In this guide, you will learn tips and techniques to take control of your time, get organized, set attainable goals, prioritize your work, and stay on task. These skills will help you structure your time so that you can set yourself up for success while in college.
Do you need help with time management, organization, procrastination, or prioritizing work? The Academic Success Center (ASC) can help!
Time management refers to the ability to organize, plan, and control how one’s time is used. College students often juggle a lot of different responsibilities, so having effective time management skills while in college is especially important. Building strong time management skills while in college supports academic success and builds good habits for the future.
Time is a limited resource. Part of effective time management is realizing this and recognizing you have control over how your time is spent. Periodically, it’s good practice to take a close look at how your time is spent, reflect on how your time is used, and make necessary adjustments when your time is used unproductively or doesn’t align with your goals. Using tools, such as the Wheel of Productivity will help to visualize how you spend your time.
To effectively manage your time, structure your time thoughtfully by assigning time slots to complete specific tasks and activities. In order to do this effectively, organization is key. Having a planner is a proven way to stay organized and keep track of all of your commitments. Nowadays there are a lot of different apps that can be used for this purpose.
Being disorganized can cause stress and lead to unproductivity and frustration, so it’s also important to keep you space organized as well. Being organized will help you be more efficient.
In order to know that your time is being used effectively, it’s critical to plan for the future by setting goals. Setting goals and working towards those goals is motivating and focuses your energy. It can also be very rewarding as you take pride in working towards and attaining your goals.
Prioritizing tasks is another important time management strategy. Keeping a to-do list is a valuable tool that can help you stay organized, determine which tasks need to be completed in what order, and complete tasks on time. If you struggle with prioritizing and find yourself missing deadlines, one strategy you might find useful is the Eisenhower Matrix. This strategy helps to sort tasks that need to be completed in order of urgency so that you can prioritize the tasks that need your immediate attention first.
Most students have battled with their fair share of procrastination. Procrastination is when you put off or avoid tasks you need to complete. There are many strategies for combating procrastination, many of which are included in this LibGuide.
In addition to procrastination, it’s also important to monitor how you spend your time and time on task. Strategies like the Pomodoro Technique can help you to focus your time and energy as you work.
If you need help managing your time, please contact the Academic Success Center (ASC). In addition in tutoring in subject areas like English and Math, the Academic Specialists and Tutors can help you get organized, set goals, prioritize your work, and provide tips and techniques to avoid procrastination.
