time management assignment for students

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8 Time Management Tips for Students

Don't let a hectic schedule get the better of you with these time management tips.

Lian Parsons

College can be a stressful time for many students and time management can be one of the most crucial — but tricky — skills to master.

Attending classes, studying for exams, making friends, and taking time to relax and decompress can quickly fill up your schedule. If you often find yourself wishing there were more hours in the day, this guide will offer time management tips for students so you can accomplish what you need to get done, have fun with your friends, and gain back some valuable time for yourself. 

1. Create a Calendar

Don’t be caught by surprise by an important paper due two days from now or a dinner with your family the same night you planned for a group study session. Create a calendar for yourself with all your upcoming deadlines, exams, social events, and other time commitments well in advance so you can see what’s coming up. 

Keep your calendar in a place where you can see it every day, such as in your planner or on your wall above your desk. If you prefer a digital calendar, check it first thing every day to keep those important events fresh and top-of-mind. For greater efficiency, make sure you can integrate it with your other tools, such as your email.

Digital calendar options include: 

• Google Calendar 
• Outlook Calendar
• Fantastical

2. Set Reminders

After you’ve created your calendar, give yourself periodic reminders to stay on track such as to complete a study guide in advance or schedule a meeting for a group project. Knowing deadlines is important; however, staying on top of the micro tasks involved in meeting those deadlines is just as important. You can set an alarm on your phone, write it down in a physical planner, or add an alert to your digital calendar. The reminders will help to prevent things from slipping through the cracks during particularly hectic days.

Make sure you’ve allotted enough time to study for that big test or write that final paper. Time management is all about setting yourself up for success in advance and giving yourself the tools to accomplish tasks with confidence. 

Read our blogs, Your Guide to Conquering College Coursework and Top 10 Study Tips to Study Like a Harvard Student , for more suggestions.

3. Build a Personalized Schedule

Each person’s day-to-day is different and unique to them, so make sure your schedule works for you. Once you’ve accounted for consistent commitments such as classes or your shifts at work, add in study sessions, extracurriculars, chores and errands, and social engagements.

Consider your personal rhythm. If you typically start your day energized, plan to study or accomplish chores then. If you fall into an afternoon slump, give yourself that time to take a guilt-free TV break or see friends.

Having a schedule that works for you will help maximize your time. Plus, knowing exactly when your laundry day is or when your intramural volleyball practice is every week will help you avoid trying to cram everything in one day (or running out of clean socks!)

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4. Use Tools That Work For You

Just like your calendar and schedule, the tools you use to keep you organized should be the right fit for you. Some students prefer physical planners and paper, while some prefer going totally digital. Your calendar can help you with long-term planning, but most of these tools are best for prioritizing from day to day.

Explore what best suits your needs with some of the following suggestions:

Planners can help you keep track of long-term deadlines, such as important essay deadlines, upcoming exams, and appointments and meetings. They often provide a monthly overview each month, as well as day-to-day planning sections, so you can stay ahead. 

• Papier – Offers a 20% student discount 

If your schedule is jam-packed and you have trouble figuring out what to do and when, scheduling day by day—and sometimes even hour by hour—can help you slot in everything you need to do with less stress.

• Structured app

Note Taking

From class to study sessions to errands, keeping track of everything can feel overwhelming. Keeping everything in one place, whether on the go or at your desk, can help keep you organized.

• Bullet journals

5. Prioritize

Sometimes there really is too much to do with too little time. In these instances, take just a few minutes to evaluate your priorities. Consider which deadlines are most urgent, as well as how much energy you have. 

If you are able to complete simple tasks first, try getting them out of the way before moving on to tasks that require a lot of focus. This can help to alleviate some of the pressure by checking a couple things off your to-do list without getting bogged down too early.

If you are struggling to fit everything in your schedule, consider what you can postpone or what you can simply say no to. Your friends will likely understand if you have to meet them for coffee another time in order to get in a final library session before a challenging exam. 

6. Make Time to Have Fun — And For Yourself

Time management isn’t just about getting work done. It’s also about ensuring that you can put yourself and your mental wellbeing first. Consistently including time for yourself in your schedule helps to keep your mental health and your life in balance. It can also be helpful to have things to look forward to when going through stressful periods.  

Whether it’s going for a bike ride along the river, spending time with your friends and family, or simply sleeping in on a Sunday, knowing you have space to relax and do things you enjoy can provide better peace of mind. 

7. Find Support 

Preparation and organization can sometimes only get you so far. Luckily, you have plenty of people rooting for your success. Keep yourself and your classmates on task by finding an accountability partner or study buddies. Remind your roommates when you need extra space to work on a paper. 

Your school’s academic resource center is also there to support you and point you in the right direction if you need additional help. Getting—and staying—organized is a collaborative effort and no one can do it on their own. 

8. Be Realistic and Flexible 

Sometimes unforeseen circumstances will come up or you simply may not be able to get to everything you set out to do in a given day. Be patient with yourself when things don’t go exactly to plan. When building your calendar, schedule, and priorities list, be realistic about what you can accomplish and include buffer time if you’re unsure. This can help to reduce obstacles and potential friction.

Time management isn’t just about sticking to a rigid schedule—it’s also about giving yourself space for change.

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About the Author

Lian Parsons is a Boston-based writer and journalist. She is currently a digital content producer at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her bylines can be found at the Harvard Gazette, Boston Art Review, Radcliffe Magazine, Experience Magazine, and iPondr.

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12 Time Management Worksheet for Students & Adults

Do you find yourself constantly rushing to get important tasks done at the last minute? Have you ever missed important deadlines? Do you have a reputation for being constantly late for meetings, classes, or other important events?

At work, you probably find it a challenge to keep on top of all the tasks you need to finish. Your productivity may have taken a nosedive, and you’re not the only one who has noticed.

If you’re a student, you might be having difficulties meeting the demands of academics and extracurricular commitments. Perhaps you are even dissatisfied with your academic performance.

At home, you are probably faced with a seemingly endless parade of chores, and no longer have quality time for your family and yourself.

If any of the above scenarios resonate with you, it could be that you need some help managing your time.

Table of Contents

How Can I Effectively Manage My Time?

Effective time management requires two things: planning and organizing.

Time management involves a three-step process:

Step 1: Assessing how you currently use your time.

Step 2: Creating a schedule.

Step 3: Following the schedule.

It is important that you establish your daily schedule around your activities and commitments.

Make sure that you identify which activities are flexible and which are fixed. For instance, work hours are usually set to eight hours each day, so that’s a fixed schedule. Meanwhile, sleep and recreational activities are usually flexible.

As much as possible, be specific in your schedule-making. For example, if you just write “do chores” for Saturday morning, that could mean anything from a few minutes spent washing the dishes to half a day’s work of organizing the hallway closet.

Estimate the time you need for the activity and block that time out in your timetable.

In addition, you can use some time-management tools and techniques to become more organized.

The Pomodoro Technique helps increase your productivity. Meanwhile, the Pareto Principle teaches you how to get maximum results in the least amount of time.

Finally, the Eisenhower Matrix helps you identify which activities are urgent and important so you can act on them appropriately.

Applying all these strategies can help you manage your time more effectively.

To get you started on the habit of managing your time well, we have listed 12 time management worksheet examples. These worksheets are all downloadable and printable.

Let’s check them out.

12 Time Management Worksheet Examples

1. 3 time audit printable worksheets and templates.

Check out Time Audit Printable Worksheets and Templates on Etsy

Make intentional choices on how to manage your time with these Time Audit worksheets.

Each template has designated spaces to log tasks/activities done throughout the week, providing an overview of where you focus your energy and effort.

These templates are the perfect tool for ensuring that your daily efforts are contributing to the fulfillment of your goals.

2. Daily Time Management Log

Download the PDF

Are you hard-pressed to finish several daily tasks and not sure where to start? Our time management log can help keep you from becoming overwhelmed by everything you need to accomplish.

This template features a section for specifying your top three goals for the day. Then, a large section of the template is dedicated to supporting activities and to-dos that help achieve the top three goals. A column in the template lets you tag an activity’s level of importance (0 = Not Important to 3 = Urgent!).

Most importantly, through colored dots, this log allows you to track how productive you are by identifying your energy level while doing an activity.

You can indicate whether you’re very energized (green), moderately energized (yellow), or low on energy (blue) while doing any of the activities you’ve logged for the day into the template.

3. Weekly Time Management Log

Looking for an appropriate time management log for all your weekly activities? We designed this template just for that purpose. Near the header is space for writing your top three goals of the week.

An eight-column table offers enough space to record your schedule for the week and plot out how to manage your time well.

You can use colored highlighters to highlight specific activities and indicate your energy level while doing this activity.

As a suggestion, green can mean highly energized and very productive; orange can represent moderately energized and moderately productive; and blue can mean low energy or did nothing.

4. Time Manager

via Humboldt State University

College life can be hectic, especially when it comes to your schedule.

It takes some strategic planning to stay on top of everything. That’s why it’s essential to find the right time-management tool.

A time manager like this one ensures that students don’t miss classes and important events. It also helps keep track of priority tasks.

This worksheet also has space where you can write down to-do items that you need to accomplish for the week.

The worksheet features a time block with one-hour intervals for the weekdays. There isn’t any time blocking for the weekend schedule, which is meant to encourage students to take time off from academic work and focus more on self-care .

5. Time Tracking Worksheet

This worksheet helps you track your activities. It features a column for the estimated duration of your task, and another column for recording the actual time you spent on the activity.

Furthermore, it has space for recording the frequency of the activity, which is useful for tracking your weekly schedule.

Finally, there is a column for identifying whether the task is important or not. This way, you can pinpoint which of your activities are significant or merely time sinks.

6. Where Does My Time Go?

Need support for your new time-management habit? This worksheet applies several strategies and principles for effectively managing your time.

The worksheet has 30-minute intervals to keep track of the precise time you spend on every activity.

It also has an Eisenhower Matrix to help you identify if a task is your highest priority or if it can be done later in the day. ( Check out this post for an in-depth discussion and helpful tips on how to effectively use the Eisenhower Matrix .)

With this template, you also have the opportunity to reflect on how your schedule for the day went.

