How to manage time in college
When you are a student, you are independent and free from parents’ mentorship. It is more than likely that often you relied on them in reminding you what you need to do. Here, in college, you are on your own and managing time is now solely your responsibility. To excel as a student, you need to know how to plan well, so that you do not end up in trouble. Here are some tips which may help you learn how to plan effectively and succeed in college.
Choose a planner
It is crucially important to pick a planner that you like. If you choose the one that does not bring you joy when you look at it, you will end up not using it. This, in its turn, might make your student life disorganized, because you are not keeping track of all your academic and social activities effectively. Also, you need to make sure that the planner of your choice suits you in terms of its size and the available sections for the different tasks. It must be functional and helpful, and if, at some point, you realize that it does not serve its purpose, do not hesitate and swap it for the one that is better.
Plan ahead of the week
It might sound boring and routine, but planning ahead is very important. Student life is very busy and hectic, and the number of activities, both academic and social, can be very high. Keeping all important (and not so) tasks in mind can be quite challenging and may jeopardize your performance results in college. It is advisable to make an effort and take some time to analyze what you have done during the previous week. The things that were not accomplished will need to be rescheduled for the next week and new stuff will have to be added to the schedule. You need to plan your week before it starts, so later you have a clear idea of how much free time you have.
Plan ahead of the day
Sorting out your schedule before the next week starts is a great way to have a general picture of available time and of what needs to be done without missing the deadline. However, it is equally important to fill in to-do sections for each day beforehand. For some students, it is more convenient to compile a list of tasks for the next day in the evening. Some prefer to wake up and with a fresh mind create a plan of what they need to do that day. Whichever way you choose, it needs to give you a clear understanding of what must be accomplished this particular day. Namely, if a friend invites you to a party, you know already that in the evening you have a preparation for your exam scheduled.
Add color to your planner
No one likes to do boring stuff, but effective time management and correct personal organization are a must for those who want to accomplish their goals in life. If you use a daily planner to make sure that everything is under control, there are ways how you can make the whole process of planning fun and not so tedious. You can use different stickers, pens, highlighters and paper clips to make your planner look cool and bright. These colorful helpers will make your tasks look not so dreary and will remind you that life is not only about the obligations and boring stuff but that studying can still be fun.
All students know how difficult sometimes it is to juggle academic and social life. However, proper planning is something that can help any student survive the college years and graduate with the great results. Obviously, it will take some time and effort to learn how to plan effectively, but mastering this skill will help you in future life and prove that studying can still be enjoyable.
