Time management is an important skill to have as a college student and beyond. So, what is the best way to manage your time? A key to this is to stay organized. It is absolutely necessary to have a planner that you regularly fill out, check, and utilize in your day to day life. Falling into the trap of "I won't forget" is a slippery slope when you are managing several classes, extracurriculars, jobs, friends, family, and more.
Not sure where to start? Use our semester calendar to mark down all of your major due dates, such as exams, projects, or papers. This calendar gives you a one-page overview of your semester. Having all of this information in one place helps you anticipate your academic needs and plan better.
After you fill this out, consider if you are more likely to keep a physical planner or a virtual calendar up-to-date. Pick a day of the week that you will plan out your week (think Saturday or Sunday). Set aside 15-30 minutes on this day to consult your semester calendar, think about your other smaller assignments, and write down a to do list.
Now, take that to do list and block times on your favorite planner (or virtual calendar) that you will complete each task. This may feel like a huge shift for you or like you don't have time, but taking 30 minutes weekly to do this will help you feel on top of your to do list. Use this calendar to start thinking of designing your weekly routine.
Browse this page for some other strategies you can incorporate into your routine.
The Pomodoro Technique
A time management strategy to help you get started on a task. The theory is that people work best during short, intense study sessions. The timer is set to 25 minutes and for that period of time, you are focused on a specific task and distractions are put away (including phones). Once the timer goes off, you can take a short (5 minute) or long (10 minute) break. Once that timer goes off, it’s back to another pomodoro session.
Use this to get started on an assignment, break down a larger task into smaller pieces, build in breaks, or hold yourself accountable to a quick study session. (There’s tons of free versions of this online - including ones with internet blocker!)
Motivation
Learn how automating your motivation, using a calendar, and breaking down goals into smaller tasks helps with motivation.