The template has space where you can list “activities that deserve more time,” as well as those that deserve less. Lastly, a space is also provided where you can write initial plans for the following day.

7. Weekly Time Management Tracker

This time tracker has been designed to work with your schedule. Once printed out, it gives you a clear view of your daily schedule so you can identify which activities are consuming most of your time.

To maximize this tracker’s potential to help manage your time better, you can use categories to track how you spend your day . Examples of categories include:

• Self-care activities (massage, meditation, etc.)
• Work-related activities (including meetings, special assignments, etc.)
• Health and fitness activities (time at the gym, meal preparation, etc.)

8. Daily Time Blocking Worksheet

Schedules can be hectic, so we need a system to help us stay on top of things. This time-blocking worksheet helps keep the stress at bay when you need to get a lot of things done.

Although effective time management is a serious matter, we can still infuse it with fun elements. One way to do this is by using colorful pens when filling in your timetable.

Moreover, stickers and printables can add visual interest and give you an amusing way of categorizing and tracking your schedules.

9. Bullet Journal Time Tracker Printable

This time tracker serves you well as a daily or weekly time log.

The heart at the beginning of each line represents the category of the activity you list down. This tracker’s creator suggests color coding the hearts to represent each category of activity.

Space for the color code “key” is also provided at the top right part of the tracker page to help you navigate this worksheet.

There is also a space where you can write down notes, reminders, and other information you want to keep a record of about your day.

10. 31-Day Time Tracker

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This time tracker lets you track how you spend your 24 hours every day for 31 days. You can use a color-coded system to identify the activities that you do throughout the day.

Mildliners and Stabilo highlighters work well for this type of time tracker.

11. Your Time Buttoned Up

This worksheet has a time-blocking feature with 30-minute intervals. The template lets you track your schedule for the whole week, from 7 am to 2 am.

However, the standout feature here is color-coded dots that correspond to how productive your activity is.

Green is very productive; orange is moderately productive; and red is wasted time (perhaps it’s time to admit that Facebook addiction and kick the habit).

12. Daily Time Log

Logging all of your activities trains your mind to consider time a valuable commodity. It encourages you to engage in activities that are of value to you.

The advantage of having a tracker like this is that, over a certain period, you will be able to see a pattern of how you use your time.

Is it for something that enriches you? Or do you spend a huge chunk of the day on time-sink activities like excessive social media use ?

With this information, you can adjust your priorities and manage your time more effectively.

Final Thoughts on Time Management Worksheet for Students & Adults

There you have it—time management worksheet examples to inspire you as you work your way toward improved productivity and better health and well-being.

When you use a time-management tool such as the worksheets featured today, avoid dwelling on the things you fail to achieve. You always have the option of rescheduling them. Instead, focus on celebrating the tasks you do accomplish.

For more ideas, read our post on effective time management activities and exercises . If you're using the Pomodoro Technique, check out our favorite time blocking templates here . And if you need more guidance, check out these SMART goals examples for time management .

Remember to reward yourself when you’ve achieved your goals. We’ve got some awesome suggestions on how you can reward yourself in this post .

Furthermore, remember to take a break after accomplishing important activities. Allow yourself to decompress.

Always take your health and well-being into consideration when implementing time-management strategies for productivity. Make sure that you do not sacrifice sleep in an effort to get things done.

Here’s to a more organized and productive year!

Finally, if you want to level up your productivity and time management skills, then watch this free video about the 9 productivity habits you can build at work .

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20 Effective Time Management Strategies and Tools for Students

Teachers can use these too!

One of the most important life skills for anyone to master is time management. Keeping track of everything that we have to do and carving out the time to get it all done can be a real struggle. Try these time management strategies and techniques, plus find helpful tools for staying on track.

General Time Management Strategies

Time management techniques, time management tools.

These time management strategies work for everyone, helping you set goals and prioritize, then set a schedule to get things done.

Visualize the big picture

Use a calendar of some type to lay out all your big-picture goals for a year, month, or week. Include major projects and assignments, as well as school and personal events. This is your place to get an overview of everything that’s on your plate. Keep items to broad descriptions: “History Project” or “Spring Play Opening Night.” You’ll get into the details next.

Break it down

The next step is to take major projects and assignments and break them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This is an incredibly effective way to overcome that feeling of “I’ll never get this all done!” It also prevents procrastinating on an entire project until the very last minute. Set smaller, more manageable goals with their own due dates in advance of a complete project or event.

For example, imagine your big-picture calendar says “History Project Due Feb. 23.” Breaking that down could look like this:

• Choose topic and presentation method: Jan. 9
• Initial research: Jan. 10-30
• Presentation outline: Jan. 31
• Write presentation script: Feb. 1-5
• Create visual aids: Feb. 6-12
• Rehearse presentation: Feb. 13
• Fine-tune presentation: Feb 14-16
• Final rehearsals: Feb. 17
• Give history presentation: Feb. 23

At first, this method might feel a little overwhelming, because it may make you feel like there’s too much to get done. But as you use it, you’ll see how it can actually make you feel more prepared and in control, and make your time easier to manage.

Determine priorities

Sometimes it’s simply true: You don’t have enough time in a day to get all the things done that you’d like to. That’s where setting priorities becomes vital. In the “Time Management Techniques” section below, you’ll find several different ideas for determining the priority of different items on your lists.

Once you’ve figured out which items are the most important, try a color-coding system to indicate which items get a higher priority. This will help you identify at a glance what you need to do now and what can wait until another day.

Make daily to-do lists

Make it a habit to start each day by creating a to-do list. (Not a morning person? You can do this the night before too.) Include high-priority items, as well as things you’d like to do but may not have to complete. Throughout the day, as you complete an item, revisit your list and check it off. It’s incredibly satisfying to cross things off, and checking in with your list a few times a day ensures you don’t forget important things. ADVERTISEMENT

Limit multitasking

Today’s world places a lot of value on multitasking (doing several things at once). But when you’re doing multiple things at the same time, you’re probably not doing any of them well. So keep your multitasking to a minimum. When it’s time to work on something, set your focus to that particular thing. Other stuff can wait.

But some multitasking is OK. For instance, you might throw your clothes in the washing machine, then work on your math homework while waiting for them to be ready for the dryer. Later on, you could fold and put away the laundry while practicing conjugating Spanish verbs out loud. This type of multitasking works because the physical tasks are ones that don’t require much concentration, leaving your brain free for academic subjects.

On the other hand, avoid something like trying to listen to a podcast for your history class while also doing your math homework. Your attention won’t be fully on each, and your learning will suffer.

Remove distractions

Some people are capable of deep focus no matter what’s going on around them. Most of us, though, need to find ways to remove distractions when it’s time to get down to work. Here are some examples to try:

• Turn off your phone, or set it to alert you only in case of emergencies.
• Wear noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out distracting sounds. A white-noise machine or app can help with this too.
• Close miscellaneous tabs in your web browser (like social media or news sites), and use only the tabs you need for your work.
• Go into a quiet room and shut the door. Ask friends and family not to disturb you.
• Check your to-do list before you start to make sure you’re on track. Then, clear your mind of other projects or tasks, and focus on what’s at hand.

Do an end-of-day review

At the end of each day, sit down with your to-do list. Was there anything you didn’t get to? Move it to another day. Did you feel too rushed today? Think about how you might make tomorrow run a bit more smoothly. Where do you stand in terms of your big-picture goals? Take a few minutes to adjust any plans accordingly.

Try a time audit

It’s OK if you don’t get to everything on your list every day. But if you find that there’s never enough time to get things done, you might benefit from a time audit. Over the period of a week or two, write down exactly how you spend your time, hour by hour. Then, look it over and see if you can identify problem areas. You might need to cut down on some optional activities and give that time to high-priority items instead. Learn how to do a time audit here.

The time management strategies we’ve talked about so far are general ways to stay on track and get stuff done. But there are multiple ways to approach some of these strategies, especially when it comes to actually settling down to work. Check out these popular time management techniques and choose one or more that seem right for you.

Eisenhower Decision Matrix

President Eisenhower developed this matrix and used it to help him prioritize his tasks. He looked at each item to evaluate it by importance and urgency, then broke them into four categories:

• Do First: These are urgent, important tasks with high priority.
• Schedule: These are important tasks that aren’t quite as urgent.
• Delegate: You may be able to delegate less important but still urgent tasks to someone else.
• Don’t Do: These non-urgent, unimportant items can be eliminated entirely or postponed indefinitely.

Here are some possible student examples for each category:

• Do First: Homework that’s due tomorrow takes top priority, as might doing laundry if you’re out of clean clothes.
• Schedule: Set aside time (see Time Blocking) for smaller parts of long-term projects, such as research time or writing an outline. That could be today or one day in the near future.
• Delegate: Students aren’t always able to delegate their tasks, but they can ask for help. For example, if your schedule is incredibly tight, you could ask your dad if he’d be willing to throw your clothes in the dryer when the washer is done.
• Don’t Do: These are often bad habits you need to break, like surfing the web aimlessly instead of working, or texting your friends for hours instead of doing your chores.

Find out much more about the Eisenhower Matrix and how to use it for time management strategies here.

ABCDE Method

This is another time management strategy for prioritizing the tasks at hand. Assign each item a letter:

• A: Highest priority
• B: Should do soon, if not today
• C: Could do, but no serious consequences if not done
• D: Delegate or ask for help
• E: Eliminate from your list

This is very similar to the Eisenhower Matrix, with a little more flexibility around should-dos and could-dos. Learn more about the ABCDE method here.

Most Difficult First (Eat That Frog)

This method is based on a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”

In other words, don’t put off the biggest, hardest tasks. Get them out of the way first. Then, everything else you have to do will seem easy in comparison.

For some people, though, this concept can be counterproductive. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, tackling something extremely difficult can be too much and cause you to shut down entirely. In that case, it’s just fine to choose smaller, simpler items. The key is to make progress, one step at a time.

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management method: You work for 25 minutes at a time, then take a 5-minute break to rest and recharge. Simply set a timer for 25 minutes, and focus on one single task until it goes off. Then, you can spend 5 minutes stretching, resting your eyes, or checking your social media feeds. When the 5 minutes are up, set the timer for another 25 minutes, and get back to work. If you do four 25-minute sessions in a row, take a longer break afterwards. Learn more about the Pomodoro Technique here.

