Some days of my life are so busy that if I don’t put ‘eat a meal’ and ‘take a shower’ on my to-do list, it won’t happen. I have to balance a full class schedule, two jobs, an internship, homework, a social life, while trying to fit in the basic self-care required to live. I also know I’m not the only student with a schedule like this, most probably do. Schedules like this require some sense of time management, however, I still manage to procrastinate until I panic and cry at least once a week. That being said, I would highly benefit from some self-educating on time management.
A Week In My Planner
Purdue University provides a list of time management tips specifically for busy college students:
1.Identify Time-Wasters and Set Goals
-My specific time wasters are Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Oddly enough, something that does help me focus is doing homework or mundane tasks with my friends. That way, I’m way less distracted by my phone and can take mental breaks by talking to my friends for a bit. In terms of setting goals, I like to assign myself deadlines for different tasks and chores, similar to homework assignments. It motivates me to get things done in a timely fashion and stay organized in the process.
2. Plan Ahead by Creating a To-Do List
-Personally, to-do lists are the most effective way for me to manage my time. As well, it helps me to write two separate to-do lists, one for cleaning tasks and errands and another list for miscellaneous tasks. It also helps me to prioritize those tasks by numbering the lists in order of importance. If I don’t prioritize these lists, I become overwhelmed with how long the lists are.
My Separate To-Do Lists
3. Tackle Small Tasks to Start
-I liked this tip because it’s something I do to procrastinate my bigger responsibilities, but justify it because I’m still doing something productive. For example, I’ll often put off big homework assignments by cleaning my apartment or going to the gym. In reality, it may be beneficial to do this so you can tackle those bigger tasks with a clear and focused mindset. Starting my week with a clean apartment helps me feel more motivated and organized throughout the rest of the week. It also makes it easier to maintain a clean living space during the busier days of the week.
-To decide what are big and small tasks, Purdue suggests asking yourself these two questions: “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
– It can be difficult not to multitask as an attempt to get as much done in as little time as possible. I’ll often find myself trying to eat and read at the same time or listening to a lecture as I put laundry away. It feels good to be able to cross those tasks off my lists but they don’t get done as effectively as if I would have focused on one at a time. In the end, multitasking makes you less productive than dedicating all your energy to one task until completion. You will also get tasks done faster by dedicating all your attention to that one thing.
5. Establish Routines
It Helps To Plan Out Assignment Deadlines Ahead Of Time
-Routines are a helpful way to stay organized and on top of your responsibilities. It sort of tricks your mind into being ready for the tasks designated to a certain time. The important thing here is consistency. The more consistently you stick to a routine, the less you have to think about those tasks, whether they be chores, homework, work, or working out, when the time comes.
6. Use Breaks Wisely
-This tip is basically saying to pay attention to your mind and body so you know when you need a break. This way, you will also know when you don’t need a break. For example, if you’re on a roll with one assignment and don’t feel mentally fatigued yet, don’t take a 5-minute break just because you have a timer set to do so.
7. Take Time Off
-You need to give your mind a rest. This is particularly helpful when I’m working on a big paper or project. After working on the same thing for hours, my brain feels like mush and it’s much more difficult to produce quality work. When I feel this way, I’ll either switch assignments or go work on a smaller task so I can come back to it with fresh eyes. If you’re able and aren’t racing a deadline, it may even help to go to bed or take a few hour mental break to recharge. Coming back to an assignment or task with fresh eyes and a clear head often makes those tasks seem way easier and manageable.
8. Learn to Delegate
– This tip is basically saying, ‘don’t be scared to ask for help.’ It’s beneficial to communicate with your friends, roommates, and family about the stress in your life. They may be able and willing to mitigate some of that stress and responsibilities for you, which is something I know I struggle with. Personally, I tend to take on too many things at once and will feel ashamed and disappointed in myself if I can’t juggle it all on my own. That mindset has led to many ‘I’m having a mental breakdown and sobbing’ phone calls to my mom.
These tips are all worth incorporating into your daily life if you want to get better at managing your time. Start by picking one tip and dedicating a week to practicing just that tip and making it a habit. Once that tip has been mastered and utilized, move on to the next one. However, don’t be too hard on yourself if a weekly breakdown is still apart of the routine, being a young adult is mentally taxing.