8 STEPS FOR BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT AS A STUDENT

Things you can do to maximize your productivity and minimize your stress

This is a call to action for anybody who has ever worked feverishly on an assignment a few hours before it’s due, fueled only by iced coffee and the prospect of a long snooze later.

Time management may be difficult for students since their schedules are hectic, procrastination is widespread, and the internet is so distracting. That’s why we’ve compiled our finest suggestions for improved time management and getting things done with as little stress as possible.

1. Determine what you’re doing right now.

Take a day or two to find out what you’re doing currently before attempting to rebuild your entire life. Keep note of how you spend your time, such as how many times you go for your phone in the middle of a study session or what kind of tasks cause you to daydream 10 minutes in. You’ll basically act like a scientist viewing a lion in the wild, only you’ll be both the zoologist and the lion.

What you discover will guide what you need to alter (or perhaps even what you should maintain if you’re already doing things that work for you).

2. Create a timetable rather than a to-do list.

Knowing what you need to do is a fantastic start, but knowing when you’ll accomplish it is the true key. So bring out your calendar app and schedule some time to get things done. Yes, you must write it down (virtually or literally) since it will help you remember and adhere to it. It’s not that we don’t trust you to keep track of things in your head…simply it’s that it’s best not to take any chances.

When you are given a task, add it to your running to-do list. Then, when you have the opportunity, schedule time in your calendar to work on it (always expect you’ll need more time than you think). Your to-do list provides you an overview of everything you need to accomplish and a spot to scribble it down quickly, such as while you’re in the middle of class or a club meeting. The actual planning takes place on your calendar, and it will need a little more forethought in terms of scheduling (more on that below).

3. Separate it and spread it out.

Trying to complete a project in one sitting is the quickest way to become overwhelmed. It makes no difference if you have all of Sunday free to work on your research paper; if you open a blank document in the morning and turn in a draft in the evening, you’ll be agitated all day. Instead, divide it into little steps and stretch them out across time.

An 8-page research paper can be completed over the course of a week (or more) by conducting research one day, outlining the next, and then writing a page or two each day until the deadline. With adequate time, you may divide your work into SUPER small chunks, like as 20 minutes per day for a month — that’s 10 total hours of labor that feels no heavier than an episode of Friends each day.

4. Take little steps.

What do you do when a previously broken-down step still feels like a giant hurdle? Reduce the size. Consider our earlier example: commencing research for your paper is a fantastic first step, but it may not feel any less daunting than writing the entire thing. As a result, take steps inside steps.

You must perform the following tasks in order to conduct research:

• Get out of bed (we’re presuming you’re still watching Friends).
• Get your laptop.
• Consider the questions you’d like to be able to answer.
• Select a document to open.
• Make a note of your inquiries.
• Launch your web browser.
• Look into it.

And that’s before any serious study is done. Maybe you can’t picture yourself doing research, but getting out of bed or opening a paper isn’t such a reach. It’s all about how you think about the work that pushes you to accomplish it (or not). Take a small step, then another, and then another, and you’ll be making genuine progress in no time.

5. Plan your day around your personal requirements and rhythm.

Some people work best in the morning, while others work best at night, and still others work best beneath a full moon (…okay, that last one was werewolves, but the point remains). You should plan your timetable around whatever works best for you.

That means you should do your most important work (large presentations, articles, and projects) when you have the most energy. All of the minor details (such as simple worksheets or brief readings) can be saved for times when you aren’t at your best.

The same is true for the duration of your sessions. You are the expert on yourself, therefore you may decide whether to do shorter sprints or longer stretches of labor. There are several techniques to select from, ranging from the fast-paced Pomodoro method to the lengthier ultradian rhythm strategy. Find out what works best for you!

6. Scheduled breaks and set stopping times.

Your calendar isn’t only for work; it’s also crucial to include time for recreation. Remember those steps we discussed? Take short rests between stages and chores as needed. Take a little stroll between researching and outlining your work, or get lunch in the middle of your study session. When you’re working, these buffers will calm your thoughts and offer you something to focus towards.

Make sure to schedule clear finish times for jobs as well. If you’re going to work on your study guide on Thursday night, make a note in your calendar to stop at 9 p.m., and then stop at 9 p.m. Knowing when you’re going to stop prevents you from thinking you have all day and wasting time goofing around or pushing things off until later.

Pro tip: whether you’re taking a break or quitting for the day, make a mental note of what you accomplished and what you need to do next so you can simply start it up again the following time.

7. Remove any distractions.

Look, we’re both aware that it’s very easy to become sidetracked from work, especially when it’s a job that you don’t particularly enjoy doing. Because slime videos, deep-fried memes, and your pals’ snapchats are all just a few taps away, here are some easy strategies to keep your concentration where it needs to be:

• Set your phone to airplane mode or turn off notifications.
• Make your phone’s password as lengthy as possible (like 20–30 characters).
• Delete the applications that are distracting you the most for the time being.
• Alternatively, unplug from Wi-Fi and disable mobile data on those apps.
• Simply place your phone in a separate room.

8. Address the root cause of your procrastination.

Okay, now it’s time to get honest with you. These tactics can help you manage your time better, but it’s also important reflecting on why you’re procrastinating or avoiding work in the first place.

For many people, it all comes down to a fear of failure or judgment. Writing an essay might be difficult if you are concerned that your words will not turn out the way you want them to. Taking up a large presentation might be daunting since you don’t want to humiliate yourself in front of your students. It’s not that you can’t perform the task; you may be stuck by the idea that it needs to be flawless.

We can’t make those feelings go away, but we can remind you that no one expects your work to be faultless, and you shouldn’t let fear stop you from trying. At the end of the day, you have to turn in something, so take it step by step, get some work in, and revise as you go — it’ll seem so much simpler once you’re really doing it. We guarantee it.