If 25 minutes seems too short and you’d like a little more uninterrupted time, try Flowtime instead. This stretches out both the work and break time proportionally. If you work for 25-50 minutes, take an 8-minute break. For 50-90 minutes, you get a 10-minute break. And if you’ve been at it for more than 90 minutes, take 15 minutes to recharge. Learn about Flowtime here.

Parkinson’s Law says that work will always expand to fill the amount of time available. Timeboxing seeks to shrink tasks back to the size they truly need to be. When you timebox, you set a specific amount of time for a task and complete it within that time.

In other words, you might look over your study planner and decide that you need one hour for tonight’s geometry and chemistry assignments, plus you’d like to spend another hour working on your English essay.

Set a timer and work on your geometry and chemistry for an hour, with no other distractions. When the timer goes off, reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Since you have to finish that homework tonight, you’ll probably need to add more time if you’re not finished.

Your English essay isn’t due for two weeks, though, so if you’ve boxed out one hour for working on it today, that’s all you need to do. Set a timer, determine your goals for day, and get to work. When the timer goes off, you’re done for today.

Here’s more on timeboxing.

Time Blocking

This method is similar to timeboxing, but it involves setting blocks of time aside on your calendar for specific tasks. For example, you might block out 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day for daily homework, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for working on your biology research paper, and 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for piano practice. Some people like to start each day by blocking time out on their calendar, figuring out how they’ll make the most of their time. Find out more about time blocking here.

Once you’ve selected some time management strategies to try, you’ll find plenty of tools to help make them work. Check out these top time management tools for students, from planners to timers and beyond.

Student Planners

Traditional paper planners come in a variety of styles, with some made especially for students. The most important thing is to choose one you’ll actually use, and keep it on hand at all times. See our selection of the top student planners here.

Planner Apps

Planner apps and online calendars are nice because you have access to them everywhere you go. For students, we really like:

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See more details on each of these here, plus more options.

Study Planners

Study planners are specific to academics, and they are a simple way to keep track of both short-term and long-term assignments, projects, and more. Check out these free printable options:

• Develop Good Habits: Study Planner
• Alex Marie: Weekly Assignments Due
• Sophia Lee: Homework Planner Pack

Time Management Apps

Planner apps are a good start, but other time management apps can help you stay on track by eliminating distractions or setting time limits. Here are a few to try:

• Pomofocus : A free online 25–5 timer with the ability to add a task list for each work segment
• Rize : An AI productivity coach that uses time tracking to improve your focus and build better work habits
• Forest : Eliminate distractions, stay on task, and grow a digital forest to celebrate your achievements

Bullet Journal

Bullet journaling has a lot of benefits, and some page setups are especially good for time management:

• Daily Schedule
• Project Planner
• Study Tracker

Check out our big roundup of bullet journal ideas here.

What time management strategies do your students find most effective? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, ultimate study skills guide: tips, tricks, and strategies for every grade ..

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What is Time Management Really? A Student’s Guide to Understanding Time

Katie Azevedo October 21, 2024 productivity , self advocacy , time management

By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.

We’ve all heard of “time management,” and most of us know that it’s important. Time management is a concept my students and professional clients often say they understand. But when I observe their day-to-day habits, it’s clear that many don’t know how to actually apply it.

So what is time management really ? What is this phrase that gets thrown around at work and school? And why does it make so many people roll their eyes?

This blog post is a student’s guide to understanding time and how managing it can quite literally change their life.

What Is Time Management Really ? 

When I ask my students and clients to explain what time management is in their own words, I often hear some version of it’s when we manage our time.  

While this definition is not wrong, it does nothing for one’s ability to manage their time.

The problem with the term “time management” is that it’s vague. Not only is the concept of time abstract (because it’s invisible), but even the concept of management is abstract. 

So let’s make the concept of time management specific.

Time management involves three key concepts:

• Clarifying what you must do
• Clarifying and prioritizing what you want to do
• Clarifying when those activities will take place

In other words, time management is about knowing what to do and when to do it with full intention and clarity .

Two words in that previous sentence are essential to true time management: intention and clarity . Without these two concepts, you’re not truly managing your time.

Intention means having a clear purpose for each activity (what do you want? What’s your larger goal?), while clarity involves knowing the specific steps or commitments required to complete it.

We break down each of the above three steps in the section below called How to Really Manage Time as a Studen t.

What Time Management Is Not

Contrary to popular belief, time management does not involve cramming more things into the time you have. That’s a recipe for stress, overwhelm, and burnout.

Time management is also not just about calendars and clocks. These are time management tools , which we will talk about in a later section of this post, but simply using calendars and clocks does not make an effective time management system. Tools are not systems .

Why Is Time Management Hard for Students?

Time management isn’t just hard for students; it’s hard for everyone. But I think it’s hardest for students because you are essentially the youngest group of people whose “job” is to do things by a deadline. But the problem is that high school and college students are not often taught HOW to manage time; rather, you’re simply told TO manage your time.

(Note: This is the exact reason I created SchoolHabits University – to teach the “how to do school” skills that students need to, well, do school. Yes, managing time included.)

Time management is also hard for students because, for the most part, your tasks and obligations are given to you. Except for hobbies and personal interests, you are essentially told what to do in the form of homework, showing up to class, arriving at afterschool activities on time, etc. This makes managing time hard because when we don’t have a personal interest in what we’re doing, it lacks relevance – and when something lacks relevance, our motivation for doing that thing decreases or becomes nonexistent.

In other words, there is a huge mental game involved in managing time for students because many of the tasks you’re asked to do lack personal relevance.

How to Really Manage Time as a Student

Earlier in this blog post, I broke down the three components of time management. I’ll list them below again so that we can break each one down further.

• Clarify what you must do
• Clarify and prioritize what you want to do
• Clarify when those activities will take place

1. Clarify what you must do

The first step of a good time management strategy involves clarifying what activities you are required to do. For most students, this just means classes. For other students, it may also include a job or any other non-negotiable activity that consumes more than an hour a week.

Make a list of the activities you must do. Even if your list is just one item long (ie: school), write it down because we’ll need it in step 3.

2. Clarify and prioritize what you want to do

Time management involves knowing what you want to spend time on. The goal is to do the right things (right?), but we can only do that if we figure out what those things are. This is where time management becomes intentional .

For students, this means figuring out what activities and after-school engagements you want to do. This includes sports, the arts, a part-time job, internships, and hobbies. These can be activities offered by your school, but they don’t have to be. 

Figuring out what you want to do sometimes requires experimentation, and that’s okay. You may try an activity for a few months and then realize it’s not for you. But at some point, especially at the high school and college level, you’ll have to start narrowing down your top interests and your values.

(You may want to be involved in 10 different activities, but as you’ll see in the third step, that won’t be possible.)

A good place to start with clarifying and prioritizing what you want to do is to begin with clarification and end with prioritization. 

How to clarify what you want to do:

• Make a list of everything you want to do for the next 6-12 months. This can include activities you’re already involved in.
• Narrow down your list to the top 3 to 5 activities. (This is the maximum amount of activities a typical high school or college schedule allows.)
• Determine the time commitments for each of the 3 to 5 activities that remain on your list. Be realistic, accurate and granular. 

How to prioritize what you want to do

Consider the list of 3-5 activities you created in the previous step. Rank them in order of most important to least important.

This is a personal decision that needs to weigh not only the activities that bring you joy but also the activities that will lead you to your future goals. For example, if you want to enter the medical field, you may need to prioritize an internship in a lab over a pick-up ping-pong league. As your future goals change, so too will your activities. That’s why a good time management strategy always includes periodic reevaluation.

3. Clarify When Your Activities Will Take Place

The magic of time management happens in this step. This is the step where we make time visible. This is also where time management becomes a math equation. 

This step is also where we talk about tools like calendars and clocks.

Every activity we commit to consumes time – whether it’s an “official” school-run activity like soccer or a personal hobby like playing the guitar. These are minutes and hours that you have to measure and account for. But remember: we can’t measure what we can’t see.

In this Google Calendar tutorial for students , I teach you a step-by-step process for using a digital calendar for school. It’s this process that reveals whether or not you have the time to complete your activities.

If we don’t go through the work of adding the activities we want to and must do to a calendar, including commute times to and from those activities, we will never fully master time management.

Many of my students and clients buy into the false idea that time management involves feelings: I’ll often hear students say “I feel like I have time to do this” or “I feel busy.”

My response? Time is not feelings. 

So here’s how to clarify when or if your activities can get done:

• Take out a calendar. It can be digital or analog. If you want to use a paper version, use my free weekly planning template . It’s a PDF download so you can print it out or use it digitally.
• Take out your list of activities that you want to do and must do. You created these in steps one and two.
• Add your activities to your calendar. Add commutes to and from each activity.
• Add your meals.
• Add you when you wake up when you go to bed.
• Add in time for studying, homework, and completing school readings.

At the end of this process, you should see whether or not your math equation is balanced. 

Do you have space in your schedule to fit your activities? Do you have space in your schedule to rest? If the answer is no, you need to reevaluate. 

If the answer is yes, then you have successfully balanced the time management math equation and you theoretically have time to complete the things you want to and have to do.

The Reality Of Time Management

Let’s assume you have successfully identified the activities you want to do and have to do, and you have made time visible by adding those activities to a calendar and determining that you have the time to do them all. Great. What’s next?

The reality is that time management has to be fluid. Life happens, schedules change, and sometimes we have to pivot unexpectedly. (Tip: build buffer time in your schedule between events.) If you don’t have tools and strategies to manage what happens if there’s traffic or you need longer than planned to complete an assignment, then you’re going to struggle to stay on track. 

For starters, it’s essential to avoid these time management mistakes . These mistakes can undo all of your time management efforts, so take them seriously.

It’s also essential to take your focus and concentration seriously. The best time management strategy in the world will collapse if you are not focused and if you can’t complete what you say you’re going to complete in the amount of time you allotted for that activity.

The Pomodoro Technique and the Power Hour are two effective time management strategies that Can increase your concentration and productivity. (Note: those links are for the blog post and video versions of the tutorials. If you prefer podcasts, here you go: How to Use the Pomodoro Technique and How to Use the Power Hour .)

