Time management
Everyone has the same number of hours in the day. As a student, it never really seems like there's enough time to do the things you want to do, let alone the things you have to do, right? What are the best time management tips for students that can help with this?
My first tip is to set a schedule. As they used to say, "Pencil it in." Sure, we've come a long way from relying on agenda books, but schedulers and agendas (digital or print) can play a huge role in how we manage time daily. You can either be really serious about scheduling by breaking your time into 15- 30- minute blocks and outlining what you'll be doing, or a little more lenient by roughly planning your days in advance. But make sure you put in time for family, jobs, and, most importantly, leisure. If you are under pressure, ask for help from your friends and family with your other chores. You may be surprised just how happy they are to help so you can succeed.
It is important to set realistic goals. Our society tells us to aim high and "shoot for the stars, so if you fall, you land on the clouds." But sometimes, it makes more sense to set realistic and smaller goals so that you can pass those hurdles and gain momentum to accomplish bigger goals. In my opinion, slow progress is better than no progress, and by being able to complete the small steps, you're making collective moves to accomplish your long- term goals.
This method also works to manage time because you can't see so far into the future. By setting up your goals day in and day out, you're creating good habits that are within your control that accumulate over time to cause big changes. For example, if you want to run a marathon, you're going to start training daily with just a few miles and build up from there. In that same manner, you can train your brain and mind to grow stamina for studying. If you want to learn a new language, you can do daily lessons, and over time, you'll realise how much you've learnt as all the short lessons accumulate.
It may sound too simple, but it really works — wake up early. Begin by going to bed at the usual time, then wake up at 5.30 a.m. You may struggle the first morning, but make sure you get up. Go to sleep early that night, and again wake up at 5.30 a.m. the next day. After that your body clock will reset, and your new wake up time will be easy. By setting that alarm clock for the early hours of the morning, you're setting up your day to maximize your time.
When you're up early, you rush less, and in turn, stress less. Since the body and mind are getting up from a fresh night's sleep, it's the best time to get all your complex thinking tasks out of the way so that you can be productive and set the tone for your day. Waking up early has a lot of other benefits, too. For one, you're up before most other people, so it automatically helps to eliminate distractions. It also gives you the time to exercise and get some "me time", before all your other commitments take centre stage.
Distractions are everywhere, especially the digital kinds. There are many apps that can help lock you out of the internet if you can't help but check your apps while trying to work or study. And if you are not ready to install another app or software, try leaving your phone in a different room and create a specific location from where you will just work. And, this isn't just a good idea to try when you're busy working. It's also a nice exercise when you're with friends and family because you can truly be present with them.
Time management is important, especially when you're a student trying to fit loads of things into your busy life. Even learning some basic tips can do wonders. Every minute is precious, don't waste it doing something that isn't adding any value to your life.