Practical Strategies for Effective Time Management in College
This article is part of a running series with Rowan University’s Wellness Center. This collaboration aims to educate students about personal well-being options. For further updates, follow @rowanuwellness on social. This story is by Jean Corcione, a graduate student in our school psychology program.
The idea of time management is something that is stressed to students throughout their whole academic lives. This idea is usually stressed by parents and teachers, but once students get to college it is truly left up to them to figure out how to manage their time and what works best for them.
The freedom that comes with college can be overwhelming and make it extremely easy for students to become overwhelmed with classwork, meeting friends and being out and about with clubs and organizations. However, there are several things that can be helpful to college students when it comes to making time for all that is offered and maintaining good academic performance.
One of the most common and simple ways to keep track of dues dates, classes, club meetings and hangouts is a calendar. The kind of calendar that is used is up to the individual’s preference. Online calendar apps such as Google calendar are beneficial because they allow for the user to merge calendars and have all their important information in one place and it can be shared with friends, making it easy to plan time to see one another.
Another option is day planner. This requires filling in each day with what is happening and may require more responsibility on the user’s end to keep it up-to-date. Being able to see visually what is going on daily is helpful, but it is also important to set reminders. The reminders should be a few days out from when something important is coming up, which can ensure that the event is not forgotten about and that extra time to prepare or study can be added to your schedule. These reminders can help students stay on task and calm during hectic semesters.
It’s important to set aside time for yourself and mental well-being. No matter what the activity is, if it is something that allows for decompression, it is crucial to make time slots available that make it easier to enjoy those activities.
Additionally, is important to understand and remember to be flexible and realistic when it comes to managing time and creating schedules. Some days things will come up that make it impossible to get everything done that was planned and that’s okay.
When creating a calendar and time blocks make sure to add in a buffer just in case something arises, and make sure to not cut it too close. Be realistic with the schedule and do not overbook it. Time management can be different for everyone and it may take time before a routine can be nailed down. Be patient and give space for change.(L. Parsons, 2022.)
Bibliography
L. Parsons. (2022, November 9). 8 time management tips for students. Harvard Summer School. https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/8-time-management-tips-for-students/
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