Now that it\u2019s the end of the semester, everyone is scrambling around trying to get everything done and studying for finals. If you are a college student who struggles to manage their time, this post is for you because I\u2019ve spent years making mistakes in order to master the skill. I hope you enjoy.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve written about my college morning and evening routine before. It\u2019s a lifesaver. Having a routine helps me wake up and get ready efficiently or wind down and get ready to rest. Another great thing about having a routine is that I don\u2019t have to waste much time on deciding what to do next.<\/p>\n
Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been creating weekly to-do lists in a cheap spiral notebook this semester, and it\u2019s been a game changer. Using my assignment list based on all the syllabi, I\u2019ve been able to organize myself in an efficient way. Crossing things off a list is very satisfying to me, so having one page with every blog post, homework assignment, and due date for the week is quite motivating.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know about you, but I can\u2019t get any work done in my room. I just can\u2019t. My laptop and my bed is just a recipe for procrastination. Even when I work at my desk, my bed is just too tempting.<\/p>\n I personally study most efficiently at the library or a study lounge, but even just moving to the dining table at home makes me work harder and faster.<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t sleeping enough, you are breaking time-management rule #1, but if it\u2019s\u00a0completely\u00a0<\/em>impossible for you to sleep a full eight hours, aim for at least six. I personally cannot function if I don\u2019t sleep, so it\u2019s a top priority for me. I\u2019m not one of those people who can bounce back after 3 hours of sleep.<\/p>\n *Update 9\/15\/18: My dad watched a TED Talk recently about sleep. The speaker said something like this: \u201cWhen we wake up in the morning and see that our phones are 50% charged, we feel agitated and that sets a tone for the rest of the day. We put so much priority in making sure our phones are fully charged, but we go about our days 50 or 60% charged all the time without thinking about it.\u201d You can\u2019t manage your time properly if you aren\u2019t rested for the day. You\u2019ll be much more productive and comfortable if you get enough sleep.<\/p>\n I remember in my first semester of Freshman year, a trainer at the gym said that most students stop coming to the gym during midterms. She said,<\/p>\n \u201cI wish that more students understood that going to the gym makes their days more productive, not less.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That resonated with me. It\u2019s also the reason I always went to the gym, even when I had exams. It\u2019s really easy to make excuses in college, so you need to be very mindful of your health. Working out was 100% worth it when it came to me managing my time, because it motivated me to eat healthier, gave me more energy, and helped me fall asleep faster. It also gives me a productive break in between homework and studying.<\/p>\n I mentioned this before, but I\u2019ll talk about it again. You know your body and mind best. You know which times you are most energetic and which times you\u2019re most lethargic. I\u2019m not hungry first thing in the morning, so I don\u2019t eat breakfast immediately. I get ready, make my bed, pack my bags, etc.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also good at self-motivation in the mornings. I can get a lot of studying and work done without procrastinating too much. I lose that self-motivation after lunch, which is why I\u2019ve scheduled all my classes in the afternoon. Having some structure at that time makes me more productive.<\/p>\n Schedule your time with your daily rhythms. It\u2019ll make you much more productive and will help you get through your day by saving you energy.<\/p>\n This works so well. It\u2019s kind of crazy. What would take me an hour without a timer takes 30 minutes with one. I think the hardest part of getting work done is starting. Once I sit down and make a decision to start working, I can work nonstop. Just set a timer for 15 minutes. Once those 15 minutes are up, you\u2019ll probably be in the groove of things and won\u2019t stop what you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n Block out a certain time for classes, a certain time for work, a certain time to eat, etc. Batch similar tasks together so that you won\u2019t waste time going from one project to the next. If your daily schedule is blocked off into different sections, you won\u2019t have to waste energy on deciding what to do next. You also won\u2019t waste ten minutes every time you\u2019re \u201cgetting ready\u201d to study by organizing all your notes.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t mean procrastination breaks. I mean actual breaks. Procrastinating by watching YouTube videos isn\u2019t a break because you\u2019re mentally draining yourself through guilt. If you are going to take a break, don\u2019t guilt yourself about it and don\u2019t waste an hour.<\/p>\n\n
2.\/\/Plan Out Your Week And Follow It<\/h2>\n
3.\/\/Study In Different Places (Leave Your Dorm)<\/h2>\n
4.\/\/Sleep 6-8 Hours Every Night<\/h2>\n
5.\/\/Make Time To Go To The Gym<\/h2>\n
6.\/\/Know Your Daily Rhythms<\/h2>\n
7.\/\/Set A Timer<\/h2>\n
8.\/\/Block Out Times In Your Schedule For Certain Tasks<\/h2>\n
9.\/\/Schedule Breaks<\/h2>\n