College life offers many challenges. Some of you may be on your own for the very first time. Good time management skills are necessary to balance your workload, meet the numerous deadlines that occur simultaneously, and avoid unnecessary distractions. Stephen R. Covey in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” says that the challenge is not to manage time but to manage ourselves. Rather than focusing on time, we should focus on results. This philosophy appeals to many people because they do not see themselves as a slave to the clock. Instead they understand that by setting goals, determining priorities, and managing ourselves, we can achieve those goals. If you have a primary goal that you can write down, it will keep you focused throughout your college career.
You own your own time. The challenge is to use that time wisely. Create a balance between using your time to accomplish what has to be done while allowing time for the friendships and activities that make college life so enjoyable. Of course, managing yourself requires self-discipline. The following tips may help you create the self-discipline needed to meet the challenges ahead.
Get a wall or desk calendar that you can use for long-range planning, and get a planner to carry with you. If you cannot afford a digital planner, get a yearly planner divided into months or weeks. Enter your class schedule, tests, exams, project due dates, work schedule, and other important activities or commitments. Each day, determine your priorities and make a “to do” list.
When you sign up for classes, try to build a schedule around the times of day when you are most alert. Allow yourself some “down time” when you are not alert. That may be a good time to “hang out” with friends or work in some exercise.
Set aside time each day to study. If you are easily distracted when you study, you may want to consider going to the library, computer lab, study room, or some other quiet place. If you stay in your room to study, make some personal rules to help you avoid distractions. For example, when someone calls or stops by, tell them you will get back to them later.
Although you may think in terms of a two to three-hour block of time for extensive reading assignments or big projects, you can accomplish a lot in much smaller blocks of time. Try breaking large assignments into smaller, more manageable parts. Complete the small tasks right away. If you get writer’s block or lose your concentration, take a break and reflect on your ultimate goal. Remind yourself why you are there. Then go back and put something in writing. You may change it several times, but at least you will have started. Getting started is sometimes the hardest part.
Use short blocks of time during the day wisely as well. If you have time between classes, it takes only a few minutes to review class notes, jot down ideas for an essay, do a few math problems, or revise your priorities for the day.
Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given amount of time, and stay flexible. Remember that the most important aspect of time management is taking responsibility. College offers you the freedom to assume responsibility and take control of your own life.