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Student Success Stories: Time Management Strategies
How to Successfully Deal With Time Management and Procrastination
Real study strategies from real students -- strategies for dealing with time management and procrastination.
I have to be realistic about the time it takes me to do everything. I am a procrastinator but college has helped me become better at shying away from putting things off to the last minute. I usually sit down and figure out exactly how much time I will need to complete an assignment, and then add on an hour just in case. Since I usually work about twenty five to thirty five hours a week, (and during my sophomore year I worked 45 hours a week!), and take 15 credit hours, I try to do my homework at night and in the mornings. If I have time between classes I spend it in the computer lab working on homework. My secret is to get into a schedule and keep it consistent all semester. Once you do this your mind adapts and you will find yourself ready to study after class because that is what you do every week at that time. Finding your rhythm is the key. Since my weekends are spent working I tell myself that I will do all my assignments for next week during the current week. This can get difficult because it is hard to sit down and work on homework after sitting through three classes back to back. I recommend that students take healthy study breaks and try to eat nutritional foods to stay healthy. Missing class is the worst way to fall behind and more importantly than that, if I am going to miss a class and be behind on my assignments, it should be for a fun day at the beach; not a sick day in bed.
--Morgan S.Stay on top of things! I always make sure I look ahead to see what is going on in the next week as far as work, homework, club activities, etc. in order to see what I need to be working on. That way I will have things done so that when there is something I want to do, I will be able to do it.
Having a routine also helps. I try to get my schedule at work to be the same each week so that I always know when I have to work and am able to plan my homework and other responsibilities into the time I have. Don't just make a list of things that you need to do each day in your agenda, actually do them and then cross it off your list so that you can move onto something else.
--Cayla C.Keeping busy! I find that if I have nothing to do on a certain day, I am less likely to get things done. If I have a set schedule and a set place to be, I make sure I have things done in order to get the next project done or go to the next event I have for the day. My biggest secret is my PLANNER!! I would die without it! I write everything in it and cross it off when it's done. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me get things done and remember to do them.
--Emily B.Well, I am a very busy person -- I think that outside activities are just as important to succeed in college as studying and staying strong academically -- so time management has been a struggle for me. The most important thing to do is map out when tests are throughout the semester, and always have your planner on you when going to meetings. It's always important to volunteer for additional responsibilities and you always want to go to every event that your organization is hosting, but you have to try your hardest to have at least one big block of free time (at least 3-4 hours) before an exam. Most people are very understanding if you have exams or projects due, but they won't be if you sign up for something and cancel at the last minute. Stay organized, and make sure you have time to have fun, and to study!
--Jessica W.My secret is to use time wisely. I know that on certain days I do not have time to run errands or hang out with friends even. Each minute of each day is used for something. One thing that works really well for me is to write everything down. I mean everything. I write down if I am going to email people, write letters, or study. It works for me to have a planner that goes by the day and shows me what I am going to be doing every day. Knowing what I have to do everyday helps me plan out my week and my days. If I know that I don't have time on Tuesday, I will try to get more things done on Monday or Sunday. I plan ahead, especially if I am going to be on the road for volleyball. When I am on the road, I bring my books and read on the bus/plane/hotel room. Missing class is killer to make up from, but if you are upfront with your professors, they are usually nice about having to turn things in late or not being in classes.
--Laura B.A planner and color coding! I NEVER leave home without my planner, ever! I write everything down and never make a plan without consulting it. I also, as crazy as it may sound, make hour-by-hour schedules for the day. When I get a minute free or right before a class start I will open my planner and write down everything I have to do the next day and the times. Then I write down the hours 10 am to 1 am and fill them in. This let's me know what spots I have free so that I can fill them with homework/errands/etc. I also use different colors for different events so that I can easily see how much time that is taking up. Also, since I have a photographic memory, if there is a small chance that I left my planner behind for the day I can usually remember what colors are in the box for the day. It is important to get a planner with a month view as well as the individual days.
