One of the most difficult components of undergraduate experience is managing your time. There is a vast amount opportunity that comes with college, whether that’s clubs, organizations, an internship, or even expanding your social network. How does one balance interests and involvements?
The answer to this question: Time management.
Time management is “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work” by the Oxford English Dictionary, and I could not agree more. Productivity is essential to proper time management, or in more simple terms: making good use of your time.
During my first year of college, I was involved in several student organizations, worked two on-campus jobs, in addition to my responsibilities as a student. At first, this was overwhelming, but once I found strategies to implement, balancing everything became much easier.
Below are five strategies that have helped me manage my time effectively!
1. Day planning
I know this might sound a bit tedious, but I think it’s made all the difference in my approach. Every night, once I wrap up the end of my studying, I plan out my day on Notion, but you can do this on the regular notes app that comes on your phone or computer. With this, I plan out what I’m going to do, and I add the times in as well. Whether that’s a lecture, meeting up with friends for dinner, or even the time I can call my friends or parents back home.
This method allows me to stay on task throughout the day, but also leaves me feeling productive and accomplished as I cross the items off my day plan!
2. Weekly planning
Similar to day planning, I’ve found that weekly planning has been extremely helpful in managing my time. Every Sunday I’ll use Google Calendar, as well as a planner to properly plan my week. This is for all of my academic commitments as well as extracurricular involvements, and work. This allows me to figure out which days I need to devote more time to study or work on a project – and also work on other things. For you, considering which days and which times of day might be an important aspect of planning out your week!
3. Using productivity apps
I’ve mentioned a few productivity apps already but using them to your advantage also helps with time management! Google Calendar is by far the best app, and it’s also free if you have a Gmail account! In Google Calendar I’m able to put my class schedule for each semester, times I work each week, as well as any other curriculars such as extracurricular involvements.
I really appreciate seeing the blocks of time per week because from there I’m able to see when I have downtime to either study, decompress or hangout with friends. Any sort of digital calendar goes a long way and helps me stay on track with all of my tasks.
4. Doing one fun thing a day
Since starting my sophomore year of college, I have implemented a new strategy that emphasizes balance. I try to schedule at least one enjoyable activity every day to offset the demands of work and school. This might involve going out to coffee with a buddy, going to a club meeting, or just lounging with a nice book or show. This tiny act of joy not only gives me a boost of energy, but it also keeps me focused and involved in my work and academics.
Here are some examples of activities you can add to your day!
- Take a break outdoors
- Socialize with a friend
- Engage in a hobby
- Attend a non-academic event
- Watch a show or read
5. Prioritization
Setting priorities is yet another essential component of efficient time management. Realizing that all duties aren’t created equal in terms of priority or urgency can have an enormous effect. I organize activities into four categories using basic tools like the Eisenhower Matrix or to-do lists: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither. This strategy enables me to concentrate on the things that are really important, making sure that my time is spent on activities that advance my objectives.
Finding a balance between obligations and hobbies in the hectic world of college might be difficult, but it is totally doable with the right time management techniques. You may change your experience by using productivity applications, scheduling your days and weeks in advance, setting aside time for leisure, and setting sensible priorities.
You can handle your responsibilities with confidence and yet take advantage of everything college has to offer by putting these strategies into practice. Recall that the key is to establish a schedule that suits you, one that permits you to achieve academic success while also finding time for your passions.
