An effective way to manage your time
Juggling studies with a social life is a challenging task for students, but with effective strategies, you just might find a balance between both.
Before all, set internal priorities and schedule your time. Decide what is more important to you. If you have homework assignments or need to study for a quiz, do that first! By setting priorities and focusing on them, you will be able to plan your time effectively.
There are different ways you can manage your time in college, make sure you manage it wisely. That being said, have a to-do list. Writing your schedule is an effective method to focus on important things. Buy a planner, write your schedule on a piece of paper, use your phone – do whatever you need to do to make sure you structure your time well. Write out important deadlines as well as any other homework assignment due dates. Remember why you are here as this will help you stay focused on your long-term goals.
Avoid distractions. Avoiding distractions is challenging considering the technology that surrounds us. A good way to get away from this is by turning off all electronic devices near you when doing your work. If needed, go to a library or someplace quiet to help you focus. You can always take a quick break and check your phone, but don’t use it for a long time.
Try not to procrastinate. I know there are other things you can be doing in your free time but try to use that time to work on any assignments that you have. Finish your homework and get it out of the way so you won’t have to worry about it later.
Coordinate your free time with your friends. Communicate with them to see when all of you are available to hang out. If you or a friend cannot make it because of due dates, have a study hangout where all of you work on homework. You would have extra time to hang out with them once you finish. Remember, it is okay to say no if you have too much work. Put your studies first!
Lastly, try to get enough sleep. Research shows that lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your academic performance so try to get around six to eight hours of sleep each night. This is a difficult task for most students as we sometimes have to stay up late to work on assignments or study for exams. However, if you do your work early and on time, you will not have to stay up late.
Realistically, an ideal balance between both may be hard to find, but a wise use of time can help. You do not have to focus on your studies all the time, but make sure you put your studies before anything else. Go out, have fun and live your life, but do so after you have turned in your work.