Final Notes About Time Management for Students

I’ve already said this but it’s worth saying again: a good time management system involves periodic reevaluation.

Every 6 to 12 months, take a look at your system and assess whether things are working or not. Are you feeling stressed? Rushed? Overbooked? Or perhaps you’re feeling bored and not involved enough? 

It’s okay if your priorities and goals change as long as you come back to the foundations of good time management so you can get back on track.

What are the foundations of good time management? You know this: clarifying what you must do, clarifying and prioritizing what you want to do, and figuring out when those things will happen.

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Table of Contents

Why is time management important for students, 10 time management skills and techniques for students, working smarter to enhance productivity, the benefits of good time management, how well do you manage your time, general time-management tools, time management in practice, implications of poor time management, how to better manage your time at work, choose the right program.

Effective time management is all about achieving the right balance between your homework, university/college life, and your free time. As a student, organizing your days will eliminate stress and ensure that you are productive. The general time management tips for students, such as sleeping well, scheduling, and prioritizing, are some important tips that can help students in the long run. A more strategic approach is required to optimize the time a student has in a day.

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Time management for students (and everyone else) is about making your day purposeful. It is about taking control of the time you have and optimizing it for focus, productivity , and above all, balance. Before we list out the time management tips for students, it is crucial for students to understand why time management is important.

All of us should make the most of the limited amount of time we have in a day. It is very easy to get wrapped up in a fury of various activities and accomplish less. Managing time effectively enables students to become more confident, and organized, and learn more efficiently. Effective time management skills are particularly essential for high school students, as they have to deal with more subjects, tests, assignments, and extracurriculars. Time management techniques can help students be on track and cope with the stress of added responsibilities. 

Following are a few more reasons why time management is important for students:

Enables You to Accomplish Your Goals Faster

Appropriate time management makes one more effective and encourages you to give your best to what you are doing and what you can, thus helping you achieve your goals much faster.

Enables You to Prioritize Your Work

When creating a timetable, you prioritize and arrange essential tasks that need immediate attention. For example, students have to complete assignments before attending a session. A student can fit in time to work on the assignments before attending a study group with correct time management.

Enables You to Get More Done in Less Time

Dedicating a specified amount of time to a particular task helps you focus on it. Instead of working on a given task with no predefined time assigned, you can complete the same task by sticking to a time plan. Without a time plan, you might completely forget to finish a task.

Reduces Stress Levels 

Time management skills can help you prioritize the time required for essential tasks; prioritizing tasks and having enough time to accomplish those tasks means reduced stress levels.

Helps You Become More Efficient

Effective time management helps you to be more focused at school/college/university, thus increasing your efficiency and enabling you to accomplish more within less time.

So, how can students learn to manage time more effectively? We have collated a list of the best time management tips for students to beat procrastination, stay focused, and be more productive.

Efficient time management is one of the primary keys to success, and thus, it is worth learning. Following are time management strategies for students to help them manage their time in the best possible manner.

1. Make Use of a Daily Schedule Template to Plan Your Day

Seminars, classes, and workshops may take up a chunk of your day, but how one schedules their own time makes all the difference. It is essential to master your schedule.

A daily schedule template helps you manage and control your time each day. It will enable you to stay organized and focus on what matters most and even help you overcome procrastination. The method that most successful people from Elon Musk to Bill Gates use is “time blocking”. Time blocking is creating a template for how you intend to spend every minute of your day. Students should therefore follow this method to manage their time more fruitfully.

2. Understand How You are Currently Spending Your Time (And Where You Are Losing It)

Your schedule will offer you an ideal version of your day, but you need to analyze how you spend your time to develop better time management habits. Without understanding how you are spending your time each day, it is impossible to build better time management strategies for students to stay focused.

3. Set Proper Goals to Measure Your Progress

Goals are an excellent way to get you motivated to do school work. However, the problem is that goals are just the result, with you not knowing how to achieve them. So, focus on what needs to be done to achieve that goal by focusing on constant progress and developing better habits. For example, if you need to write a 5,000-word essay in a month, set a daily goal of writing 500 words. If you continue this, you can complete your essay in a week.

4. Break Large Projects Into Smaller, Actionable Tasks

A part of proper goal-setting is to segregate large goals from smaller daily tasks. Doing this will help you stay focused and stop you from procrastinating. It is easy to procrastinate when a project feels like a huge task. However, taking that first step is all you need to build momentum.

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5. Be Realistic About the Time You Need to Complete a Task

Once you begin to schedule your tasks for the day, you may get overly optimistic about how much you can achieve. Psychologists also have a name for this – The Planning Fallacy. One of the most effective time management tips for students is to counter the planning fallacy. Students should add a buffer to their schedule depending on how familiar they are with the task. If it is something that has been done before, then 1-1.5X time must be allocated to the time they think it may take to complete the project.

6. Pay Attention to Your Body’s Natural Energy Highs and Lows

We all have moments in the day when we are more energetic and alert. And if you want to exploit the time you have each day to its maximum, you cannot fight against your body’s natural state. What does this mean in terms of time management tips for students ? Simply put, students should do their most essential work when they feel most energetic. This means scheduling intense projects during energy highs and scheduling passive activities when the body is at its natural low.

7. Take Breaks at the Right Time

Take more breaks to manage your productivity over time. But when exactly is the right time to take a break? Sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman states, “our minds naturally crave breaks after every 90 minutes of intense work. Even if you do not have a timer going, your body will let you know that you need a break by turning sleepy, fidgeting, hungry, or losing focus”. When you begin to feel this way, you know it is time to take a break.

8. Remove Distractions

Between social media, cell phones, and friends, there are so many activities that can distract students from their school work. When it is time to get down to doing school work, students need to turn off their cell phones and sign out of social media accounts. Any amount of time that is devoted to school work must be television and cell phone free!

9. Avoid Multitasking

It may be tempting for students to feel that they can multitask when their schedule is jam-packed. But the more one tries to do it at once, the longer each thing takes. Instead, studies have found that deeply focusing on one task at a time can be around 500% more productive.

10. Build Better Routines and Habits for Long-Term Success

We are what we repetitively do. One of the best time management strategies for students and everyone else is to develop routines and habits that endorse the kind of actions you would like to do more of, for example, following a morning routine that concentrates on getting an early win and prepping yourself for a productive day. Or, ensure your evening routine preps you for an effective next day by setting your goals and schedules the night before.

When planning, prioritize the more extensive, more complex, and time-consuming chores at the beginning of the week (or day), so you may complete them first and relax more as the week progresses. Front-load your week to maximize your chances of success. This is similar to Eat That Frog, a productivity strategy that recommends performing the most important or influential activity first every day to ensure it gets done.

Constant meetings, social media, and an endless stream of emails may make it challenging to create a productive day. Developing effective habits at work will enable you to accomplish your best job regularly. You have two options for increasing your productivity. You may work longer hours if you bring your job home with you. You may also work smarter by boosting efficiency without sacrificing quality. Let's look at some significant benefits of good time management are: 

Stress Relief

One of the primary causes of increased stress is poor time management. When you have a lot to accomplish and are unsure how to do it, you usually perform a rush job under pressure. However, with proper time management, you can schedule your daily chores so that you work smarter rather than harder. For example, you may prepare critical tasks for when you're most productive or set aside additional time for things you suspect will take longer than expected. So, even if you work longer, you will have enough time to complete everything while being calm.

By identifying task completion time, you can use less energy and worry less about whether you can achieve everything you need to do today. Instead, make time to take a break from your typical routine. You may preserve energy for your spare time since time management helps you to plan when your task will be completed before you begin it. Having more free time can help you achieve a better work-life balance and ensure you make time for yourself.

More Opportunities

Effective time management may help you achieve more success by improving the quality of your work. When you manage your time well, you not only provide excellent work on schedule, but you also work without stress. This displays improved decision-making abilities and potential for leadership . In other words, you exhibit traits that are necessary for job advancement. This will provide you with greater and more chances.

Ability to Realize Goals

You may simplify your day and spend less time selecting what to do or how to accomplish it if you use time management to arrange what you need to complete each day. For example, deciding what to do for each step before commencing the project may be beneficial if you have a complex project with an outline that requires several yet unclear phases. The project is then reduced to a short set of activities that give guidance. You save time by preparing your objectives rather than finding them out as you go. This might mean spending less time pondering what you should be doing and more time doing it.

There are several approaches you may use based on your time management abilities and experience, but the goal is to explain a system that works for you and makes sense in the position you're going for. In other words, if you're working in a team atmosphere, discuss an efficient time management approach for teamwork, such as getting everyone acquainted with project management software. Then, discuss the advantages of employing this method for time management. Going into depth about how this technique has worked for you demonstrates to the interviewer that you have real-world experience adopting this way to manage your time and aren't simply making it up.

Time management is critical to your success. You may achieve any goal you set your mind to by using an excellent time planner and master list. These are common time management tools and practices that you should employ to maximize productivity and personal organization. Each of these takes some effort to learn and perfect, but they will pay you back in increased efficiency and effectiveness for the rest of your life.

Prioritization

The 80/20 rule was developed by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It's believed that 20% of activities are accountable for 80% of results. The purpose of Pareto analysis is to assist you in prioritizing tasks that are most successful at issue resolution. List some of the difficulties you are experiencing. Determine the fundamental source of each issue. Assign a score to each problem and arrange them by cause. Add the scores from each group: The topic should be addressed first in the group with the highest score. Take some action.

Scheduling is the art of preparing your activities so that you may accomplish your goals and prioritize your priorities in the time you have available. When done correctly, it can assist you in realizing what you can do with your time. Ensure you leave adequate time for import duties and only take on what you can do.

Goal Setting

Smart goals enable people to plan and attain their objectives in a reasonable amount of time. It can also aid in improving time management in professional contexts such as school and the workplace. Smart goal planning may give direction for your aims and help you build practical measures to attain those goals if you want to manage your time wisely.

Concentration and Focus

Distractions are a major impediment to personal time management. Close the door to avoid as many distractions as possible. Only pay attention to what you're doing right now.

