What's the best way to manage time when you are in college?
I'm not the best at time management and could use some advice. #college #engineering #time-management
17 answers
Steve’s Answer
Always a tough one, isn't it? There can be a lot of distractions, especially after coming off the regimented world of high school. The most important thing I found was to create a routine and try to stick to it. Here at the beginning of the year, you're going to want to experiment a little with what works best for you, but you may already know some of that. Are you someone who studies better in the morning? Maybe there's an hour between classes where you can do that - it's an hour less work you have to do later and if you do it for 3 weeks, it'll become a habit.
Another tough one is pacing yourself. That's why that routine is important. Can't tell what kind of classes you're taking, but if they involve long-term projects, one of the most important things you can do with them is to map them out. We do that at work a lot, establishing a timeline for when things need to get done. So if you have a class where there is a long paper due in the middle of the semester, work backwards and go through the steps you would need to accomplish to get it written. Be realistic about how much time you can/will put into something - and then add 10-15% more time to get it done (it ALWAYS takes longer :) ). If your paper is going to involve a lot of reading, working backwards from the end product will also help you figure out how much time you can put into that reading. If you need 2 weeks to draft, edit and revise your paper before you're done, that means you MUST cut off your reading 2 weeks out. Don't budge on that part of it.
Couple other tips I learned along the way:
1) Find a place on campus where you can spend that hour (or more). No distractions. I had two of them: one was the special collections library, because it was a beautiful place to work and no one ever came in there. The other was a coffee shop just a bit off campus where the staff (made up mostly of music majors) would sing on their breaks. It was a great way for me to keep time and take my breaks, but I could also sit in there for hours. Make those your places - not places for shared work. There are many other places to meet people, work in groups, etc.
2) Be excited about the class. Sometimes it's because you love the subject. Or the professor. Or you know it is a stepping stone to better things. But whatever you do, approach it as something that is worth putting time into. After all, you're paying a TON of money. Don't take stuff that isn't going to help you grow.
3) Know your optimal amount of time to work through something. This takes a lot of practice. Personally, I do best working 40 min on, about 5 min off. If I power through for an hour (or more), I get sloppy. That 5-minute break is super important for me. Get up and walk, around the desk and do some stretches if you literally have nothing else to do. I STILL do that at work.
4) Give yourself a break. College is a great time to figure it out. Try things. You say you're not good at managing your time. If you want to get better at it, here's a great opportunity to figure out what will work for you. You're not going to get it right immediately and it may change over time. College is what you make of it. Get the most out of it - you'll be happy you did.
Peter’s Answer
Jaylin:
One of the best ways to assure you stay on top of your assignments in College is the following. Always read the class material ahead of the actual Lecture. That way you are not only assured of being caught-up, but you will know to ask questions about topics that you do not understand. This is way more effective than trying to study and catchup the night before an exam.
Good luck, Pete Sturtevant, P.E.
Karine’s Answer
Hello college isn't that easy my advise would be prioritize !
Do the mandatory things right away homeworks, studies etc.
Plan some breaks for your self during the day : see a friend, do some sports (helps stay focused and get rid of the steam...)
Tal time to network, talk to people understand jobs that could be of interested to you, meet professionals ask questions !
Whenever you feel demotivated give yourself a break, take time to do a nice think for yourself and come back to your routine !
Adil’s Answer
Begin by following the two-for-one rule. Plan to spend two hours studying outside of the classroom for every one hour of class each week. If you spend a total of 12 hours in classes each week, plan at least 24 hours of study time in your schedule. Allot more time to difficult classes and less time to easier classes.
Zack’s Answer
1) Make a daily plan: Every day I make a list of what is on my plate, making an overall list of tasks/objectives. I then reduce it to what is the minimum task list that I need to get done today, based on urgency and importance. If I see that I'm unable to finish the minimum task list, then I either ask for help and/or deadline extensions to be able to meet them. Once I get done with the minimum task list, I can move on to the important but not urgent ones.
2) Set up a good environment: Your environment has a large impact on your mood and efficiency. When I was in college, I found that going to the school's computer lab, or some similar quiet place, can help greatly with focus. Studying in your apartment/room can be comfortable, but there are so many distractions around that it is easy to interrupt your flow. For example, it is too tempting to go grab something from the fridge and watch some TV/Youtube!
I also found that having a study group helped with my time management and efficiency. Your study buddies will hold you accountable to showing up for the group sessions. Your efficiency will also increase, if you ask questions and gain knowledge from other people's perspectives / techniques.
3) Have recovery time: Time management does not mean you have to always be working at 100%. Humans are not machines, and need time for mental recovery. Remember to make some time to do things that you enjoy, outside of work/school. I believe that scheduling for at least 1 hr per day for hobbies is critical to your mental recovery. This can include something like playing an instrument, working out, or just simply taking a nap.
I hope at least one of my points has added value to you, as you look through the answers list. I wish you the best in your studies!
Zack recommends the following next steps:
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
<span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>
Mark’s Answer
One way to effectively manage your time is to get really clear on what you want to achieve (ie: your definition of success), and to align your priorities and actions accordingly. Anything that doesn't help you progress toward what you want to achieve can get crossed off the list because it works against your definition of success.
Getting clarity on your definition of success requires some introspection on your part. If you make the upfront investment to get clear on what really matters to you, and then act accordingly, you'll likely find that you're happier about the time you're spending doing things because it aligns to what's really important to you.
Ken’s Answer
Hi Jaylin!
I remember my college years, and I know you are asking a very important question. I found some informatoin here which I could not say better.
http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/freshman-year/study-hard-play-hard-have-fun-college-without-your-grades-n427786
http://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/how+to+balance+grades+a+social+life+and+sleep+in+college
Please let me know if this is helpful. Best of luck. Please keep me informed. I would like to follow your progress.
September’s Answer
Chaitra’s Answer
Also have some time for friends and family.
Sydney’s Answer
I'm currently in college, so I'll tell you what worked for me.
Creating study groups so that way you can get a chunk of your work done while still maintaining a social life.
Utilizing office hours, to stop in and work on homework (this is assuming your professor is giving you homework that they don't correct themselves) so that way you can ask any questions, form connections, and get work done.
I believe LIST, list are what saved me. I would create a list of tasks and think about how long each item would take me, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 4 hours, then breaking it down into priority, and picking the days that you can set those listed items for.
I hope this helps!
Robin’s Answer
Rashmi’s Answer
2.Aim to make all the classes
3.Lear to focus
4.Balance your courses
5.Stick to your routine
6.Use your technology
7.Seek feedback
8.Prioritize your “to do” list. Make sure you don’t put the most difficult tasks at the bottom.
Prentice’s Answer
Shruti’s Answer
In college it is always hard to manage your time with so many people around, fun things happening, and classes. It is important to realize that you can have time for everything and need to prioritize your time depending on what you have to do. I have realized that I am a person who gets very distracted from working with people, so I prefer to work alone in the library. I think also getting rid of distractions such as your phone and other electronics can be very helpful. If you are able to plan your time well you will be able to have fun in college while also getting good grades!
sunitha’s Answer
Mental and physical fitness ( Meditation and Yoga) is something that I strongly recommend.
Having right friends in your circle gives right exposure.
If possible , start a part time job as well, gives exposure as well as makes your financially independent
