College is a busy time, and many students wonder how they will manage all of their commitments. In a new survey of over 800 college students, researchers found that 73% of the students considered school to be overwhelming.
It can be difficult to balance every area of life, but practicing time management can help you succeed. Learning how to take control of your time helps you make the most out of your schedule by staying on top of academic commitments, avoiding procrastination, and still having time for the things you love.
Use a Planner or Calendar
You can bring some structure to your college routine by using a planner or calendar to keep track of certain tasks. With these, you can create a visual to-do list of all of your daily tasks instead of trying to keep track of everything in your head. Calendar apps on your smartphone let you set alerts to remind you of key things on your schedule, which can be especially helpful for one-time events.
Using a planner also helps you break down your workload into manageable portions for each day. It is much easier to work through things when they have been broken down into smaller tasks than it is to take on one big project all at once.
For example, imagine you have one week to complete an essay. This essay might feel overwhelming if you tried to knock it out in one sitting. But if you divided that assignment up throughout the week, it could make your life a lot easier. You could write the outline Monday and the first few paragraphs Tuesday. By Wednesday, you could write the rough draft, and by Thursday, you would be practically finished. Instead of writing the entire essay Friday night, you could simply finish your final edits, submit the essay, and enjoy your weekend in peace.
Planning your days in advance can help you find a healthy balance between work and fun, allowing you to create a positive college experience. It helps you visualize your schedule, spread out your workload, and still make time for social activities and hobbies.
Stick to a Consistent Schedule
As you learn to plan your days, it becomes easier to establish a consistent schedule. While every week will look different, sticking to a routine is a great way to stay on top of things and live a balanced life. Setting specific times for going to sleep, waking up, studying, and exercising can help you settle into a healthy routine.
Perhaps the most important of all of these is your sleep schedule. Having a regular sleep schedule has many benefits and can positively impact your physical health, mental health, stress levels, and performance levels.
Set a Timer
Start the habit of setting timers when you are studying or doing homework. Giving yourself a time limit can help you hold yourself accountable and be productive with your studies.
It pushes you to accomplish tasks in a specific amount of time, helping to prevent you from procrastinating and getting distracted by other things. Further, it can be motivating to know that when the timer goes off, you can put that task out of your mind and move on to other things.
Incorporate Breaks
Timers can also help you schedule regular breaks, which are just as important as work. When students work on academics for too long without stopping, it can lead to burnout or frustration.
Research shows that taking purposeful breaks for five to 60 minutes can improve productivity, energy, and focus levels. A “purposeful” break is anything that doesn’t involve staring at your screen or going on your phone. It could involve going on a walk, making a cup of coffee, or reading a book.
The Pomodoro Method is one of the best ways to incorporate breaks into your studying routine. Take a five-minute break every 25 minutes, then a longer 20-30 minute break after going through four blocks of your 25 working minutes. This will keep you mentally and physically refreshed to prevent burnout.
Do the Hard Things First
Procrastination can leave you with loads of things to do right before a deadline, adding unnecessary stress to your life and dragging out dreaded tasks. It is normal to feel tempted to put off the tasks you want to do the least, but moving those things at the top of your list can change your entire week.
As hard as it is, try to do the tasks that are hardest for you before you do anything else. Finishing your least desired task first can also help your other tasks seem less daunting, and it helps you to get more difficult things out of the way earlier in the week.
Incorporate Rewards
Reward yourself for studying or doing different tasks. For example, tell yourself that you can go out with your friends after you have been productive for two hours or finished an assignment. Or if you feel like taking a phone break, set your phone in another room and only take it out once you have completed your set tasks.
Turning your hobbies and social activities into rewards encourages you to work productively every day, and it can actually make those things more enjoyable because you will have had to work for them. Further, these activities are far more enjoyable when you do not have anything hanging over your head.
Contact Sunrise Village to Schedule a Tour
Practicing time management helps you learn discipline, balance, and structure. It brings structure to the chaos of college life, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed. You can establish more control over your life and learn how to manage your schedule even during the busiest seasons.
One of the most important parts of the college experience is finding a home where you can study, spend time with friends, and do the things you love. At Sunrise Village, our affordable BYU-I student housing is the perfect place to practice these habits. Contact us today to schedule a tour so you can secure a place where you will thrive.