In terms of significance, describe your top two distractions over the next two weeks. Remember that staying focused during the day necessitates proper sleep habits and enough fluids.

Effective time management entails completing more vital tasks in a single day. Effective time management is more important than efficient time management. The most successful time managers are also the most efficient. Try some time management software. The first time management tool you require is a time planner, which provides all the information you need to plan and arrange your life. The most excellent time planners, whether looseleaf or electronic, allow you to prepare for the whole year, the month, the week, and each day.

We all know that there never seems to be enough time in the day, and as a result, things slip by the wayside. While this occurs to the best of us from time to time, students who battle with time management regularly are doing themselves no favors.

Poor Workflow

Poor efficiency results from a failure to plan and keep to goals. For example, completing related chores concurrently or sequentially is an intelligent approach if many significant tasks need to be accomplished. However, if you plan, you may be able to bounce back and forth, or backtrack, in your job. This equates to decreased efficiency and output.

Wasted Time

Wasted time arises from poor time management. For example, chatting with pals on social media while working on an assignment is a distraction and a waste of time.

Loss of Control

You will lose control of your professional life if you do not know the next assignment. This might lead to increased tension and worry.

Poor Quality of Work

The quality of your work could be better when you manage your time well. Quality is often degraded when things are rushed at the last minute.

Poor Reputation

When clients or your company cannot rely on you to finish things on time, their expectations and impressions of you suffer. A client who needs to trust you to complete a task on schedule will likely look for another service provider.

Your ability to manage your time affects how productive you are each day. You can accomplish more in less time with effective time management, which also helps you feel less stressed and advance in your profession. Instead of just using the following tools as a timetable to complete more tasks, make them represent your values—what is most important to you. When you arrange and calendar your time and make the split-second decisions essential to efficient time management for balance and well-being, remember these principles.

1. Know How You’re Spending Your Time

You need to keep track of what you do with your time to identify any activities or routines preventing you from achieving your desired objectives. You must start and end each day with a purpose to make the most of your time.

You have two choices for keeping track of your time:

• Spend a day or two manually recording your activities in a "time log."
• To automatically log your time, use a free program like RescueTime.

2. Stick to a Daily Schedule

While making a to-do list is a common theme in time and productivity management advice for students, mastering your daily schedule is even more crucial. 

Time blocking is the strategy of choice for many of the most successful people in the world, including Bill Gates and Elon Musk. But time blocking is planning how to spend each minute of your day.

• Create Realistic Timelines: A schedule must be practical to be effective. Plan your study time wisely to increase your study skills. The study techniques of the students vary from one another. This entails scheduling time for breaks, meals, exercise, social interaction, phone calls to loved ones, and all other "non-school" activities that keep you content and motivated.
• Give your undivided Attention: Your best friend in this situation is "self-discipline" and "self-control." If you must take a break, do so, but try to avoid sneaking away to other websites while working. Turn off your phone or put it away until it's time for a scheduled break.

3. Prioritize

1440 minutes make up one day. Within these hours, you must set practical priorities. Setting suitable priorities for your study goals is one of the sage study advice. If you have a lot of material to learn, start breaking it down into manageable chunks and choose what is most crucial. One of the best study strategies is making the most of your morning hours when nobody is awake to disturb you since they are asleep.

• Do immediately: Tasks that are crucial and have clear deadlines, or ones you've put off so long they're past due.
• Schedule for later: Crucial assignments with no set deadlines.
• Delegate: Those tasks that others can execute.
• Delete: Activities you can skip since they are optional to achieving your objectives or carrying out your mission.

4. Tackle the Most Difficult Task First

You should complete your most crucial tasks when you're most energetic. This entails arranging writing or other demanding tasks for when your energy levels are at their highest and reading or other passive pursuits for when they are at their lowest.

Brian Tracy's renowned Eat That Frog productivity technique is quite effective for those who delay or find themselves procrastinating frequently or who may have difficulty avoiding distractions. It suggests starting with the task that is the hardest, most complicated, and most critical, i.e., the one you're most inclined to put off for later. Once you've "devoured that frog," only then should you move on; that too without much stress.

5. Batch-Process Similar Tasks

Task batching is when you organize related jobs or tasks into groups and finish them all at once. Using this method, you can easily cut down on multitasking and extend your time to give all your projects your full attention.

For instance: At around 10 to 11 a.m. daily, organize and respond to emails and organize your digital study materials simultaneously.

6. Set Reasonable Time Limits

Focus on what has to be done to reach and surpass the objective instead of starting at the end and moving backward. You might take a full day to finish two different tasks that could be completed in only three hours if you had a full day to do so. There's a good possibility you'll still reach the earlier deadline if you give yourself a shorter window.

What can you do every day to further your ultimate aim? This entails putting an emphasis on steady improvement and forming improved routines. Even better, seeing daily progress will spur you to do more. Work "expands to occupy the time given to do it," according to Parkinson's law.

7. Learn When to Say No

Our energy levels are limited each day and tend to decrease with time. It is wise to know your limits and be prepared to say no to prevent doing subpar work. Understand your advantages and disadvantages. It is ideal for concentrating on one's strengths and delegating tasks that others can complete more quickly and effectively.

8. Avoid Multitasking

Concentrate on one item at a time to manage your time and commit it to study effectively. Nothing gets accomplished when you attempt to perform too many tasks at once. So, starting with one activity, finishing it, and moving on to another is one of the greatest study- focus- ideas .

When your schedule is packed, believing you can multitask is tempting. But everything takes longer the more you try to complete it at once. Instead, studies show that concentrating intently on a single activity can increase productivity by up to 500% . The American Psychological Association claims that mental juggling comes with "switching costs" that reduce your output. Changing tasks may take a few seconds each, but it adds up if you multitask regularly. Your potential for error also increases.

9. Keep Things Organized

Efficiency will rise if your workspace is tidy and organized because you won't have time to look for paper. Learning how to be organized is a talent that can be known. Start with these fundamentals.

• Maintain a clean work desk: The office's physical surroundings greatly impact how you operate. When your environment is chaotic, you are too. You can also be affected by clutter in less direct ways. Research has demonstrated that your physical settings substantially impact your cognition, emotions, and behavior, affecting how you make decisions and interact with others.
• Coordinate your computer files and shared drives: Loss of files and decreased productivity might result from improperly arranging shared files. Nothing is more confusing than spending most of your working hours searching your system for files. Create distinct folders for your files according to their categories to save yourself the hassle.
• Use a calendar: Using a well-organized calendar, you can manage your time to keep on top of your to-do lists and maintain focus throughout the workday. Although many executives have secretaries who work their calendars, anyone may utilize the same procedures to become more productive.

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Time management for students is highly intimidating, especially when you have multiple things on your to-do list. It is one of the most challenging tasks for students as they are expected to fare well and produce good results while handling the pressures of school assignments, homework, projects, and maintaining a social life. However, with our list of time management tips for students, we are confident that students will be able to come up with an arrangement to ensure that every day is as productive as possible. 

As you know, there is never an end to learning. To make your day more effective, you can always take up courses as a student to boost your career. A PMP® Certification Training  from Simplilearn will help you master core project management tools as a strategic tool for business transformation.

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• Time Management for Busy College Students

Time Management Tips for Busy College Students

Time is a finite resource. Balancing responsibilities at your job, home, and school is not easy. No matter what, you’re always left with the same 24 hours in a day to check items off to-do lists, spend time with family and friends, and unwind. By planning ahead and using your time wisely, you’ll be able to accomplish more and enjoy added free time.

Follow these eight time management tips and strategies to ensure that you meet deadlines, are well prepared for exams, and have time for yourself while pursuing a college degree.

1. Identify Time-Wasters and Set Goals

It’s easy to get distracted. Pay attention to what draws your focus away from your studies and assignments.

• Are you spending too much time checking social media?
• Are you prone to texting and answering personal phone calls while studying?
• Do you find that a lot of time has passed while you aimlessly browse the web?

No matter what is wasting your time, set a goal not to engage in that behavior during dedicated study time. Instead, use those activities as a reward for staying focused and accomplishing the tasks you set out to complete.

2. Plan Ahead by Creating a To-Do List

Identify what you need to do, and then prioritize the tasks based on when the assignment is due and how much time you need to complete it. This gives you a set plan for the day. Whether it’s just a list of priorities or a full schedule for the day, having a plan will ensure that you know what to do and when.

Unless there’s a pressing priority, it’s important to also consider what sort of work you’re in the mood to do.

• Do you feel creative? You may want to prioritize working on a writing assignment.
• Do you feel focused? You could spend the day studying for an upcoming exam.

3. Tackle Small Tasks to Start

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by large projects and big exams, and the anxiety can make you want to procrastinate. Start with shorter, simpler to-do items, and then move on to larger projects or assignments.

• What can you complete in the shortest time that has the fewest dependencies?
• What needs more time or has more complicated workflows?

4. Do One Thing at a Time

If you’re trying to juggle multiple assignments and tasks, you’ll likely end up being less productive. To combat the urge to multitask, ask yourself:

• What are your most common distractions (email, social media, electronics, etc.)?
• Can you turn off the devices or applications?

Turn off any devices that you can. And no matter what, don’t switch to another task until the one before it is complete. This may be a hard habit to break, but it’s worth it.

5. Establish Routines

A set routine can also help you accomplish the things you need to do. Is your home quietest in the early morning? You may want to get in the habit of regularly using that time to study or read. The more often you do this, the less you’ll have to think about when you’ll accomplish the tasks you need to finish that day.

6. Use Breaks Wisely

The time between work, classes, activities, and meetings can be used to complete tasks. People who use the Pomodoro Technique , developed in the 1990s, work in short intervals and take short, regular, timed breaks — “Pomodoros." For example, you might use a timer to work in 25-minute sprints, broken up by 5-minute breaks away from your workspace. Every fourth Pomodoro, take a longer break

7. Take Time Off

It’s important to take time for yourself. Long study sessions or chunks of time working on assignments should be broken up with time away from screens or textbooks. You need to give your mind a rest.

Many scholars have studied the impact of meditation on reducing the effects of stress-induced conditions such as back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and insomnia. The National Institutes of Health gathered these studies and published them in “ Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need To Know .” 