--Maria F.Always have a planner with a month at a glance. Always know a week ahead of time what projects/test/quizzes are coming up even if you dont start studying for them yet. If you are aware of your study commitments, you won't overbook yourself with social events. Knowing not to schedule a weekend away in the big city with friends next month because that Tuesday a final 10 page paper is due is a wise choice... if you do things last minute at least give yourself a decent amount of time to reduce stress.
--Adrianne W.Believe it or not, my secret is to stay busy. I feel like the more down time I have, the more I procrastinate. I worked my entire college career and it forced me to manage my time effectively.
--Dana S.Time management secret: I always always, always carry a planner with me. I even use different color highlighters to show what each event on my calendar is for. For example -- pink is personal, yellow is school, orange is work, blue is for appointments and green is for my sorority. Although I use white out frequently I can see in bright yellow -- I have that project for finance due on Tuesday, I need to start working on it on Wednesday so I can just get it done. My friends have always been amazed at how early I get things accomplished but that is really all I do.
--Sarah P.Don't procrastinate, but if you're going to procrastinate, don't just watch TV, do something like grocery shop that you would need to do anyway. If your friends give you a hard time about always doing your work, don't just blow them off, because college isn't fun without a social life, tell them that you'll go to the library with them. That way you can hang out and get your work done.
--Erin L.Time management secret: I write everything down. When I know everything that I need to get done for a given week I can plan better when I need to study. If I know that on a particular day I don't have any time at all than I will wake up earlier and get in some studying time then. I also know myself enough to not schedule studying for late at night since I won't be able to stay awake. So being realistic is also one of the most important things.
--Jessica H.Time management secret: My secret is simple: Put schoolwork before playing. When I have a test or project/paper I make sure that studying comes first. In my case, I just buckle down and do it but other might need a push from a friend/parent but the again, the more you practice the easier it becomes.
--Matt G.I live and die by a day planner. Most college students probably manager their time the same way but the difference was that I color coded mine. I was involved in many activites, was a full time student, in a sorority, volunteered and so on. I had to figure out a way to keep them all straight so I came up with a color coding system. Tests and papers were always bold and highlighted. My fun stuff like sorority socials came last and were in pink for instance.
--Micaela H.Time management secret: Get it done with it's still on the brain... During a recent job interview, a company executive told me he wakes up everyday seeing the following phrase on his cell phone: "Make shit happen today." I live by that saying, and I will never forget it.
--Ben M.I set aside at least one hour a night to do homework, study, or prepare for projects. I also write any due dates or test dates in my planner as soon as I get the syllabus or assignment calendar. Using a calendar or planner definitely helps me to make sure I don't over-extend or over-commit myself.
--Amber J.Take it one day at a time, and I always reward myself. If I don't let myself watch my favorite television show or something then I get easily distracted while studying. I can't study for great lengths at a time, so I make sure to take little breaks. Also KEEP A PLANNER! That is probably the most important tool for good time management. It's impossible to remember everything you have to do, so writing it down in a planner is a great way to keep things in order. This way you can look ahead at the week, and if you have a lot of work during the end, you can start it earlier so you don't get overwhelmed.
--Renee P.I'm actually not that great at managing my time. That is something I work on a lot by trying to make a list of what I should be doing and what I have to get done in the day. Still hard for me.
--Sarina O.Time management secret: Planning. I make a list of everything I need to get done for the next week or two. Then I distribute all my assignments throughout the week based on how much time I'll have left after class, activities, and other obligations. After my schedule is made, I stick with it. Usually, I try to leave room for surprise assignments, so that I have some flexibility in case something pops up that I didn't anticipate.
--Stephanie G.Time management secret: My time management secret is not to take naps during the day or waste time. Everyone says that when you get to college you will have so much time on your hands. It is true. I get most of my work done in between classes and during the day so my nights can sometimes be free.
--Nicole Z.
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