Did you know that February is National Time Management Month? This is the perfect time to break some bad habits or sharpen some time management skills before midterms; all it takes is a few gradual changes. If you think you need an extra push, don’t hesitate to check out on-campus time management resources as well!
Analyze Your Habits and Adjust
This step looks different for everyone, as it’s dependent on your personal work and study habits. While trying to complete an assignment, pay close attention to how you work. Do you check your phone a million times while studying? Do you say “I’ll do it later” until it’s 11 p.m. and you still haven’t started? Everyone has a vice when it comes to completing their work, but knowing your bad habits can help you pivot more effectively.
Utilize Free Organizational Tools
There are plenty of free online tools you can use to stay organized. My personal favorites are Google Keep and the built-in calendar on my Mac. Other great resources are the Reminders and Notes apps built into every iPhone. If you have a smartphone, laptop or Google account (which is a pretty safe bet), you’ll never have to go out and buy a planner again (unless you prefer a planner, of course!).
Make Realistic Schedules
We’ve all pushed off a week’s worth of assignments until Sunday because we convinced ourselves we’d have enough time to do them. Hopefully, most of us learned from this mistake. Similar to the first tip, this one relies heavily on knowing yourself well enough to know how much time you’ll actually need to finish your assignments. If you get distracted easily, add extra time to your schedule to account for breaks. If you are easily overwhelmed, spread out your assignments over the course of the week as opposed to doing them all in one day. Any problem can be fixed once you learn what works for you!
Use Breaks Wisely
Breaks are important to keeping ourselves sane while studying or completing assignments. That being said, we need to use this time to re-energize ourselves so a 10-minute break doesn’t turn into a three-hour one. Instead of scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, use your break to take a walk around the block, do some stretches or eat a healthy snack. Your mind and body will thank you once it’s time to hit the books again.
Take Advantage of Campus Resources
If you need extra help managing your time or just want to see what resources the University offers, run, don’t walk to the amazing workshops and classes hosted by the Barnes Center at The Arch. See what workshops are available now on the Wellness Leadership Institute page, consider attending a Mindfulness and Meditation workshop and check out the Supporting Student Wellness Series for more advice on managing stress.
When we manage our time well, we have more time to do the things we actually enjoy, like spending time with friends and relaxing. We hope these tips help you manage your time more efficiently for midterms and beyond!
Written By Madison Manczko ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications