required for each task and prioritize them accordingly.
The Eisenhower Matrix is a prioritization strategy made popular by President Eisenhower. It involves sorting tasks based on urgency and importance.
Check out this video for an overview of using an Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize: