Time managementDeveloping time management skills is a journeythat may begin with this Guide, but needs practice and other guidance along the way.One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your timeas one resource in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in your studiesin the context of competing activities of friends, work, family, etc.First: try our exercise in time management:How do you spend your time each day?Strategies on using time:These applications of time management have proven to be effective as good study habits.As we go through each strategy, jot down an idea of what each will look like for you: Blocks of study time and breaksAs your school term begins and your course schedule is set, develop and plan for, blocks of study time in a typical week. Blocks ideally are around 50 minutes, but perhaps you become restless after only 30 minutes? Some difficult material may require more frequent breaks. Shorten your study blocks if necessary-but don't forget to return to the task at hand! What you do during your break should give you an opportunity to have a snack, relax, or otherwise refresh or re-energize yourself. For example, place blocks of time when you are most productive: are you a morning person or a night owl? Jot down one best time block you can study. How long is it? What makes for a good break for you? Can you control the activity and return to your studies? Dedicated study spacesDetermine a place free from distraction (no cell phone or text messaging!) where you can maximize your concentration and be free of the distractions that friends or hobbies can bring! You should also have a back-up space that you can escape to, like the library, departmental study center, even a coffee shop where you can be anonymous. A change of venue may also bring extra resources. What is the best study space you can think of? What is another? Weekly reviewsWeekly reviews and updates are also an important strategy. Each week, like a Sunday night, review your assignments, your notes, your calendar. Be mindful that as deadlines and exams approach, your weekly routine must adapt to them! What is the best time in a week you can review? Prioritize your assignmentsWhen studying, get in the habit of beginning with the most difficult subject or task. You'll be fresh, and have more energy to take them on when you are at your best. For more difficult courses of study, try to be flexible: for example, build in reaction time when you can get feedback on assignments before they are due. What subject has always caused you problems? Achieve "stage one"--get something done!The Chinese adage of the longest journey starting with a single step has a couple of meanings: First, you launch the project! Second, by starting, you may realize that there are some things you have not planned for in your process. Details of an assignment are not always evident until you begin the assignment. Another adage is that "perfection is the enemy of good", especially when it prevents you from starting! Given that you build in review, roughly draft your idea and get going! You will have time to edit and develop later. What is a first step you can identify for an assignment to get yourself started? Postpone unnecessary activities until the work is done!Postpone tasks or routines that can be put off until your school work is finished! This can be the most difficult challenge of time management. As learners we always meet unexpected opportunities that look appealing, then result in poor performance on a test, on a paper, or in preparation for a task. Distracting activities will be more enjoyable later without the pressure of the test, assignment, etc. hanging over your head. Think in terms of pride of accomplishment. Instead of saying "no" learn to say "later". What is one distraction that causes you to stop studying? Identify resources to help youAre there tutors? An expert friend? Have you tried a keyword search on the Internet to get better explanations? Are there specialists in the library that can point you to resources? What about professionals and professional organizations. Using outside resources can save you time and energy, and solve problems. Write down three examples for that difficult subject above? Be as specific as possible. Use your free time wiselyThink of times when you can study "bits" as when walking, riding the bus, etc. Perhaps you've got music to listen to for your course in music appreciation, or drills in language learning? If you are walking or biking to school, when best to listen? Perhaps you are in a line waiting? Perfect for routine tasks like flash cards, or if you can concentrate, to read or review a chapter. The bottom line is to put your time to good use. What is one example of applying free time to your studies? Review notes and readings just before classThis may prompt a question or two about something you don't quite understand, to ask about in class, or after. It also demonstrates to your teacher that you are interested and have prepared. How would you make time to review?Is there free time you can use? Review lecture notes just after classThen review lecture material immediately after class.The first 24 hours are critical. Forgetting is greatest within 24 hours without review! How would you do this?Is there free time you can use?How to manage your time effectivelyIn addition to assessing your ability to concentrate on certain tasks, youll need to learn how to balance your personal life with your schoolwork. While college students devote a significant amount of their time to attending class and studying outside the classroom, they also have personal commitments like work, family, and friends they need to take into