8. Learn to Delegate

While your significant other, family members, or roommates won’t be able to study for you, you can ask them to help out more around the house while you continue your education. Freeing up a little more time by having others help with household chores and errands will ensure that you can stay focused on your studies and coursework or that you can take a well-deserved break.

Additional Time Management Tips for Online College Students

As an online college student, it’s vital that you implement good time management techniques. In fact, research shows that online students who are able to self-manage their behavior are less likely to drop out of their courses and have better academic outcomes.

While all of the above tips are applicable to online college students, there are a few additional considerations:

• Establish a study space . Having a designated spot for studying can help you avoid distractions, especially if you’re trying to study in parts of your home that are regularly used for entertainment.
• Get dressed. You don’t have to go all out, but just the act of getting dressed for the day can help your brain shift from lounging mode to working mode.
• Check in each day. Studying can become easy to dismiss when you're not physically going into your classes. Therefore, make sure to visit your virtual class chatrooms, chime in on conversations, and ask your instructor questions. This will keep you engaged in the class and on top of your assignments.
• Create physical reminders. Many people these days use their phone for reminders and calendars, but getting on your phone can lead to time-wasting activities. Instead, use a physical desk calendar, sticky notes, etc.

Time Management Resources

To create and manage lists, try these apps:.

Any.do – This easy-to-use desktop and mobile app keeps your to-do lists and calendar in one central location and syncs between devices and platforms.

Remember the Milk – This is another fun app that helps you manage to-do lists across multiple devices and users.

Todoist – This app balances power and simplicity, using natural language processing to simplify scheduling as well as integration with multiple apps so you can keep all of your tasks in a centralized location. 

To Increase Productivity, Try These Apps:

RescueTime – This app runs in the background of your desktop computer or smartphone, tracking how much time you spend on various sites and apps, and it then provides a detailed report on where you spend your time. Use this information to tweak your browsing habits and work more efficiently.

Streaks – Using gamification, this app helps you form good habits. It allows you to enter up to 24 tasks and how often they should be completed. As you mark off tasks, it tracks your completion rate and streak score.

Freedom – Reduce distractions and improve productivity with this app that blocks websites and apps on your smartphone or desktop computer.

To Set Goals, Try These Strategies:

Learn how to set SMART goals — those that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Learn more about goal setting from The National Society of Leadership and Success .

To Get More In-Depth Time Management Help, Try These Books:

• The Productivity Revolution: Control Your Time and Get Things Done! by Marc Reklau
• The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Ask for Help

Take advantage of academic resources that help busy college students balance studies, work, and life. Many online schools offer peer-to-peer and faculty support. For example, Purdue Global offers personalized student support through Academic Tutoring and Support Centers . 

To learn more about online programs offered by Purdue Global,  request more information today.

About the Author

Purdue Global

Earn a degree you're proud of and employers respect at Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. Accredited and online, Purdue Global gives you the flexibility and support you need to come back and move your career forward. Choose from 175+ programs, all backed by the power of Purdue.

• Alumni & Student Stories
• General Education
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• Online Learning

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Learn more about online programs at Purdue Global and download our program guide.

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Third-Party Products and Services: Any reference to a third-party website, product, or service does not constitute an endorsement by Purdue Global.

Home » The Top Tips » 20 Time Management Tips For Students

20 Time Management Tips For Students

May 26, 2023

In today’s fast-paced academic environment, effective time management is essential for students to balance their academic, extracurricular, and social commitments. With a myriad of responsibilities and deadlines, mastering the art of allocating their time wisely can greatly impact a student’s overall success. The following article presents 20 time management tips specifically tailored to help students stay organized, optimize their productivity, and minimize stress throughout their educational journey.

Many students find themselves overwhelmed by their schedules and struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance. By integrating practical time management strategies into their daily routine, they can make the most of the available hours and enhance their performance in various aspects of their life. From setting realistic goals to prioritizing tasks, these evidence-based techniques will empower students to take control of their time and achieve their academic and personal objectives.

To get started on the path to effective time management, it’s important to recognize that each student’s situation is unique, and the tips present in this article can be tailored to suit individual needs and preferences. By implementing one or more of these strategies, students will not only improve their time management skills but also foster a more structured, organized, and focused approach to their academic and personal pursuits.

Table of Contents

Understanding Time Management

Time management importance.

Time management is a crucial life skill, particularly for high school, college, and university students. With a multitude of academic responsibilities, personal commitments, and extracurricular activities, efficiently managing time helps students maintain a well-balanced lifestyle. Effective time management enables students to prioritize tasks, reduce procrastination, and boost confidence in their ability to accomplish goals.

To reinforce the importance of time management, here are some benefits that students may experience:

• Improved academic performance
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Increased self-discipline and focus
• Enhanced overall productivity

The Role of Balance

Striking the right balance between academic work, personal life, and other activities is essential for students. Achieving equilibrium allows them to manage their day-to-day tasks while also finding time for relaxation and self-care. A balanced approach to time management helps students avoid burnout and ensures they allocate sufficient time to all aspects of their lives.

Some tips for maintaining balance include:

• Establishing a daily schedule
• Setting realistic short and long-term goals
• Prioritizing tasks and assignments
• Allocating sufficient time for relaxation and socialization

Productivity

Productivity is directly linked to time management, and mastering this skill is vital for students at all educational levels. By effectively managing time, students can accomplish more tasks within a shorter period, boost their academic performance, and enhance their overall productivity.

Here are some strategies to improve productivity:

• Remove distractions and maintain an organized workspace
• Break tasks into smaller, manageable portions
• Use time management tools and techniques, such as time blocking or the Pomodoro technique
• Regularly evaluate and adjust time management strategies as needed

By understanding the importance of time management, maintaining a balanced approach, and focusing on productivity, students can better manage their academic workload and excel in their educational pursuits.

Setting Goals and Priorities

Identifying priorities.

The first step in managing your time effectively is identifying your priorities. Priorities give you a sense of direction and help you stay focused on what’s important. Start by making a list of all your tasks and responsibilities, and categorize them into different areas such as academics, extracurricular activities, and personal life. Then, rank your tasks based on their importance and urgency. This way, you’ll be able to devote your time and energy to the most pressing tasks first. Remember to frequently review and update your priorities as they may change over time.

Creating Realistic Goals

Once you’ve identified your priorities, the next step is to set realistic goals. Setting goals not only provides motivation but also helps you measure your progress. When setting goals, use the SMART criteria:

• S pecific: Clearly define your objective.
• M easurable: Ensure that you can track your progress and measure the outcome.
• A chievable: Your goal should be challenging yet attainable.
• R elevant: Relate the goal to your priorities and overall objectives.
• T ime-bound: Set a deadline to maintain a sense of urgency.

By following these guidelines, you’ll have a better chance of reaching your goals and maintaining a balanced approach to your responsibilities.

Breaking Down Large Projects

Sometimes, large projects can be intimidating and overwhelming. To manage them effectively, break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. Creating a detailed plan with deadlines for each sub-task helps you keep track of your progress and ensures you don’t miss any due dates. This approach not only decreases stress and procrastination but also makes it easier to identify potential obstacles and make adjustments when necessary.

In summary, setting goals and priorities is a critical component of successful time management for students. By identifying priorities, creating realistic goals, and breaking down large projects, you can effectively manage your time and accomplish more in your academic and personal life.

Planning and Organizing Your Schedule

Creating a master schedule.

A master schedule is essential for effective time management. Start by using a  calendar  to input all your commitments, such as classes, extracurricular activities, assignment deadlines, and exams. This will give you a visual overview of your responsibilities and make it easier for you to allocate time for studying and leisure activities. You can use a physical calendar or a digital one, whichever works best for you.

Incorporating Routines and Flexibility

Establishing  routines  will help you manage your time more efficiently. Set a time for waking up, studying, and other activities each day, so your body and mind get used to this rhythm. However, remember to include some flexibility in your schedule, as unexpected events or changes in plans might occur. Allowing room for adjustments helps to reduce stress and ensures that you can still meet your goals.

Consider incorporating the following routines:

• Regular study hours
• Designated time for chores and errands
• Breaks between study sessions
• A consistent bedtime

Utilizing Time Blocking and Pomodoro Technique

Time blocking  is a scheduling method that involves dividing your day into designated time slots for different activities. This helps in avoiding multitasking and focusing on completing one task at a time.

The  Pomodoro Technique  is another useful time management tool. It involves breaking your study time into 25-minute intervals, called “Pomodoros,” followed by a 5-minute break. After every four Pomodoros, take a longer break (15-30 minutes). This method boosts productivity and reduces the risk of burnout.

By following these tips and strategies, you’ll be on your way to effectively managing your time and achieving academic success.

Managing Workload and Assignments

Breaking assignments into smaller tasks.

Breaking large assignments into smaller tasks is an effective way to manage your workload and better understand what needs to be done. By doing so, you can focus on one part at a time, making the overall project feel less daunting. In addition, smaller tasks are easier to schedule and allocate time to, which can help improve your overall time management. Here’s a recommended approach:

• Identify  the main components of an assignment
• Break down  each component into smaller tasks
• Estimate  how long each task will take to complete
• Prioritize  tasks based on their importance and deadline
• Schedule  time for each task, making sure to factor in breaks and other commitments

Tracking Due Dates and Reminders

To effectively manage your workload, it’s crucial to track assignment due dates and set reminders for yourself. This can help ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines and can allocate time appropriately for each task. You can use a physical or digital calendar, planner, or to-do list to keep track of your deadlines and tasks. Key points to remember:

• Enter  all assignment due dates and exam times at the beginning of the term
• Set  reminders for important dates and milestones within each project
• Review  your calendar regularly to stay aware of your upcoming deadlines
• Update  your schedule as needed, making sure to account for any changes in deadlines or priorities

Joining a Study Group

Joining a study group can be an efficient way to manage your workload and make progress on assignments. Study groups provide a place to collaborate, ask questions, hold each other accountable, and learn from your peers. This can help you better understand difficult concepts and work through assignments more efficiently. Here are some tips for joining a study group:

• Choose  a group with a mix of people who share similar goals and study habits
• Establish  meeting times, locations, and rules that work for everyone
• Rotate  responsibilities, such as leading discussions, taking notes, or bringing study materials
• Collaborate  on assignments or tasks by dividing them into smaller sections, working on them together, and providing feedback to each other
• Stay  focused and engaged in the group, remembering the primary goal is to study

By following these tips, you can efficiently manage your workload and better prepare yourself for academic success.

