As a student at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, Daniel G. says time management is essential to his success in school. “You have to split your time into studying, homework, friends, family, sleeping, and eating,” he says.
The good news is that you can take steps to gain control of your time.
Kate Gose, a family therapist in Austin, Texas, explains, “Keeping yourself physically organized helps your brain stay organized.” She suggests a small calendar for daily commitments and a larger one of the whole month for planning ahead.
Jessica M., a student at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, has a jam-packed schedule of taking classes, editing the student newspaper, writing freelance, and working in her school’s admissions office. “I have a big desk calendar, and I write down major events—be it a big exam or a trip out of town—and then I have another planner where I write down everything I need to do for the day,” she says. “I list tasks by priority. I always have a plan for what I want to achieve and when.”
Gose notes that “while it may seem tedious to color code, have a filing system, or schedule your day, you will be grateful when a project, final, and [an event] all overlap.”
Kristin B., a senior at Texas Women’s University, agrees. In addition to school, she’s a part-time paralegal and spends a lot of time with her family. “I plan every minute of my time months in advance,” she says. “I set specific hours [for schoolwork], and I take a textbook [everywhere].”
But Dr. Jess Alberts, who studies work/life balance at Arizona State University, notes that trying to fit everything in by multi-tasking can backfire. She explains, “We are not cognitively wired to devote full attention and energy to two tasks at once.” She recommends avoiding the temptation to do multiple, unrelated things simultaneously.
Waiting until the last minute to complete projects usually means the quality of your work will suffer. To plan for assignments due throughout the semester, try back-dating them. “Back-dating” is not a weird mating ritual; it’s a process that you may already use.
For example, when you have a class in the morning, you most likely determine how much time you’ll need to get ready and arrive at your destination—and set your alarm clock accordingly. This is the concept of back-dating: to work on assignments incrementally, completing your assignment before it’s due.
How to Back-Date
First, divide an assignment into manageable parts. This prevents feeling overwhelmed as a deadline approaches.
Start with the due date and write it down. Then, make a list of the activities that will help you complete the assignment. Some examples include:
Determine how long you’ll need for each part of the process. Working backward from the due date, fill in your calendar with corresponding deadlines. Make sure you work in time for other assignments and activities, and build in an extra day or two. That way, you’ll have time for surprise demands.
It may help to keep your “big picture” goals in mind when prioritizing tasks. Are your classes and extracurricular activities contributing to your major or future career aspirations?
Brad C., a student at Ohio State University in Columbus, uses a color-coded online calendar to manage his academic and social activities. “It’s handy to be able to glance at the calendar and know exactly what I need to take care of,” he says.
Brad has also come up with a three-part scale of goals:
“With this method, I always have something to work toward, and even small victories help [build my] confidence for attacking larger, scarier aspirations,” he explains.
Goals can be short-term, such as studying for a test, or long-term, such as writing a long research paper or filling out applications for graduate school. You may need to allow yourself time to explore possible goals, too. Meeting with an academic advisor, mentor, or counselor can help you through this process.
Carl Thum, director of the Academic Skills Center at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, recommends tracking activities hour by hour. Make sure to include the basics, he suggests, like meals and sleep.
Some students cut back on sleep thinking it’s a “waste of time.” Dr. Alberts explains, however, that getting eight to nine hours of sleep each night ensures better physical health and emotional resilience. These ultimately allow you to study more effectively.
Gose explains, “During sleep our bodies do repair work that boosts our immune system. [We also] process information we have been absorbing all day.”
It’s also important to schedule “reward” time. Taking breaks relieves stress and clears your mind, allowing you to concentrate better when you return to studying. Spending time with friends and family will also help you manage stress.
Taking care of yourself needs to be a priority, but it doesn’t have to take tons of time.
Walking the balance beam of school and “real life” will never be easy, so cut yourself some slack. As Gose notes, “Nowhere is it written that you have to be super [at everything] at the same time. Balance means letting go of perfection.”
Amanda talks about how she learned how to manage her time, starting with having 'me-time.' (MP4, 02:35)
TARA HAELLE has a master’s in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She now writes about health and science from Illinois.
