Now, let’s be honest with ourselves here managing time as a student is one tough nut to crack! Between school, homework, a part-time job, socializing with friends, and getting enough sleep, it seems like there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done! But here’s the best part: time management is something you can develop and improve at with each passing day.
In this blog post, we’ll be covering six effective strategies to help you take back control of your time, ease your academic pressure, and actually enjoy learning! Whether you’re in high school, college, or pursuing your postgrads, you’ll find these tips really useful!
1. Set Clear Goals
One of the biggest reasons why students have a hard time managing their time is because they are not sure exactly what they are working for. When you are not sure exactly what you want to accomplish, it is almost impossible to stay focused and motivated. The answer? Set specific, clear, and achievable goals.
Ask yourself: What do I want to accomplish this week? What do I want to accomplish this month? What do I want to accomplish this semester? Break your long-term goals into smaller, manageable goals. For instance, instead of thinking “I want to pass my exams,” think “I want to study chapter 3 of Chemistry for 45 minutes every Tuesday and Thursday.”
Perhaps a good place to start is by using a framework such as the SMART goals framework. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. If your goals are SMART, then you have a roadmap to follow. You will know exactly what it means to be successful, and you can measure your progress along the way.
Well-defined goals can also help keep you motivated. When you accomplish something, even if it’s a small milestone, it can give you a sense of accomplishment and drive you to continue. These can add up to huge successes over time.
2. Create a Daily Study Schedule
If you don’t plan your day, somebody or something will plan it for you. Notifications, social media, unexpected conversations distractions are all around us. That is the reason a study plan is one of the most important habits you should develop.
Your study plan doesn’t need to be overly complex. First, you should determine the blocks of time that are available to you on a given day. Consider when you are most alert and focused. Are you a morning person, or do you do your best thinking in the evenings? It is a good idea to plan your most difficult study sessions during your peak hours.
Use a planner, a journal, or even a Google Calendar to plan out your week. Consider designating specific topics or tasks for specific times of the day. Here is a basic example: Monday from 4–5 PM is designated for Math homework, Tuesday from 6–7 PM is designated for reading your History chapters, and so on. The key is consistency: try to study at the same time every day so that it is a habit, rather than something you must force yourself to do.
Also, don’t forget to make time for short breaks. While it might seem like you’re getting a lot accomplished by studying for long periods of time without taking a break, this actually has the opposite effect and will make you tired and less able to learn. Making time for regular breaks isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of smart planning..
3. Prioritize Important Tasks
Of course, all tasks are not created equal. Some tasks are a priority, while others can be handled later. The key is to learn the difference and act on it, and that is what separates the successful student from the overwhelmed student.
One of the best and most effective ways to prioritize tasks is by utilizing the Eisenhower Matrix. This is a simple matrix that allows you to prioritize tasks into four different categories: Urgent and Important (do these first), Important but Not Urgent (schedule these), Urgent but Not Important (delegate or minimize these), and Neither Urgent nor Important (avoid these). By doing this, you can quickly visualize where you should be focusing your energy.
Another simple and effective way is by utilizing the ABC Method, where you label each task with a letter: A (must do today), B (should do soon), and C (can wait). Always make sure to do your A tasks first, and then you can move on to other tasks, no matter how chaotic things are around you.
Prioritization is also about learning how to say no, or at least “not right now,” to things that take you away from your most important tasks. It is not being antisocial, it is being smart with how you spend your time so that when you do want to take a break and hang out with friends, you can do so without guilt.
4. Use the Pomodoro Technique
Have you ever sat down to study and found yourself staring at a paragraph for twenty minutes without taking in a single word? Well, we have all been there. And that is exactly where the Pomodoro Technique comes in. It is a game-changer.
The Pomodoro Technique was created by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It is a remarkably simple technique. Here is how you can use it:
Set a timer for 25 minutes and give your full attention to a single task. No phone, no TV, no distractions. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. After four of these ‘Pomodoros,’ take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
But why does it work so well? It’s because it utilizes the natural wiring of the human brain. Intervals of intense concentration, followed by breaks, keep the mind sharp and eliminate the possibility of burnout that can come from trying to plow through hours of studying without a break. It also makes large, overwhelming tasks much less intimidating because it’s much easier to say “I’ll just do one Pomodoro on this essay” than “I need to write this entire essay today.”
Students that utilize the Pomodoro Technique regularly have found that it helps them concentrate better, procrastinate less, and feel a sense of accomplishment after each study session. Try it out for just one week to see the difference it can make!
5. Use Time Management Tools
We live in a world where technology can be your largest distraction, or your most valuable productivity aid, depending on how you utilize it.
There are dozens of apps available that can help you stay organized and on top of your work. Todoist and Microsoft To Do can be used for creating daily task lists, as well as keeping track of what you’ve managed to accomplish so far. Notion and Evernote can be used for taking notes, creating study plans, and keeping all your study resources in one place. Google Calendar can be used for planning your study sessions, assignment due dates, and test dates so you don’t forget anything.
For those that are easily distracted by their phones during study sessions, there are apps like Forest, where a virtual tree grows the longer you don’t use your phone, or Focus@Will, where music is specifically created to aid in focus and study.
Physical tools are just as important, and a whiteboard on the wall, a sticky note system on the desk, or a weekly planner notebook can be just as effective as any app or program. The key is to find the tool that you will actually use consistently.
So, the key is to stop trying to keep all that clutter in your head and use the tools provided to help eliminate that clutter, so you can actually focus on the task of learning.
6. Get Enough Rest and Sleep
But here’s the reality that many students don’t want to hear: sleep is not the enemy of productivity. In fact, sleep might be the biggest factor in your academic success.
As sleep scientists, they have been able to prove that sleep, averaging 7-9 hours of sleep for teens and young adults, plays a crucial role in memory, thinking, and even emotional well-being. When you don’t sleep, your brain literally cannot learn and retain anything. You might spend twice the time studying for the same material because your brain just can’t seem to learn it.
All-night cramming sessions, though they may seem like a dedication to one’s studies, are really just a waste of time. A well-rested student who has studied for 2 focused hours will almost always outperform a sleep-deprived student who has been up all night cramming for their test.The math just doesn’t add up for the sleep-deprived student.
In addition to sleep, taking regular periods of rest and recovery during the day is important too. Take regular breaks in between study sessions, go for a short walk, grab a healthy snack, stretch, or practice some light breathing exercises. These periods of rest and recovery are not a waste of time. They are actually the key to keeping your brain sharp and your energy levels stable during the day.
Make sleep a part of your schedule, and stick to it. Establish a regular bedtime, avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bedtime, and establish a sleep schedule to tell your body it’s time to sleep. This, of course, is because sleep really is a study tool.
Final Thoughts
Time management is not about getting every last second out of your day or becoming a productivity machine. It is about making a decision about where you put your time, energy, and attention in order to accomplish your goals without losing yourself in the process.
The six strategies we have covered here: setting clear goals, creating a daily study plan, prioritizing critical tasks, using the Pomodoro technique, using time management tools, and getting enough rest all work together to create a sustainable and balanced approach to being a student.
You don’t have to start with all of these at once. Choose one or two that speak to you most, and start with that. Be kind to yourself and take it one step at a time. Progress, not perfection, is what we’re after.
The students who succeed aren’t always the ones with the greatest talent. They’re the ones who attend class every day, plan well, and take care of themselves too. You can be one of these students.
Start today.