One of the skills students need to learn is time management, so that they not only work efficiently, but also have time for the fun side of being at college: Here are the 10 time management skills you should acquire …
- Start early. Too many students leave their work until the last minute and then panic. Start on your essay early, and you’ll avoid panic and stress. Begin your reading as soon as you get the assignment, and allow time to write and revise a first draft.
- Write a study plan. Planning makes a big difference. Work out a schedule, blocking out time for breaks, meals, sleep and other essential activities. Then you can see how much time you have for study.
- Use an essay writing service. If you’re really stuck, a paper writing service can be extremely useful. They can give you ideas on how to write an essay and save you a lot of time.
- Prioritise. Which tasks are most important? If everyone is going to be doing the same reading, get hold of those books early so that you can get the reading out of the way.
- Schedule breaks. You can’t study efficiently if you’re working every waking hour and missing out on sleep. Schedule breaks into your study plan and step away from the computer.
- Work before play. Studies should come first. However much you want to go out with your friends, get your work done first. Then you can enjoy your social life without worrying about the essays you’ve still got to do. You do need some fun in your life, but studies should be your priority.
- Avoid time wasters. Turn off your phone. Nothing is so important that it can’t wait, and you won’t get any work done if you’re checking Whatsapp or Facebook every 5 minutes.
- Be organised. Disorganised students waste a lot of time because they forget what they need to work on, or can’t get the books they need because they’ve left it too late. Be aware of deadlines, keep track of where you need to be, and make sure that your notes are clearly labelled.
- Break tasks down. Many students are daunted by the tasks they’re set. They don’t know how to go about working on an essay, or feel that they’ve too much on their hands. Start by breaking down the task into its components, and work on them in turn. Work on each in turn; you’ll feel a sense of achievement and be able to see that you’re making progress.
Don’t take on too much. There’s so much going on at university that it’s tempting to cram far too much into your timetable. Avoid taking on too much; if you have a lot of essays to do, go out every night, and also have a part-time job you’re going to be short on sleep and will burn out. Pick the activities you most want to do; you can always try a different one next year.
