For the longest time, I remember hearing my parents, teachers, and counselors share the importance of time management. They often referred to it as “the most important life skill” and the “cornerstone to success.”
While its importance was often emphasized to me in the context of school, as I began working, I realized it was equally important in the professional sphere.
However, despite the importance of time management, it is often something that my peers and I struggle to find balance in. While spending too much time with friends led to assignments going unfinished and academic setbacks, spending too much time studying led to feelings of exhaustion and burnout.
Though I am still continuing to improve my time management, over the past few years in college there were a few key things that have worked for me.
Time management basics
1. Learn to take breaks
At times, time management is mistakenly defined as being productive all the time, ensuring every second of your time is packed with meetings, extracurriculars, and studying.
However, I learned that taking time for yourself, whether it is making time for self-care or spending time with friends is equally as important.
Taking breaks has allowed me to feel recharged and be able to better focus on the tasks in front of me.
2. Make a schedule
Utilizing digital calendars has proven to be a game changer in my life. The convenience of being able to check and edit it on the go has allowed me to stay on top of my busy schedule.
By assigning tasks to specific time slots, I’m able to fight procrastination and prioritize the most important things on my to-do list.
You can check out free study planners here.
3. Use study tools, like Glean
Glean has streamlined the note taking and studying process for my college classes.
It provides a transcript of lectures, which allows me to review material from the exact section I need without combing through pages of notes. Also, utilizing tags for “important” and “review” on sections of my notes has allowed me to quickly scan for key points when preparing for exams.
In addition, knowing that I’ll have access to a complete recording, I am able to fully pay attention during classes. I'm not distracted by trying to write everything down, which helps me retain the content being presented.
Key takeaways
- Time management is crucial for both academic and professional success, despite often being a struggle for students.
- Balance is key. Avoid both over-socializing (leading to academic setbacks) and over-studying (leading to burnout).
- Taking breaks is essential for effective time management, allowing for recharge and improved focus.
- Creating and utilizing a digital schedule helps fight procrastination and prioritize tasks.
Leveraging useful study tools like Glean can significantly improve efficiency through lecture transcripts, tagged notes, and enhanced focus during class.
While time management is a challenging skill to master, it is one of your most powerful resources in ensuring your personal and professional success. However, it is different for everyone, so it is essential to take small steps, and refine your techniques, to figure out what works for you!
