Effective Time Management Tips for Students

With so many obligations, students can find it difficult to manage their time properly. But, succeeding in time management also means just enough time for work, sleep, studying and friends. In that respect, it will definitely be worth your while to take some steps that would help you make the most out of your day. It may be a bit challenging at first, but the practice will soon become a healthy habit.

Embrace schedules and to-do lists

This may sound too boring or unnecessary at first. After all, you know what you have to do, right? Still, the benefits of writing down your tasks in the form of a schedule and to-do list will actually help you engage in the work you have to do more efficiently. When you have a visual representation of your tasks in front of you, there’s less chance of procrastinating or forgetting something. Make sure to create a general schedule for the whole week and then a more comprehensive to-do list for each day.

Minimize the distractions

In order to avoid wasting precious time, make sure to minimize the common distractions such as YouTube and social media. That said, you may want to completely turn off your phone as you’re studying or at least sign out of your social media accounts during that time. If you have to use your laptop, make it a point that you’re also signed out of social media accounts there and don’t open tabs that are unrelated to your studies.

Find a study environment that works for you

Every person is different and, in that respect, the perfect environment for their focus and productivity will also differ. It’s important to recognize what kind of an environment works the best for you when studying is concerned. You may like to be alone in your room or actually focus a lot better if you’re in the library. You may need to listen to a certain type of music or require complete silence. Some students get more productive in study groups while some may even find the busy spot on campus to work most effectively for boosting their concentration. Recognize your ideal studying situation and surroundings, and utilize them to the fullest.

Know where to look for study material

In order to manage your time better, you should also get familiar with the best online places to get your resources and study material from. That way, you won’t waste time on pointless searches. For instance, websites such as Thinkswap provide notes on a variety of subjects from different years. Not only that, but you can also narrow down your search to specific universities like Monash past exams and essays, and similar. A resource like this one won’t only help you improve your time management but your academic success as well.

Take short breaks and exercise

If your goal is to manage your time better and boost productivity at the same time, you shouldn’t force yourself to study for several consecutive hours without taking any breaks. Actually, breaks are very important for successful time management. After all, if you burn out, you’ll slip back to procrastinating faster. That said, study in chunks. If you study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break afterwards. Every two hours you can take a longer break. Use these breaks for coffee, tea and snacks but also exercises. Physical activity can make you more energetic and focused. Not to mention that it will do you a lot of good health-wise considering that you have to sit for a while. Even a set of jumping jacks or squats can mean a world of difference.

Don’t ignore your self-care. If you manage to stick to the schedule you made, you’ll also be able to meet up with friends on occasion and get a good night of sleep. Socializing and rest are also important factors when it comes to managing your time better each day.