time management essay for college students

time management essay for college students

Effective Time Management Strategies for College Students

1. Introduction to Time Management in College

Those students who tend to fail are usually unorganized, have poor time management skills, are overwhelmed, or distracted with numerous competing priorities. A college environment can be stressful and time-consuming. The academic demands and off-campus living make time management essential for a student’s success. The need to develop effective time management skills is definitely an important component of college success. As such, faculty and staff need to take the time to share with students some effective time management strategies. This chapter discusses the nature of time management and how its principles can be applied to the college experience. Additionally, time management strategies are discussed. By being systematic in their use of time, students may enhance aspects of their personal and academic growth, further contributing to their college success.

Time management has been shown to be an important foundation for success in a variety of endeavors. Within the college setting, time management skills are particularly important. Many students are facing college life for the first time and, along with the newly found independence, come unique challenges. For many students, college provides the first opportunity to make their own decisions regarding the use of time; therefore, effective time management skills are desired. College life is, therefore, an ideal context for learning how to balance responsibilities across multiple settings. A number of studies have found that students who fail academically do so for non-intellectual reasons.

2. Benefits of Effective Time Management

The benefits of effective time management in college are numerous and long-lasting. Time management enables students to lead a more balanced college life. These students often perform better in school simply because they are more relaxed and prepared. In addition, an organized student completes school work more efficiently and can use the surplus time generated from their extra efficiency to spend time exploring their favorite parts of the city or to enjoy hobbies that they love. Furthermore, students who manage their time effectively have the comfort of knowing that they have better developed the tools they need to face the real world successfully once they have graduated from college. Time management directly impacts personal student success. Managed properly, time management skills can be mastered by any college student.

The concept of effective time management involves maximizing a student’s educational experience by prioritizing his or her personal goals and working productively to achieve them. A student can benefit significantly from managing his or her time effectively. One of the great benefits of time management is that it can be adapted to and used for the duration of one’s life. Using effective time management tools as a student can help you develop into a more organized and well-equipped college student. When graduation time comes, you’ll be well-prepared to handle whatever life situation arises.

Convincing reasons why time management is important for college students are ample. Time management is critical because college students must excel in various responsibilities. For example, students must be prepared to excel in classes and also engage in enough external activities that enrich their educational experience when they graduate and embark on their careers. Students must also be prepared to interview well and to get the best possible grades. This chapter addresses time and classroom management strategies and materials that college students can use to improve their academic and extracurricular experience.

3. Common Time Management Pitfalls for College Students

However, like most behavioral changes, the college student must also want to improve upon time management and take the initiative to make some changes. With any of these strategies, college students must be realistic in setting their goals and must understand that time spent on an academic task must be productive. For example, while some students are very focused and can study effectively for long periods while finishing their projects, other students may need to take a short break every hour, especially if they have difficulty with attention or other academic challenges. Additionally, time management is a dynamic process, and successful college students find that it is a crucial key to their success.

Many college students often say that there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that is asked of them, especially with so much free time spent on less important activities. The fact remains that students have a heavy schedule of classes, homework, field work, and clubs, making time a limited commodity. Such a pressured environment requires organization and time management skills. Unfortunately, many college students fall into bad habits early, learning that procrastinating on college assignments often produces acceptable results. However, most students find that college life becomes overwhelming toward mid-term, so we have provided some sound practical suggestions that have worked for other college students who have managed to find balance in an unbalanced and often demanding college or university life. These strategies include creating an environment to study, deciding what is important, learning to say no, and learning how to change students’ study and test-taking habits, using a planner, a calendar, and/or a palm or other handheld organizer.

4. Strategies for Improving Time Management Skills

Nonetheless, the structure that a schedule provides, then, should not prevent the creation of short-term goals as well. It is just as important that you determine what has to be accomplished each night and make sure it gets done. Short-term deadlines must be monitored, respected, and achieved. In sum, a daily and weekly schedule can provide you with a greater sense of personal freedom and direction. As with any strategy, the plan should be developed based on your personal needs and goals, as well as your social activities, study habits, etc. If you presently have problems achieving your goals, examine your long- and short-term goals and re-evaluate whether your study environment is meeting your needs. Try a different set of targets and initiatives that will improve your enthusiasm for your educational learning. This type of structure will promote a discovery of your own potentials and a realization of your goals and ultimate success in your educational career.

Given the common traits of college students, poor time management and procrastination present nagging problems to many students. For most students, time management becomes critical because poor performance is often the result of inadequate time spent on the learning task. That is, students frequently feel they are devoting as much time to learning as necessary, when one detailed day-by-day study of student’s learning experiences showed that most students did not study nearly as much as they actually required. One strategy for managing time effectively is to devise an overall schedule or plan, thereby establishing a routine structure to your weekly activities. The daily and weekly routines will encourage the establishment of goals – hopefully, long-term goals – and more importantly, the accomplishment of those goals.

5. Implementing a Personalized Time Management Plan

Last, but not least, schedule other household or dormitory chores, as well as relaxation and social activity. An interesting study revealed college students who did best in class spent more than 2 1/4 hours per day in non-required reading. Also, students who spent more than 5 1/2 hours per day in actively thinking, talking, and listening to unique people and ideas were superior academically. According to one college professor, students spend only an average of 30 hours per week attending college. Some students, especially those employed and off campus, are successful even on less time. However, these individuals have planned effective daily and weekly schedules. Many students, not simply average, spend 20 hours per week or less in non-class related activities. Those spending 45 hours or more per week on all college activities fall into the below average category. To maximize grade scores and personal enrichment from college activities, students must spend the time necessary for success.

Therefore, in order to effectively use your weekly time schedule, include studying as well as time to relax. Write into your schedule the important sporting events or television shows or personal relaxation activities which you enjoy. Personal relaxation time is important too. Concentrate on the planned activity without feeling guilty about something else you should be doing. When you’re “off,” enjoy it as a reward. Both physical and mental health depend on a balance between work and play. An athletic director advises that every student’s day be divided into three sections. First, and most important, on a weekly schedule, budget time for meals, class attendance, and consistent sleeping hours. This should help dictate preferable study hours. College athletes should set aside time for two short physical workouts or sports-related activities, morning as well as afternoon. Also, devote time to family, activities related to faith, and socializing with friends.