consideration. Neglecting other aspects of your life only works for so long; youll be more successful in the long run if you strike a healthy balance that incorporates these other parts of life in your schedule. Take a look at the following tips that can help you develop an integral time management plan.Tip #1: Make a detailed study schedule and write it down Instead of just determining times to study in your head, make a subject-specific schedule and mark your calendar so you can be reminded every time you look at it. You will be more likely to follow through with your study plan if it is clearly marked on your calendar. Include your schedule in your cell phone and set regular pop-up reminders that you will have to close before sending your next text message. Making a schedule and sticking to it will allow you to develop a routine that you can easily follow. Remember, you will have to revise your study schedule each semester to accommodate your class schedule and your other changing commitments.Tip #2: Prioritize your assignments Prioritizing your assignments is a good way to ensure you spend the appropriate amount of time studying for each class or subject. Devote more time to studying subjects that are new to you or those in which your grade needs improvement. Also, remember to study the harder subjects first so that you tackle them with a fresh mind. Additionally, you should organize your studies with important tests or exams in mind. If an exam in one course has been postponed, modify your study schedule to prioritize more immediate tests and projects. However, dont neglect postponed tests altogether; take advantage of the extra time to review material during short study times each day.Tip #3: Prepare for temptation The best way to overcome the temptation to put personal activities before studying is to anticipate these distractions. Attending college and earning good grades is almost like a full-time job, so your studies will have to take priority over socializing or other activities. You will inevitably compromise at some point, but dont get discouraged. Rather, learn from your mistakes, and look for patterns in the times you put off studying. By knowing your weaknesses, youll be better prepared to resist temptation. Additionally, establish a way to reward yourself with fun activities after you finish a study session. This will give you the extra boost of energy to accomplish what you need to so you can enjoy spending time with your friends and family.Tip #4: Find a productive study environment Locating a productive workspace where you can study is about more than just finding a quiet place. All students have a place where they are able to stay on task and maximize their time. Actually, some students find it ideal to study in a coffee shop or another place where there is background noise. Part of choosing an optimal study space is anticipating potential distractions in each place. Some students actually become more distracted when they study alone because there is no accountability. If you tend to stay on task when there are other students around who are devoting time exclusively to studying, plan your time so that you can get to these places when others are studying.Tip #5: Stay organized Staying organized is critical to avoid wasting valuable time as a college student. Since you will be enrolled in several classes at a time, it is important that you organize your class and study materials in a way that makes it easy to access them. Find an organization method that works for you, such as using a separate binder or folder for each class. Also, when going into a study session, make sure you have anything you need. You dont want to interrupt your study session by searching your room for flash cards or notes. If you are taking online courses, learn how to organize files in the most efficient way possible to avoid wasting time sifting through your hard drive for course materials.Prepare a Term CalendarAt the beginning of a term, prepare a Term Calendar. Update it as the term goes on. Here is what to do to prepare a Term Calendar. Record your school assignments with their due dates and your scheduled tests.Record your planned school activities. Record your planned school activities. Record your known out-of-school activities.Prepare a Weekly ScheduleEach Sunday before a school week, prepare a Weekly Schedule. Update it as the week goes on. Here is what to do to prepare a Weekly Schedule. Record your daily classes. Enter things to be done for the coming week from your Term Calendar. Review your class notes from the previous week to see if you need to add any school activities. Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be involved during the week. Be sure to include times for completing assignments, working on projects, and studying for tests. These times may be during the school day, right after school, evenings, and weekends.

Prepare a Daily OrganizerEach evening before a school day, prepare a Daily Organizer for the next day. Place a next to each thing to do as you accomplish it. Here is what to do to prepare a Daily Organizer. Enter the things to do for the coming day from your Weekly Schedule. Enter the things that still need to be accomplished from your Daily Organizer from the previous day. Review your class notes for the day just completed to see if you need to add any school activities. Add any out-of-school activities in which you will be involved the next day.Your Weekly Schedule should have more detail than your Term Calendar. Your Daily Organizer should have more detail than your Weekly Schedule. Using a Term Calendar, a Weekly Schedule, and a Daily Organizer will help you make the best use of your time.