Olivia
What are some good ways to manage my time better in college?
I struggle with managing my time and staying motivated, what are some good tips so I can stay on top of my work in college?
#college #time-management #motivation #study #scholarship #studying-tips
3 answers
Amy Smith
Amy’s Answer
Good morning,
That is a really great question. Time management skills are vital not just in college, but in every aspect of adult life. There are several time management apps and programs out there, but I prefer a notebook and pen, because I can take it anywhere and my plan and to list seems to have more impact for me when I write it down. When a big project is due, it looks really intimidating if you look at it all at once. Here is what I do: get a calendar, the one with the squares on it. Write down on what date the project is due. On the week before, write down what you have to have done to get it finished, same for the week before that. Work backwards to the current date. Here is what it looks like:
June 4- all employee reviews delivered
May 28th- schedule meetings with employees
May 14th- turn in all reviews for approval
April 16th- review paperwork received and portal is open
If I break it down this way, I know that I need to complete 6 reviews each week to be able to complete all my reviews before May 14th. It is much easier to look at it that way verses I need to complete 30 reviews by the 14th.
Be realistic with your time. You always think that you can get more done in a day than is feasible, and over scheduling yourself will lead to burnout and frustration. Write your daily to-do list on a post-it, three to five things is reasonable.
Amy recommends the following next steps:
Leahanne Thomas
Leahanne’s Answer
Take a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle vertically. On the left, write down all the things you like or love to do. On the right, right down what a typical day looks like for you. How much of what is on the left shows up on the right? Find ways to get more of what's on the left, over on the right. Very simply, we're motivated to do what we like, and not motivated to do what we don't like or what we're not good at.
For your college work - are you taking classes you like? Do you see how they relate to what you like? Are they a path toward something? If not, you should get on top of rearranging that as quickly as possible.
But sometimes there are chores or tedious parts in even the areas we like. So, book end those activities with activities you like. Then bribe yourself. So, if I study for this test for an hour, I will go work out, or whatever activity works to motivate you. Also, set daily goals and when you bang out those activities you'll feel good about your progress, and that will give you momentum. Good luck!
Leahanne recommends the following next steps:
Dawn Cordero
Dawn’s Answer
- Break the task down into manageable chunks A big task, such as writing a dissertation, or revising for an extended period, can be demotivating because it seems so big. Breaking the task down into manageable chunks can therefore help make it seem less daunting.
- Keep your end goal in mind but also use interim goals on the way. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to remember why you are studying in the first place.
- Get into a study routine. It is generally easier to stay motivated if your studying becomes part of your everyday life and routine.
- Don’t let your studying take over your life. When you start a long course of study, whether a degree course or a period of study for professional exams, it can feel like it is all-important. This is especially true when exams loom. However, it is important not to allow your studying to take over your life.
I hope that you find value in these.