There’s nothing worse than that stomach-drop sensation when you realize that you forgot about that meeting you were supposed to go to, or that disappointment you feel after wasting two hours on your phone after you told yourself you’d do something productive. When you’re a college student, academics aren’t the only area that will make or break you: time management is a vital skill to learn if you want to be successful in a college setting.
During my freshman year, I struggled a lot with procrastination. I had trouble motivating myself to live up to the commitments I made with myself and other people. If I had a free afternoon, I’d sit down at my desk and tell myself: “Okay, it’s work time now. I’m going to get all my homework done this afternoon, and that way I can spend time with friends this evening without any assignments hanging over my head.” I’d hype myself up… only to promptly spend three hours surfing around on YouTube. Not only would I then have to spend my evening actually getting my homework done instead of having free time, but I also had to deal with the disappointment I felt towards myself for failing to do what I intended to do.
The good news is that the story gets better: I did eventually learn how to hold myself accountable and follow through on my commitments. The bad news is that it took a lot of practice, energy, and time, not to mention quite a bit of frustration (and a couple of late assignments here and there). However, my experience learning the art of time management has also been extremely valuable: it’s taught me a lot about myself and how to keep myself motivated. While I certainly can’t prescribe any magical remedies for your time management struggles, I’ve realized the tips and tricks that work for me – and, just maybe, they might work for you too.
1. Decide what matters
What matters to you? In life and especially in college, it’s easy to get bogged down by taking on too many priorities. While packing your schedule to its productive extremes might seem like an admirable idea, it’s impossible to do everything. There will always be something you have to say no to. Of all the things going on in your life, which are the most important? If there’s anything that isn’t serving you – like that crappy job that leaves you stressed, exhausted, and underpaid – consider rethinking whether you really need to keep it in your life. Letting go of these unnecessary things will leave you with more time to focus on what matters.
2. Use a planner
This is a classic time-management tip for a reason. Even though you might be able to memorize your schedule and carry it around in your head, no one is perfect. There’s always the chance that something will be forgotten… and that sudden realization that you’re late to your shift at work is never a fun one. Even though it might sound tedious, writing things down removes that need for you to worry about what’s next up in your day, leaving your brain free to focus on whatever’s in front of you.
3. Set electronic reminders
If you’re an especially forgetful person like myself, simply having a planner might not be enough for you. After all, planners can be a hassle, and they take up a lot of precious space in your already overstuffed backpack. An alternative solution is to let your phone or laptop do the remembering for you! Plus, even if you’re absolutely, positively, 100% certain that you won’t forget your obligations… it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
4. Make to-do lists
If I’m honest, there’s something about to-do lists that I find a bit scary. What if I make a list only to end up getting halfway through? The prospect of disappointment is scary, but to-do lists have a lot of benefits, even if you don’t necessarily end up checking every single box. For me, sitting down in the morning and asking myself “what do I need to do today?” is a great way to get mentally organized, and it helps me feel prepared for the rest of my day.
5. Give each weekday a similar flow
When you’re trying to stay on top of your schedule, repetition is key. It’s much easier to remember to do something that you do every single day than it is to remind yourself about that commitment you only have once per week. Try to make each day have a similar structure: for example, you might have classes in the mornings, work in the afternoons, and homework time in the evenings. Additionally, keeping your mealtimes and wakeup times consistent will help your body stay regulated and healthy.
6. Give your time a purpose
When laying out your schedule, consider setting a specific goal for each block of time in your day. If you have a few hours of free time in the afternoon, you might use that time for a variety of purposes: you could get homework done, take a nap, talk to a friend, etc. Deciding ahead of time how you'll spend each part of your day can help keep you on track. For example, you might commit your afternoon towards getting homework done, setting aside the evening hours as time to relax and hang out with friends.
7. Ask others to hold you accountable
Personally, I notice that I’m far more motivated to get things done when someone else, especially a person I care about, is expecting me to follow through. An assignment for my favorite professor? No way am I turning that in late! But getting a head start on a paper to save my future self the stress? That feels about ten times more difficult. If you also struggle with self-imposed deadlines, consider making a pact with a friend to help you stay motivated.
8. Give yourself enough time
Like I said in Tip #1, there will never be enough time to do everything. When you’re figuring out your schedule for the day, make sure to be realistic about how much time each activity will actually take. For example, if you know you’ll take at least an hour to go grocery shopping, don’t try to cram that errand into a 30-minute window. Doing so will probably leave you feeling rushed and stressed, and you may very well end up being late for other obligations.
9. Avoid your bed
My hypothesis is that the concept of inertia also applies to motivation: the moment I get back in bed, it takes a hefty amount of willpower to get myself moving again. Something about lying down in the middle of the day always inevitably leads to wasted time. I’ll take unnecessary naps or spend a few hours aimlessly scrolling on my phone. To prevent this stagnation, I highly suggest making your bed every morning. Not only will your room be tidier, but it will also remind you to stay on task instead of getting lost in mindless distractions.
10. Leave time for rest
That being said, it is vital to leave yourself time to rest! The key is making sure you’re resting wisely, thoroughly, and effectively. Consider how your break time makes you feel; are you refreshed and rejuvenated afterward, or does it leave you feeling worse than before? For example, taking a break from studying for a quick stretch reduces stress, whereas procrastinating doing your homework produces stress. Replacing those stress-producing activities with stress-reducing ones will help you stay motivated and energized.
Do you have any additional time management tips? What stress-producing things do you need to cut from your life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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