Strategies to Boost Focus and Productivity

Eliminating distractions and multitasking.

To enhance focus and productivity, start by eliminating distractions. This includes turning off notifications on your smartphone, closing irrelevant websites or social media, and setting up a dedicated study space. Avoid multitasking as it can reduce concentration and lead to increased errors. Instead, focus on one task at a time for maximum productivity.

Setting Daily Priorities and To-Do Lists

Create daily to-do lists to help manage tasks and prioritize them based on urgency and importance. This helps organize tasks and makes it easier to identify the most impactful tasks. Break down large tasks into smaller steps, and use the following format for a simple to-do list:

• Priority A:  High-priority tasks
• Priority B:  Medium-priority tasks
• Priority C:  Low-priority tasks

Incorporating Breaks and Exercise

Regular breaks and exercise can help improve focus and productivity. Consider implementing short breaks, say, for every 45-60 minutes of studying. Additionally, engaging in physical activity, such as a brisk walk or stretching, can improve blood circulation and mental alertness.

Monitoring Time Use with Time Logs and Apps

Keep track of how you use your time to identify potential time-wasters and adjust habits accordingly. Time logs help monitor daily activities, while apps, such as RescueTime, can track time spent on websites and overall screen time. Analyze the collected data to identify areas for improvement.

Adopting the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a straightforward time management method that can help maintain focus and productivity. To use this technique, follow these steps:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes
• Work on a single task until the timer rang
• Mark off one Pomodoro and record what you completed
• Take a 5-minute break

Repeat this process, and after completing four Pomodoros, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

Maintaining Work-Life Balance

Finding time for hobbies and sports.

Striking the right  balance  is key in navigating through your  university  life. One component of achieving harmony is ensuring there is time for hobbies and sports. By dedicating time to activities you enjoy, you can better manage stress and improve focus. Here are some suggestions:

• Create a schedule  that includes specific time slots for pursuing hobbies or sports. Doing so ensures you allocate sufficient time for leisure alongside coursework or job responsibilities.
• Consider integrating hobbies into your study breaks, as this can help recharge your brain and make your study sessions more effective.
• Join clubs or organizations on campus to engage with like-minded individuals. This can provide social support while pursuing interests, ultimately contributing to a more successful work-life balance.

Incorporating Sleep and Self-Care Practices

In addition to finding time for hobbies and sports, prioritizing sleep and self-care is crucial for overall well-being. Here’s how to incorporate these practices into your routine:

• Establish a consistent sleep schedule : Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, even during busy periods. Consistent sleep patterns can boost cognitive abilities and academic performance.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine : Rituals like reading, taking a warm bath, or practicing calming activities, such as meditation or gentle stretching, can set the stage for restful sleep.
• Take care of your physical health : Make time for regular exercise, eat a balanced diet, and stay hydrated. These practices support cognitive function and enhance energy levels, making it easier to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
• Schedule self-care activities : Just as you plan for studying or attending classes, allocate time in your schedule for activities that promote well-being. This may include spending time with friends, engaging in mindfulness practices, or seeking professional support when needed.

By following these guidelines, you can better establish equilibrium between your academic, professional, and personal life, ultimately achieving a more harmonious work-life balance.

Developing Discipline and Organizational Skills

Staying committed to routines and plans.

Developing self-discipline is crucial for students to achieve success and graduate on time. A core component of self-discipline is consistently following routines and plans. Creating a  master schedule  at the beginning of each term helps students allocate time for all their commitments, including classes, assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities.

• Stick to daily routines: Establish a consistent morning and bedtime routine, as well as study habits to ensure consistency.
• Break tasks into manageable chunks: Divide larger assignments or tasks into smaller tasks to keep motivation high and prevent feeling overwhelmed.
• Prioritize tasks: Focus on completing important tasks first, such as assignments with the nearest due dates, to avoid procrastination.

Using Technology Responsibly

In addition to traditional organizational skills, students must also learn to use technology responsibly to manage their time effectively. Here are some tips for making the most of technology while staying disciplined:

• Use digital calendars: Utilize digital calendars such as Google Calendar to plan and track appointments, deadlines, and events.
• Leverage time management apps: Explore apps like Forest, Trello, and Todoist for a user-friendly way to manage tasks, set reminders, and stay on track.
• Filter emails: Organize your inbox by filtering and labeling emails based on their importance, to streamline communication and avoid missing important information.
• Limit distractions: Utilize browser extensions or apps to block distracting websites during study sessions and allocate dedicated time for breaks and leisure.

Remember, while technology can be an excellent tool for improving time management and organizational skills, it is crucial to use it responsibly. Self-discipline plays a vital role in balancing the use of gadgets and apps with schoolwork and personal life. By developing solid routines, staying committed to plans, and incorporating technology mindfully, students can achieve greater success throughout their academic journey.

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Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > What are the Best Time Management for College Students?

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

What are the Best Time Management for College Students?

Updated: June 19, 2024

Published: October 22, 2018

With 24 hours in a day and 7 days a week, time is constrained. As such, time is a commodity and a resource that’s well worth maximizing, especially when you are a college student. In this article, we are going to share some of the best time management tips for college students to make it feel like you have more time, or at least, just enough time to get everything you’d want to do.

Source: Unsplash

What is time management.

Time management refers to the ability to use time effectively. Although there’s a constraint on time, time management can make it feel like there’s more of it in a day, depending on how you structure your schedule.

Since time management is considered a skill, it can be learned and strengthened. That’s why we’re sharing how to manage time in college.

Time Management Tips for Students

Keeping this all in mind, let’s take a look at some of these time management tips for students.

Perhaps one of the most important steps in being able to manage your time well is to know what you are using your time for in the first place. By setting goals and identifying time wasters, you can help to keep yourself on a more efficient track.

To set goals, take a look at what you spend your time on. For example, if you use the “Screen Time” app on a iPhone, you can find out how much time you spend and how you spend it using your phone. If you notice that you spend 5 hours a day on social media apps, then you may want to set a goal to cut it down to 2 instead. By doing so, you will free up 3 hours of your day for other activities.

Make Note of Deadlines

When you’re in college, you will be taking several classes at a time. Within each class, you’ll have assignments and tests with different due dates. While it can become overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be when you are practicing time management. One thing you can do is to write down all your deadlines ahead of time in a clear chart, on a calendar,  or even on a sheet of paper. This way, you can schedule study time and time to work on assignments according to what is due first.

Start with Small Tasks  / Break Up Large Tasks

When you have a long to-do list, you may feel defeated just by looking at it. Instead, you can write it in an order that will work in your favor. To explain, consider placing all the small and low-level tasks at the beginning of your day’s to-do list. By fulfilling these small and plentiful tasks, you gain momentum and already go into the day with a sense of accomplishment. Then, if you have large tasks or assignments that will take multiple hours or days to work on, break them down into smaller parts. Doing this helps you to stay motivated rather than stare at the task without knowing where to begin because the size of the task can provoke fear. Basically, you are making tasks manageable rather than allowing them to seize control of your mind.

Create a schedule

One of the biggest recommendations that you’ll find when learning about time management is to use a schedule to your advantage. You can set up a schedule using digital tools like phones or computers using the calendar app. Or, you can even do so manually by writing your schedule down in a planner. Depending on how granular you want to get, you can break up days into blocks of hours or even minutes. Before you set your schedule, write down the aspects that you are looking to include, i.e. social activities, lecture hours, study time, cooking time, exercise time, family time, etc.

If you’re attending an online college, then you will have a more flexible schedule as to when you attend class (if lectures are pre-recorded). This could make scheduling easier because it is totally within your control.

Use Checklists

A weekly checklist can also help to better manage your time when you are in college. Here’s how it can work: At the start of each week, write down the assignments and projects that are upcoming for that week. You may even want to color-code them based on the subject. You can input this check(list) of items into your schedule. By referring back to the checklist, you will make sure that no item is forgotten or overlooked.

Use Breaks Wisely

A major aspect of time management is how you choose to use breaks. Besides taking intentional breaks to do nothing and recharge, the breaks that already exist in your schedule can serve as “extra” time. For example, you can complete tasks using the time between classes. Say you have to grocery shop for the week. You have an hour between two lectures. That could be a great time to knock grocery shopping off of your to-do list. When you start using breaks effectively to get things done, you will notice that it feels like you’ve made more time to do what you want to do, rather than what you have to do.

Leverage Technology

When it comes to time management, technology is your friend! There’s an array of time management apps you can download to help you get things done. Here’s a look at some of the best time management apps to choose from. Additionally, even simple and existing tools like timers and calendars on your handheld device can be used for time management, as already discussed.

Ask for Help

In terms of time management, asking for help often happens in the form of delegation. For example, if you’re living with roommates, then consider devising a cleaning schedule where everyone takes turns. By doing so, you can free up some of your time to focus on your schoolwork (or social activities).

Reward Yourself

No matter how many strides you make on your journey of time management, take some time (no pun intended) to reward yourself. Your rewards should coincide with the time management goals that you’ve set. So, once you reach your goals, you have something to look forward to (a.k.a. the reward).

Closing Thoughts

By following some or all of the aforementioned best time management tips for college students, you may discover that it feels like you have more time in a day. The idea of organizing time can feel liberating as you’ll be more productive. In turn, you will have more time to do the things you want to do because you’ve managed to get done the things you have to.

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The Ultimate Guide: The Importance of Time management for Students

Time management is an essential skill for students to master. It helps them become more efficient and productive while studying, which can ultimately improve academic performance.

By creating a plan to focus on important tasks and prioritize their studies, students can make the most of their time and ensure they are making progress toward their goals.

Additionally, effective time management techniques can help reduce stress and provide a sense of control during the challenging academic year.

With these benefits, it is clear why mastering the art of time management is so important for students.

What are the benefits of time management?

There are many benefits to effective time management for students. The most obvious benefits are:

Improved academic performance

When students have a better handle on their time management, they can more effectively manage the tasks that are important to get done.

