“Time is what we want most, but what we spend worst.”
– William PennMr. Penn hit the nail on the head with this quotation. As humans we beg, plead, bargain and negotiate for more time. However, if asked how we would spend it, our answers tend to come up short. As in life, time management in your education is paramount to your success as a student. Those students that master it, perform very well in their classes.Mastering your time management will be a necessity during your schooling (and with any schooling after that!). Students that manage to develop skill sets to better control their time will find greater success and less stress. However, just like any other skill, time management is learned.So here are a few Time Management tips for your education. If you are not using them now, put them into practice and see how much more efficient you become!Prioritize your tasks
Look at your day ahead and take a few minutes to figure out what NEEDS to be done THAT DAY! These should be things that directly relate to your current goal(s). If something does not correspond to your immediate goals, it has less importance. Something that is necessary to complete your goal that day has severe importance and demands your attention that day!Make a list
Knowing what you have to complete in your day keeps you focused and task oriented. Take 10 minutes before you go to bed and make a list (using the priorities from tip #1) of the tasks to be completed that day. Carry this list with you and refer to it often. When you complete a task, cross it off (it feels good!). At the end of the day you should have your list completely crossed off. If not, the tasks you did not get to will go at the top of tomorrow’s list.Concentrate on ONE task at a time
Attack your list one thing at a time. This one can be hard for many as we all have distractions in our lives. Try to avoid them at all costs. Close Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, turn off the TV and shut the door! By being laser-focused on completing that one task before anything else you will help keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed. Once that one is done move on to the next on the list.Dedicate time throughout the day
This is CRUCIAL! Plan your day in accordance with what needs to be done (I.e.: if you have an exam the next day you need to allow time for study). Everyday should be planned out before it starts. Take time for school studies, job, family and also time to relax (don’t forget this one!). Benjamin Franklin once said, “If we fail to plan, then we plan to fail”. If you do not plan your day, others will plan it for you. When that happens, you become less effective and you become one of those people that say “I just don’t have enough time”Build “time rewards” into your schedule
In order to make a habit of time management- you need to reward yourself for all your hard work. Put time allotments in your schedule that give you time to do something you want to do, not something you have to do. Take time to exercise, read a book and just generally relax.Going to school can be tasking. If you master your time, you make your education that much easier and more fulfilling. Implement a few of these tips into your routine (for our current students, do it immediately!). I guarantee you will feel less overwhelmed and in more control of your education, job and life.