Time Management Student Success tips on how to manage your time in college.

What is Time Management?

Time Management is the art of planning how you will divide your time between all of your activities and obligations.

Why is Time Management Important?

Reduces Stress: When you feel like you have too much to do but not enough time to do it, you become stressed. Losing control has that effect. Time Management reduces that stress by ensuring you have enough time to meet all of your responsibilities while maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Increases Productivity & Quality: Having good Time Management skills means knowing how to schedule enough time to get all of your work done, and done well.

Reduces Procrastination: You're more likely to procrastinate when you have a pile of work to do but no plan of attack. It's human nature. Scheduling time to tackle your to-do list makes it less overwhelming, which motivates you to get it done.

I'm in. How do I Manage my Time?

Time Management starts with a study schedule - a time chart that incorporates all of your activities and responsibilities (including study time) in one place. Ready to make one? Download this Study Schedule Template (shown below), check out this quick tutorial on How to Edit Your Study Schedule, and let's jump in!

STEP 1: Block out Fixed Commitments

Fixed Commitments are obligations that cannot be moved, like commutes, work, class, etc. Be thorough because, as you'll see in a bit, this step is the bedrock of your entire study schedule.

Step 2: Block out Flexible Commitments

Flexible Commitments are activities that are personally important but could be moved if necessary, like exercise, meals, family, friends meals, hobbies.

Step 3: Block out Study Time

Plan when and how much you want to study for each class, considering these factors:

  • Aim for 1-2 hours/week per course credit
  • Course difficulty
  • Academic status vs. Academic goals
  • Study difficult courses when most alert
  • Try to review before and after class
Step 4: Assess & Adjust

Assess your study schedule and adjust as needed. For example: If, on second thought, you’d rather not study until 8:00 PM on Wednesdays and 5:00 PM on Thursdays, move (don’t delete) those study blocks to better time slots. It would look like this:

Better? Try it out. If it doesn't work for you after a week, don't give up. Change it.

How do you stick to your study schedule?

A study schedule is only helpful if you follow it. To promote persistence:

Control distractions: Limit anything that can throw off your schedule: TV, phone, socializing, etc. It's never a problem until it is.

Take breaks: Plan small, controlled study breaks to prevent burnout. Reenergize. Hydrate. Snack.

Schedule healthy activities: Schedule activities that boost mental and physical health, like exercising, taking walks, cooking, painting, or spending time with friends and family.

Be accountable: Send your study schedule to a trusted family member, friend, or Success Coach, who can check in weekly to make sure you’re sticking to it.

Stay updated: If your study schedule ever becomes unhelpful, don’t ditch it. Change it.

Reward yourself: For every day you keep to your study schedule, treat yourself to a favorite snack, drink, or episode...or take a nice scroll through your socials. Have fun with it!

What do you study during study blocks?

Your study schedule tells you WHEN to study. If you want to know WHAT to study, try this:

  1. Go class by class, assignment by assignment, looking 1 - 2 weeks out at a time.
  2. Think about when you want to complete each assignment + any supporting tasks, like studying, reviewing, making flashcards, tutoring, etc.
  3. Add assignments + supporting tasks to their appropriate study blocks (Example: add “study for Biology quiz” to a Biology study block) or keep them in a separate daily planner. For more on how to keep a daily planner, click here.

In Closing

Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean being effective. With good Time Management, you will make the most of your time, so you can stop worrying about college and start enjoying it.