Top 5 Time Management Secrets for Busy Students

The older you get, the busier you feel. For university and college students who are dipping their toes in the adult world for the first time, this can be a depressing reality. The life of the young student has many demands: classes, studying, part-time work, exercise, chores and socialising seem like too much for a mere 24 hours. How can you learn time management for students? Read on for our practical guide. 

Understanding Time Management

For students, it’s critical to understand the importance of effective time management. Not only will developing good time management skills set you up for academic success, but successful time management can also have a positive impact on your well-being. Learning these skills now will also help you in your future career. 

What Is Time Management Anyway?

Time management means organising and dividing your time effectively according to your different activities. For university and college students, this can mean finding the right balance between your schoolwork, including attending classes and studying, and all the other demands on your time. Contrary to popular assumptions, managing your time well as a student doesn’t mean spending as much time as possible hitting the books  — it’s just as important to build in time to spend with friends, relax with a Netflix binge, or play your favourite sport. 

Time management also doesn’t mean getting everything done every single day. It’s the effective use of your time for the tasks that are most important each day. Great time management skills also mean knowing when to say no, and knowing which tasks are the most meaningful and beneficial to complete. 

Below we outline our top 5 tips for improving your time management skills. 

1. Prioritising Tasks

Just as noted above, great time management is as much about what you don’t spend your time on as what you do. One of the most popular ways to prioritise is the Eisenhower Box. U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower popularised the technique to help him prioritise his daily and weekly tasks. On a blank piece of paper, he would create a four-square matrix and label each side of the box: Urgent, Non-Urgent, Important, Non-Important. Then he would map each of his to-dos into the four squares. This method is as much about planning your work as getting clarity. Some tasks feel incredibly important, but when you consider them in terms of urgency, you realise they can be done later. 

Some tasks are also more important to other people than they are to you. If you’re the Obliger type, you may struggle to prioritise your own needs, and instead do what others expect you to do. Another popular variant of the Eisenhower Box is to prioritise according to what you need to do for yourself, vs. what you need to do for others. This can help you to put yourself and your needs first, and guard your time more effectively. 

2. Planning and Scheduling

Scheduling can be tricky, as there’s no one-size-fits-all method for every student. One of the best ways to make a schedule that works for you is to consider your daily rhythm. If you’re a night owl and most productive later in the day, there’s no shame in choosing afternoon classes and doing your studying and chores in the evening. If you’re an early bird, pack your classes into the morning when you’re most alert. One of the great things about university is the variety of classes offered at different times of the day, including the evening. If your program permits, take advantage of classes at the time of day that suits you best. You can also effectively schedule the gaps between your classes with study sessions and other demands on your time. 

Using digital tools or physical planners is also key. Whether you pick a dry-erase wall calendar or put your activities and to-do list in Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar, taking time each week to plan for study time, assignments, and personal activities will keep you on track with your larger goals. 

3. Setting Goals and Deadlines

Speaking of goals, one of the most important reasons to learn good time management skills is to become more effective at meeting your long-term goals. Having a well-planned schedule day-to-day or week-to-week is a great way to manage stress, but great planning also means finding time for self-improvement. What are your larger goals for your university years, beyond getting good grades or studying for your next test? If you’re looking ahead to graduate school or planning for your career, setting aside time to explore your options and learn how you can get ahead of the pack is key. 

If you need to break down your goals into bite-size chunks, consider using SMART goals to prioritise your tasks. This can help you to take a big goal, like getting into your preferred graduate program, and make it feel knowable, manageable, and achievable. 

4. Avoiding Procrastination and Managing Distractions

Procrastination is the common enemy of all students. While some procrastination is normal, too much distraction can have real negative consequences. Failed exams, or strained relationships with roommates when dirty dishes pile up in the kitchen, will cause even more stress than the tasks you’re avoiding. 

To limit procrastination, take a look at which tasks you tend to put off. You may find that chores like cleaning the kitchen, or errands like grocery shopping are tasks you put off, leading you to order takeout rather than cooking healthy meals at home. Or you avoid starting a paper until the night before it’s due, and end up pulling an all-nighter rather than writing to the best of your ability.

One of the best ways to stamp out procrastination is to start each day by eating the frog. This strange-sounding idea is critical in time management for students. Coined by leadership coach Brian Tracy, the idea is to begin each day with the task you’re dreading the most, getting it out of the way while you still have the energy and motivation to do it. In this way, you’ll find that the rest of the items on your to-do list seem easier by comparison.

5. Taking Effective Breaks

Taking breaks is just as important as getting things done. Breaks help you avoid burnout, when your body forces you to take a break whether you want to or not. If you find yourself overworking, remind yourself to take a break before the break takes you! 

Frequent short breaks are proven to help with productivity, and can help you gain greater focus while you study. If you’re sitting for a long period of time while you’re reviewing, writing a paper, or completing a practice exam, set a timer that will remind you to stand up and stretch. Movement breaks, including dancing, doing jumping jacks, or even some yoga, will help you to feel energised and focused while you work. 

Reviewing and Adjusting Your Time Management Plan

Once you’ve planned out your schedule in your format of choice, pay attention to how well you follow your schedule on a daily and weekly basis. An overcrowded schedule may be unrealistic, for example, and you’ll find yourself struggling to get everything done. You can also colour code your activities, and tally up the hours on each type of task to see what you’re spending your time on. This can help you reflect on your goals and plan better in the months ahead. Remember that the best schedule is not the one that’s the most jam-packed. It’s the one that allows you to feel at your best and gives you the flexibility to adapt to change.

In addition to taking our advice, experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. Talk to your friends and even your professors about how they tackle their own to-do lists. You may find a tip that really works for you.

If you’re looking for more tools to help you keep on top of your to-do list, check out our free downloadable Workload Tracker.