The Best Ways to Manage Your Time as a College Student

The transition from high school to College time management can be challenging, especially when you realize you’ll have much more responsibilities on your plate than you may have before. There are fewer reminders to do your work and make sure that you’re putting in the effort needed to get a good grade. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any advice to help you manage your time. If you’re looking to put your best foot forward and make time for everything in your life, check out these tips.

Plan Out Your Class Schedule & Homework:

The most important aspect of college is, of course, your classes. When you’re signing up for classes before the next semester starts, always make sure to think about your ideal day-to-day activities and whether you’ll have time to complete them while also attending class. And as for homework, try to schedule it in blocks as opposed to having a ‘do it whenever’ approach. It’s much harder to get things done and stay on track when you don’t have a set time that you use for homework and other academic tasks.

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Make Your Own Meals:

Eating with friends in the cafeteria or at a restaurant near campus can be a great way to bond, but it’s not without its consequences. You might find that you spent more time than you realized chatting, or it may cut into the other events on your schedule if the line is too long. An easy solution is to make your own meals. Not only does it save you time if you can quickly grab a snack from the fridge or counter throughout the day, but you can multitask or take a break without having to factor in the wait or the time it would take you to get back to your dorm.

Use Technology to Your Advantage:

If you’re forgetful or just have a lot to do, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the assignments and tests that each of your classes has. And even if you write it down in a planner or on the syllabus, there’s no guarantee you’ll remember to look at it until it’s too late. However, one of the best Ways to manage time combat this is by using an app on your phone or laptop as your calendar. You can set reminders for due dates and a variety of other notifications to help you remember everything you need to get done.

Get Rid of Distractions:

It can be easy to get lost inside your phone or TV when all you meant to take was a five or ten-minute break. But there are some steps you can take to lower your chances to get distracted. The first is to turn your phone on silent or do not disturb. Understandably, most people don’t like to truly turn their phone off just in case of an emergency. But that shouldn’t stop you from studying. Or, if this doesn’t seem to work, you can use an app to block off times where you aren’t allowed to access most of the apps, especially social media, on your phone.

The second is to put on music or something else easy to listen to but that won’t break your focus. Maybe you work best if you’re listening to classical music, or have a podcast on. But whatever you decide to listen to should keep you in the working groove without being too entertaining to distract you from the task at hand.

Take a Break:

Although it’s important to get your work done on time, you’re less likely to be able to if you’re constantly working. Over the pandemic, the already high 40% of students who reported feeling burnt out rose to over 70% in April 2021. Feeling stressed or overworked can not only make you feel like you can’t focus or have to sacrifice necessities to get work done, but it can damage your long-term mental and emotional health. At some point, you’ll naturally need to rest and recuperate before you get back on the grind, so make sure to schedule in some breaks along with time to work so you don’t go overboard.

You Got This:

Time management can be a difficult skill to develop, especially when you’re given more work than you’re accustomed to. But with these tips, you should have a better understanding of how to get things done. And if you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out to the resources available on your campus or a professional online.