Feel like your day gets away from you even before you’ve done anything? With classwork, assignments, work, and always the temptation of your smartphone, managing your time as a student is one of the most difficult skills to acquire. The great thing about it is that it’s a skill, not an inherent talent. That means anybody can learn how to do it.
If you want to get the time management skill up your sleeve, here are ten useful tips you should definitely try to practice. These skills are proven by people who were able to handle their loads of work without getting exhausted. And people like a scientist who ended up becoming the President of India, and even the CEO of two major organisations. There is even a bonus tip for you at the end!
Why Time Management for Students Matters More Than Ever
In today’s world, students have to do much more than attend lectures and sit for examinations. There is homework, team projects, internships, part-time jobs, and personal life; everything comes out of the same 24 hours. If not planned properly, you may find yourself doing nothing but wasting time.
Effective time management for students does not involve doing more within the course of a day. Rather, effective time management for students involves safeguarding the important hours of the day so that you are able to study effectively, relax, and have an active social life apart from academic work. Effective study habits formed at this stage will also help you succeed in your future career prospects.
10 Time Management Tips for Students That Help
Set Clear, Realistic Goals
The beginning point for every good study plan is having well-defined goals. Former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was also a distinguished scientist, always set measurable goals instead of dreams for himself. This is exactly how SMART goals work – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Rather than saying “I will study”, you should say something like “I will finish studying two chapters of physics by Thursday”.
Build a Personalised Study Schedule
It will be rare to find a generic schedule that is ideal for all. Evaluate your class schedule, your side jobs, and personal obligations. Based on your energy levels and schedule, make a plan to study according to your internal clock. For instance, if you are energetic in the morning, use those hours to cover the hardest material. If your productivity is low after lunch, consider using those hours for easy reading and other schoolwork.
Time-Block Your Day
Elon Musk, who heads both Tesla and SpaceX, schedules his day in terms of five-minute blocks and decides well beforehand what he wants to do during the period. You do not have to take such measures. However, segmenting your day in terms of focused blocks of time, like 30 minutes or 1 hour for each task, helps you avoid wasting a lot of time in guesswork.
Prioritise What Actually Matters
Not all tasks need to be treated equally. The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool for prioritising tasks that was introduced by the 34th US President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Tasks are divided into four parts in this matrix:
- Urgent and important
- Important but not urgent
- Urgent but not important
- Neither of the above
Focus more of your time on tasks that fall under the second quadrant, which consists of important but non-urgent tasks like revision for an exam in three weeks.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique was devised by Francesco Cirillo around the late 1980s. The technique requires working for 25 minutes straight and then taking a 5-minute break, repeating the cycle four times before taking a longer break. This method works effectively due to its ability to mimic the natural pattern of falling attention span and the effect of urgency created by the ticking of the clock. It is one of the easiest ways of being productive for students.
Use the 3-3-3 Method
Developed by writer Oliver Burkeman, the 3-3-3 technique splits your day into three segments. It includes dedicating three hours to the most important task, three urgent tasks that will not take you as long, and finally three simple maintenance tasks like email reply and sorting your desk. This way, you won’t end up with twenty unfinished things on your to-do list.
Cut Down Digital Distractions
The purpose of notifications is to lure you into distraction, which is something most students underestimate in terms of wasted time. Bill Gates is famous for his “Think Weeks”, which is when he disconnects himself from his devices and emails to think undisturbed. You don’t have to set aside a whole week; all you have to do is put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode while studying.
Protect Your Sleep and Rise Early
There are many successful people who attribute their success to an early morning routine. Waking up just half an hour earlier can give you some undisturbed time before getting started with the work for the day. However, it is effective only when you manage your sleep well, too, because otherwise you will be lethargic the very next day.
Study in Short, Focused Bursts
Extended periods of continuous studying may seem productive, but are not always so. The mind automatically loses its focus on learning after about 45 to 60 minutes; hence, short study sessions with appropriate breaks will enable more effective retention than one long session. That is how such methods as Pomodoro become so efficient.
Build a Support System
You do not need to handle everything on your own. There is the option of studying in a group, finding an accountability partner, or using academic resources offered by your university. The fact that your friend knows your study habits and can give you just the right amount of pressure to remain consistent with the next week’s work.
Bonus Tip: Stick to Your Routine, Even When You Slip
And here’s the secret that no other guide will tell you. You will have a bad day. You may sleep in, you may get stressed out, or you may just run out of steam for 24 hours. That is absolutely fine and does not negate all your hard work. The problem with students who fail is that one skipped day becomes the excuse to stop working on the method altogether. Just keep going at it the very next day. What makes someone great at time management as a student and not anyone else is persistence.
Popular Time Management Techniques Compared
| Occasion | Outfit Idea |
|---|---|
| College | Straight jeans, plain tee, open shirt and trainers |
| Office | Trousers, tucked-in shirt, blazer and loafers |
| Weekend | Wide-leg jeans, fitted top and casual sandals |
| Dinner | Simple dress, jacket and statement earrings |
| Travel | Co-ord set, trainers and light layer |
If you also want to look ahead beyond examinations and develop skills that will be useful to you even after your education, it might also be worthwhile considering the best skills that students should develop, since effective time management lies at the heart of most of them.
Conclusion
Time management for students does not have to be perfect. It is a series of good habits like goal-setting, realistic scheduling, and good prioritisation. Learn what you can from methodologies like Pomodoro and the 3-3-3 Method, make it yours, and always come back, even if you had a bad day. That’s the only way to really make progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elon Musk’s 5-minute rule?
Musk is famous for planning his day in five-minute blocks, where he plans what he is going to do at each moment. This kind of time-blocking helps him avoid any decision fatigue while planning his day. The students should use this technique by planning their activities in 30-minute or 60-minute blocks.
What is the 7-8-9 rule of time management?
It is one easy approach to split your 24-hour day into three basic segments is through the 7-8-9 principle, which involves roughly 7 hours of sleep, 8 hours of dedicated work or study, and 9 hours for personal use, eating, and relaxing. These numbers may vary from source to source, but the basic concept remains the same.
How can I stop procrastinating while studying?
Breaking down big tasks into small and manageable pieces and starting with the easiest one is the first step in dealing with procrastination.
