Your Tercero Leadership Council is proud to present:
Time Management 101
Do you find that there are never enough hours in the day? Feel like
you’re always busy and rarely have time to relax?
Well do not fret, you are not alone.
Upon entering college, many students find themselves juggling very busy schedules. It
can be difficult to balance different sorts of commitments such as academics, clubs and
internships. Unfortunately, overcommitting often leads to extra stress. This is when time
management comes into play. This skill is useful not only in college, but also in the real
world. Learning to prioritize your time early on will help lessen unwanted stress. With
great time management skills, you will be much more productive and learn to use time
efficiently.
Why should you care about time management?
1. Nearly all students struggle with it.
Although students often say, “I can handle it, no problem,” this topic is something
that nearly all college students struggle with at some point during their studies.
For those creative, social academics who want to make the best of their college
years, it is often a challenge to balance school, clubs, internships, jobs, and
friends. Time management is a skill that first-year college students must learn in
addition to how to prioritize and use time efficiently.
2. Previously, we didn’t have to worry as much about prioritizing.
In high school, we did not have to make many decisions about how to spend our
time. A structured school day and planned schedule made for little leeway in the
amount of free time each day. Our schedules were contrived so that we always
had direction and guidance. The workload was also far lighter and extracurricular
activities followed a strict schedule. Consequently, we were not required to
develop good time management skills and were not prepared for future
responsibilities. Despite the increased amount of free time in college, there are
many more commitments to take into account.
3. Learning to study in college is all new so it takes time to figure out what
study methods work.
In college, studying takes much longer as much of our learning is independently
driven. We decide when, where and how we want to study. Although college
students only spend around three to five hours in class each day, studying takes
much longer than it used to in high school. The college student needs to be able to
comprehend all the material and apply his/her knowledge to projects, essays and
exams. We are now responsible for our own educations and must remember that
learning takes time.
4. With so many new opportunities, it is hard to find a balance between many
priorities.
The pursuit of a full and rich college experience leads many students to
participate in numerous clubs and organizations on campus. All the free hours in
the day mislead many into thinking that there is time for everything. Time
management is a complicated issue because as much as students want to get the
most out of college, some compromises must be made. We must decide what is
most important to achieving our goals and devote our time accordingly. Time
management is a huge issue for some freshman, as they are prone to
overcommitting.
5. It takes time to adjust to college life and all the new responsibilities.
Another major time commitment during the first year of college is adjusting to
living in the dorms and learning to care for oneself. First-year college students are
expected to manage every aspect of their lives. They are responsible for planning
their academic futures as well as taking care of daily chores and their personal
well-being. It is important to take care oneself physically, mentally and
emotionally. This would include exercising, eating healthy, sleeping well and
taking time to relax. These are all responsibilities that may be new to first year
students. With patience, each student can develop their own routine that fits with
their schedule so that these necessary aspects of life are taken care of.
Tips for Time Management:
1. Know your priorities.
It is imperative that students define their priorities and thus build a framework for
how they will allot their time. They will depend on what is most important to each
student and their goals for college.
2. Get organized. Use a planner to organize each day.
Marking in the hours that you will spend doing specific tasks is an excellent way
to make sure there is time for all your commitments. Also, it ensures that nothing
is forgotten.
3. Watch out for your friends. Hold each other accountable for your
commitments.
Holding your peers accountable for their time commitments are other effective
ways to manage your time efficiently.
4. Be patient and seek help when needed.
Learning to manage time efficiently takes time. Although the push out of the nest
and into college may seem very shocking at first, this problem is something that
people experience throughout their entire lives so it will prove to be extremely
beneficial to become mindful of time now. For more advice, feel free to visit the
Student Academic Success Center (SASC).
Student Academic Success Center (SASC)
Main Office: 2205 Dutton Hall
Phone: (530) 752-2013
Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Website: http://success.ucdavis.edu/
Best of luck and have a great quarter!
This image belongs to http://inqu.uprm.edu/blog/news/270.