Time management of a college schedule can help students complete their assignments on time, prepare for future career demands and allow for more free time.
One way to manage time is by carving out a specific time every day for one task, such as reading class material or responding to emails. Another way to do this alongside other methods is scheduling in time every week to simply work on a to-do list beginning with the most urgent items.
Agendas and planners are a great way to keep track of times allotted, house lists and a course schedule in the same space.
According to the McLean Hospital, “Having better time management improves your self-discipline, which enhances your competency and chances of getting a promotion.”
On the other side of this, poor time management can lead to workplace burnout which can manifest into fatigue and greater susceptibility to illness. The McLean Hospital recommends making sure each task is analyzed for how long it will take to complete and then scheduling time to complete it in chunks rather than all at once.
In the same way that managing 24 hours wisely helps build a better career life, it can establish a successful college career as well. When receiving assignments on D2L, a student may prioritize studying for a test over completing a discussion post and then decide when each task will be accomplished.
According to Psychology Today, “Focusing on just one assignment through to completion will help movement toward the next task.” This reinforces a mindset that if the prioritized assignment is complete the rest will be much easier to complete.
Since tasks, errands and homework are given specific times blocks for completion, any unaccounted time is left open for activities with no purpose other than personal enjoyment. Rather than rushing an essay due at 11:59 p.m., a student may watch a movie or get to sleep earlier than usual. This leaves much more room for a refreshed and balanced outlook on academics.
Another benefit of managing time well is better sleep quality as it may be much less clouded by the stress of unfinished projects. The McLean Hospital also attributes poor sleep quality to inadequate time management. This can even lead to quicker burnout, which may turn into a vicious cycle. However, with time and the various practices of time management, the threat of burning out lessens.
These benefits are not the only ones that accompany general good time management practices, so anyone can achieve some improvement from just one tactic.
