College is one of the most exciting and activity-filled times of a person’s life. Making new friends, developing new skills, and shouldering many more responsibilities take up a lot of time, let alone the ever-present studying that needs to be done. Time management is so important for students that many Freshman Experience classes focus on the subject. Here are a few tips to help busy students make good use of their time.
1. Plan ahead
Studying in college requires more preparation than one might think. With all of the other distractions that are available, it is important to plan out a study schedule and really stick with it. That way, you will already have your studying done when your friends want you to spend time with them. Putting studying first will help eliminate a lot of stress, too.
2. Use a calendar
Making good use of a calendar takes stress away by helping you keep track of all your assignments and other duties. Everything from time for doing laundry to the meeting with your professor can be written in the calendar to ensure that you don’t double-book any time slots in your day.
3. Set deadlines
Just as teachers set deadlines for work, setting deadlines for yourself can be another good way to minimize stress. For example, you could set a deadline for yourself to have the work done and polished a day or two before it is due. That way you’ll have some time to review what you’ve done and make any last-minute adjustments.
4. Make time for fun
Some students get good grades and work hard, but then forget to schedule some time for themselves to relax! Forgetting to set aside time for yourself can cause you to become burnt out very quickly. This doesn’t mean to slack off, but there is a balance to be kept in this area.
5. Don’t take on too much
Although the typical semester is pretty strenuous for most full-time students, it is possible to limit the number of extra things that you have to worry about. Extra-curricular activities are wonderful, but it is best to limit them to a few that you enjoy the most.
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