Time is a limited resource. Balancing responsibilities at home and school is not easy. No matter what, you are always left with the same 24 hours in a day to check items off to-do lists, spend time with family and friends, and unwind. By planning ahead and using your time wisely, you’ll be able to accomplish more and enjoy added free time.
Consider these eight time management tips and strategies to ensure that you meet deadlines, are well prepared for tests, and have time for yourself while working through course tasks (i.e., homework).
1. Identify Time-Wasters and Set Goals
It is easy to get distracted. Pay attention to what draws your focus away from your studies and assignments.
Make a list of thinks to do. Identify time wasters. Set goals for completion.
- Are you spending too much time checking social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.)?
- Are you prone to texting and answering personal phone calls while studying?
- Do you find that a lot of time has passed while you aimlessly browse the web?
Make a list of thinks to do. Identify time wasters. Set goals for completion.
2. Plan Ahead by Creating a To-Do List
Identify what you need to do, and then prioritize the tasks based on when the assignment is due and how much time you need to complete it. This gives you a set plan for the day. Whether it is just a list of priorities or a full schedule for the day, having a plan will ensure that you know what to do and when.
Unless there is a pressing priority, it is important to also consider what sort of work you are in the mood to do.
Unless there is a pressing priority, it is important to also consider what sort of work you are in the mood to do.
- Do you feel creative? You man want to prioritize working on a writing assignment.
- Do you feel focused? You could spend time studying for an upcoming exam.
3. Tackle Small Tasks to Start
It is easy to get overwhelmed by large projects and important tests, and the anxiety can make you want to procrastinate. Start with shorter, simpler to-do items and then move on to larger projects or tasks.
- What can you complete in the shortest time and has the fewest dependencies?
- What needs more time or has more complicated workflows?
4. Only Do One Thing at a Time
A research study validated those who multitasks see a drop in their IQ similar to someone who did not sleep the night before. If you are trying to juggle multiple assignments and tasks, you will likely end up being less productive. To combat the urge to multitask, as yourself.
Removing distractions takes discipline and practice. Do one thing at a time, and, if it helps, use a timer to schedule your focus time.
- What are your most common distractions (i.e., email, social media, electronics, etc.)?
- Can you turn off the devices or applications?
Removing distractions takes discipline and practice. Do one thing at a time, and, if it helps, use a timer to schedule your focus time.
5. Establish Routines
A set routine can also help you accomplish the things you need to do. Is your home quietest in the early morning? You may want to get in the habit of regularly using that time to study or read. The more often you do this, the less you will have to think about when you will accomplish the tasks you need to finish that day.
Establish routines around the busiest times of the day for you and your family.
Establish routines around the busiest times of the day for you and your family.
6. Use Breaks Wisely
The time between work, classes, activities, and meetings can be used to complete tasks. People who us the Pomodoro Technique (see link below), developed in the 1990s, work in short intervals and take short, regular, timed breaks or "Pomodoros." For example, you might use a timer to work in 25-minute spirits, broken up by 5-minutes breaks away from your workspace. Every fourth Pomodoro, take a longer break.
The Pomodoro Technique was named after the tomato-shaped timer.
The Pomodoro Technique was named after the tomato-shaped timer.
7. Take Time Off
It is important to take time for yourself. Long study sessions or chunks of time working on tasks should be broken up with time aways from screens or textbooks. You need to give your mind a rest.
Many scholars have studied the effects of meditation on reducing effects of stress-induced conditions such as back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia. The National Institutes of Health gathered these studies and published, which included one study that suggests meditation makes the brain's ability to process information more efficient (see below).
Meditation can take place anywhere you can find a few minutes or quiet. Search for free meditation apps in your smartphone's app store.
Many scholars have studied the effects of meditation on reducing effects of stress-induced conditions such as back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia. The National Institutes of Health gathered these studies and published, which included one study that suggests meditation makes the brain's ability to process information more efficient (see below).
Meditation can take place anywhere you can find a few minutes or quiet. Search for free meditation apps in your smartphone's app store.
8. Learn to Delegate
While your significant other, family members, or roommates will not be able to study for you, you can ask them to help out more around the house while you continue your education. Freeing up a little more time by having others help with household chores and errands will ensure that you can stay focused on your studies and coursework, or that you can take a well-deserved break.
Resist the urge to do it all. What household and routine tasks can you share with your friends and family?
Resist the urge to do it all. What household and routine tasks can you share with your friends and family?
