A Student’s Guide to Time Management

Going to Uni for the first time is an exciting experience. From making new friends to getting that freedom you had so longed for, you’re finally in charge of your own life! While that comes with a big pile of responsibilities, like completing assignments and participating in extracurricular activities all while maintaining an active social life, it doesn’t have to be so daunting. 
 

 

Managing your time effectively not only helps you to get everything on your to-do list moved to your already-done-it list, but it also helps you to reduce stress in the process. So, if you're someone who’s struggling with perfecting your study-to-life ratio, we’ve compiled some effective mechanisms to help with time management for university students.

 

Before we go into the tips, tricks, do’s and don’ts, it’s important to understand the causes of poor time management in students and why effective time planning is so important. From procrastination and perfectionism to stress and lack of motivation, there are many reasons why you might struggle with timekeeping. Whatever the reason might be, there are so many benefits of effective prioritisation. 

 

 

First and foremost, your health and well-being is always the most important factor. By prioritising your workload and splitting it up into smaller tasks, you can say goodbye to staying up until 3am to get your assignments in and hello to a peaceful night’s sleep (well, when you’re not out enjoying the party life at least!) This means that time management techniques help reduce your stress levels and the extra Zs you catch from practising them can improve your mental well-being, according to health experts at Bupa.
 

Another bonus of extra sleep is that it optimises your attention span, helping you to concentrate more on your lectures, assignments, revision and exams, resulting in better grades. But the impact of effective time management on a student’s academic achievements extends far beyond grades – it’s an invaluable skill that your future employers will be searching for.

 

If your workload seems to be piling up, you might be left wondering ‘how do I manage my time effectively?’ Here are our top five time management tools, techniques and resources that we recommend you try.
 

The first step to achieving effective time management is to identify any distractions and come up with solutions to avoid them. With online lectures increasing in popularity, it’s easy to get stuck in the habit of having TV on in the background or scrolling through your phone whilst your lecturer is teaching. Simple changes to your learning and studying habits, such as putting your phone on DND and sitting in a quiet room during your dedicated learning hours, can make a world of difference to your concentration levels.

 

 

 

If you’re looking for the best books on time management for students, Eat That Frog is the perfect self-improvement guide to start with. 

 

There’s an old-age saying that starting your day by eating a live frog means you’ve tackled the most challenging task of the day right from the start and you’re left with a sense of accomplishment. Author Brian Tracy uses this metaphor to motivate readers to start their day with the most challenging task on their to-do list, which is what you’re most likely to procrastinate on but ticking it off will have the most positive impact on the rest of your day, if not week! Detailing 21 practical and doable steps to stop procrastinating, the bestselling author gives tips on making decisions, discipline and determination as well as preventing technology from dominating your time.
 

A popular tool used for organising your uni life effectively is MyStudyLife. The app, which lets you personalise your timetables and term dates, add in deadlines and key dates for exams, as well as include your to-do list, is an excellent time management tool for ADHD students in particular. With notifications and reminders available, you don’t have to worry about what classes you have next or when your next assignment is due. 
 

Also known as the tomato timer, the Pomodoro technique is used to break down complex projects into smaller actionable steps. Here’s how it works:

 

Step 1. Put together a to-do list and set a 25-minute timer
Step 2. Focus on one task until the timer runs out
Step 3. Once the session ends, record that you’ve completed one full Pomodoro
Step 4. Take a 5-minute break
Step 6. After four Pomodoros (100 minutes plus breaks) take a 15-20 minute break
 

Although a tomato timer used as a time-management tool seems comical, it’s a good way of getting stuck into tasks you’ve been procrastinating and combating any distractions. Completing big assignments can seem intimidating at first, but completing smaller goals gives you the sense of accomplishment you need to break the avoidance cycle. For more advice on this technique and other studying advice, check out our blog on The Best Revision Skills.
 

 

Some people prefer a good old-fashioned hand-written to-do list, and it works just as well! By listing everything you need to accomplish in order of importance and urgency, you can clearly see which task you need to focus on. It’s a great way to avoid distractions on your phone, not to mention the sense of accomplishment you feel when you physically tick a task off your list. 

 

 

To recap, not only is effective time management essential for your mental well-being, but it’s also imperative for your future career. There’s no right or wrong way to manage your time, but getting the task you want to do the least done first is a great place to start. Try out different techniques, such as to-do lists and digital tools, to find out what works best for you. 

 

Looking to find your home away from home while studying? Book your spot at Novel today to secure your student housing in Glasgow.