Time Management Tips

If you’re like most people of the west, it seems like there are simply not enough hours in the day to take care of everything you need to do—let alone yourself. Between classes, studying and homework, most of us also have jobs, children, or other responsibilities. Add in some volunteering, errands, and cleaning up the place when it starts to look crusty, and suddenly there’s no time for friends, for hobbies, for you at all.

But with a little strategizing on your part, most college students can get the job done. Working two jobs, volunteering, and getting pregnant all by the time I was a junior, I know how important time management can be. Here are a few things that worked for me.

Use a day planner. I can’t stress this enough. Though schools often provide them, I wholly recommend investing in one that’s got room for scheduling appointments as well as creating to-do lists, holding all of your information, and having monthly spreads in them. I get mine for about $10. This little baby was key to my life management; I even remember one time I left my planner at my parent’s during a weekend visit and was completely lost without it.

Organize your time each night for the next day. This only takes a few minutes. Prioritize what you need to get done in a to-do list that starts with your biggest items (midterm paper, exam at the clinic) and ends with the ones with the least priority (assignments due later in the week). Lay out everything you need for the next day—not necessarily clothes if you’re just throwing on jeans and sweatshirts like I did every day, but pack your backpack, fill your bottle of water and stick it in the fridge, and just make sure your morning will go as smoothly as possible the next day.

Keep everything in the same place. You don’t want to waste time looking for your keys or homework assignments.

Use your down time wisely. I used to have to wait an hour in between classes that were in the same building, so I’d always bring anything I needed to work on to take on during that time. If you’re carpooling long distances, when it’s your turn for a break take out your reading assignments. I also used to read assignments—and sometimes even do math problems—during lunch. Look at your schedule and all of the moments you can use, and then start using them.

Make some cuts. If you can afford to work part-time instead of full-time, do it. Alternatively, if you can attend classes part-time and still finish at your target date, do that, too.

Talk to your advisor, counselor, or dorm rep. These people have some great advice and may be able to help. You can also find help at your learning center or student support services.

Get help. A good support system is crucial. Mine was a handful of friends and my then-boyfriend, now-husband, who still helps me out during my graduate studies. If you have children, these people can be a lifesaver with babysitting services while you get things done or attend classes, carpooling, study buddies, you name it.