By following a well-thought-out plan, studying becomes easier and more productive because students will be aware of how much time they need to spend on each task.

Additionally, stress levels can decrease since students don’t need to worry about cramming for exams or missing deadlines.

This can lead to better grades since students are able to dedicate more time and focus on their studies.

Reduced stress levels

Time management is a great way to reduce the amount of stress in a student’s life.

When students have a plan for when and how to do their work, it takes away the worry of not getting things done on time.

Additionally, having an organized schedule can help lessen the impact of unexpected events or tasks that arise.

By knowing what needs to be done ahead of time, students can more easily adjust their plans and priorities as needed.

This both reduces stress and provides a sense of control over the situation.

Increased efficiency

Time management also helps to make studying more efficient by streamlining the process.

With an effective plan, students can quickly identify what tasks or assignments they should be focusing on first and prioritize their workload accordingly.

Additionally, this can help minimize distractions since students already know what needs to be done and when.

As a result, studying becomes more efficient because students can focus on their work without having to worry about the other tasks they should be doing but forget about.

Improved self-discipline

Time management also helps to improve self-discipline. Maintaining a consistent plan requires dedication, focus, and motivation.

As students create habits for themselves to stay on track, their discipline will gradually increase.

With improved self-discipline, students can better manage their time in order to complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

Additionally, setting goals and sticking to them can help build confidence and a sense of accomplishment. 

What are some tips for effective time management?

There are many strategies students can use to help them become better at time management. Here are some tips for effective time management:

Create a plan

Creating a plan is the first step toward successful time management.

Students should start by making a list of all their tasks , class assignments, and activities that need to be completed each day or week.

Additionally, they should factor in any extra-curricular activities and social events that will take up time.

Once these are listed, students can create a schedule that lists out what tasks need to be completed, when, and how long each task should take.

This plan should also include breaks or free time to help balance their workloads.

Prioritize tasks

Once a plan is created, students should prioritize the tasks that need to be completed first.

This helps to ensure that important deadlines and due dates are met in time.

Additionally, it will also help reduce stress since there is less of a chance of forgetting about an important task or assignment.

Students should create their plans for the upcoming day before they go to bed, so they can wake up with a clear plan of action.

Take breaks

Taking regular breaks is an important part of time management.

Breaks give students a break from their studies and help them stay focused on the tasks that need to be completed.

Additionally, taking short walks or naps can help reduce stress levels and help students stay energized throughout the day.

Stay organized

It is important for students to stay organized when managing their time.

This can include using a planner or calendar to keep track of tasks, setting reminders on phones or computers, and staying on top of emails and notifications.

Staying organized will make it easier to prioritize and plan tasks in a timely manner.

Take regular breaks

To improve focus and productivity , students should take regular breaks throughout the day.

This can include taking a break for lunch or taking a few minutes to relax before diving back into their studies.

Taking regular breaks helps to keep students focused while they are studying and also prevents them from becoming overwhelmed by their workloads.

Reward yourself

Giving yourself rewards for reaching milestones or completing tasks can be an effective way to stay motivated and on track.

This could include things like watching an episode of a favorite show, having a snack or taking a walk after completing an assignment.

Doing this will help keep students motivated and provide them with something to look forward to throughout their studies.

Eliminate time-wasting activities

Students should also take time to identify any activities or distractions that are wasting their time.

This can include spending too much time on social media , watching television, or chatting with friends.

By identifying and eliminating these activities, students will be able to focus more of their energy on the tasks that need to be completed.

Time management is an important skill for students to learn in order to stay organized and on top of their studies.

By creating a plan, prioritizing tasks, taking regular breaks, staying organized and rewarding themselves, students will be able to better manage their time and complete tasks faster and more efficiently.

With practice, successful time management can become second nature and help students stay on track with their studies.

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10 Ways To Improve Time Management For Students

• January 11, 2018
• Enrichment , Homework , Studying

Learning how to manage time effectively is an important skill for students to master.

But many students struggle with finding the time to complete all their assignments, leading to overwhelming feelings of stress and frustration.

To help, we’ve created a list of time management strategies for students of all ages to help students (and their parents) put the days of last-minute project panic and school stress behind them.

Why Is Time Management Important For Students?

Good time management skills help students prioritize tasks so they are able to complete school work and assignments on time. Students are able to plan ahead, set aside the time they need for projects and assignments, and make better use of that time.

Becoming better at managing time allows students to become more organized, more confident, and learn more effectively. It can also help students avoid the dreaded procrastination problem , which can be a slippery slope to stress, frustration, and poor grades.

Effective time management skills are especially important for high school students. As students enter high school, they have to deal with more subjects, assignments, tests, and extracurriculars. Good time management skills can help keep them on track and reduce stress as they take on more work.

So how can you help your child learn to manage time more effectively?

Check out these time management tips and learn how your student can start being more productive.

10 Effective Time Management Tips For Students

1. Create a Master Schedule Make a master schedule your child can use to block off time to work on his or her assignments. This will help your child prioritize projects and provide a structure to help keep him or her on track to meet due dates. Use a different color for each subject so your child can follow the schedule quickly and easily. Download your own master schedule here:

Download the Printable Version Here!

2. Use an Agenda

Help your child look ahead to all upcoming assignments and record the due dates in an agenda. Use the agenda to schedule in TV and computer time too—this will help your child avoid falling into a trap of wasted hours in front of a screen instead of working on assignments.

3. Eliminate Distractions

Between cell phones, social media, and friends, there are a lot of activities that can distract students from their school work. When it’s time to get down to work, have your child turn off his or her cell phone and sign out of social media accounts. Any time on the master schedule that is dedicated to working on school work should be cell phone and television-free!

Find more tips on how to focus on homework .

4. Set Goals For Each Study Session

Help your child set specific goals for each day, like how many pages of a book report to write or how many math questions to complete. The agenda and master schedule will help with planning your child’s daily goals so assignments can be completed on time.

5. Start Working On Assignments Early

Good time management skills mean not leaving assignments until the day before they are due. Sit down with your child each week to review upcoming assignments and tests and add them to his or her master schedule and agenda. Schedule time to start working on them well before they are due so your child isn’t stressed and scrambling to meet the due dates.

6. Make a Project Plan

Creating a project plan can also help avoid last-minute panic. An overwhelming amount of work is a common cause of procrastination, which can lead to poor time management. Help your child break down assignments into smaller chunks, each with its own separate due dates. This will encourage your child to plan ahead and start working on assignments earlier.

Learn more about why students procrastinate .

7. Work On One Thing At A Time

It might seem like more is being accomplished with multitasking, but splitting attention between more than one task isn’t an effective way to learn. Your child should work on one task at a time, giving it his or her full attention. Focusing on one task will help him or her complete it more efficiently and effectively.

8. Study In Shorter Bursts

For every 30 minutes of school work, have your child schedule a short 10-15 minute break to recharge. Trying to work on one thing for too long can actually cause students’ minds to wander more. Taking short breaks is a good way to give your child’s brain a chance to recharge so he or she can come back more focused.

9. Start Early In The Day

Encourage your child to work on assignments earlier in the day, or right after school. Have your child look over his or her agenda and master schedule to find out what needs to be completed that night and get started early. Waiting to start until later in the evening means your child has less time (and energy), leading to delayed bedtimes, unfinished assignments, and more stress for everyone.

10. Get 8-10 Hours Of Sleep

Getting enough sleep is important to help your child recharge his or her mind and have the energy needed to stay on track the next day. Use your master schedule to mark a cut-off time for homework each night as well as a set bedtime. Following this routine will help make sure your child has time to unwind at the end of each day and get the sleep he or she needs.

Does your child need help developing his or her time management skills? Our Study Skills tutoring program can help!

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65+ Time Management Tips for Students

As a student, you are likely juggling a lot of responsibilities. Between classes, homework, and extracurricular activities, it can be tough to find enough time in the day.

However, with some organization and planning, you can make the most of your time and get everything done.

According to experts, here are some tips for managing your time effectively.

Reza Khastou, M.Ed.

Advisor, College Director, and Education Consultant | Founder and COO, The Polytech

Three areas to apply time management strategies

Making time management a habit can help students throughout their whole lives. It is as fundamental as reading or writing, so it is important for us as educators to teach time management and other executive function skills.

I often talk about three areas for high school and college students to apply time management strategies:

Test-taking

Especially for multiple choice standardized tests, many are designed so that the first third of the questions are general topics that most students know the answer to.

The second third will only be familiar to some students, and for the final third, just a few will know the answer.

I recommend that students spend most of their time on the first two sections, where they have a higher probability of knowing the answer. If there’s no penalty for guessing and the student is running out of time, they can guess for any final questions instead of leaving them blank.

A student with disabilities can request extended time as an accommodation, and this will mitigate the impact of a disability that requires the student to take more processing time.

However, the student must still be aware of the time remaining and track whether they are halfway through the questions at the halfway point of time.

Keeping track of time by having a personal watch or making sure you can see the official clock in the testing room is highly recommended.

We have all seen the students running out of the house, half-dressed and without having eaten breakfast. This is the ultimate stress for both parents and students. To combat that, we try to help students learn ways to be organized by preparing anything they can in the evening before they go to bed.

Related: 50+ Good Examples of Organizational Skills for Students

For example, they can take a shower at night and set out the clothes they want to wear the next day.

The backpack can also be prepared in advance, so as soon as they wake up, all the student has to do is wake up, wash their face, brush their teeth, get dressed, have breakfast, and they are out of the house with the least amount of stress.

Getting sports equipment ready and in a separate bag can also help reduce morning stress.

Having a regular place to keep frequently needed items like socks, shoes, backpacks, and keys helps ensure that no time is wasted running around looking for these items.

If another adult other than the parent has access to the online homework tracking system (and in college, the website stores syllabus information, tests, and quizzes).

In that case, they can help the student manage the requirements they have to do to be successful in a class by teaching strategies that can help:

• Break large projects into smaller steps.
• Remind them about upcoming tests and quizzes.
• Regularly check in with the student to be sure they are current on assignments.

At first, some students are resistant to accepting help, but as soon as they see the outcome of the partnership and taste success, most are much more willing to move forward.

Using tools like a daily calendar or other online tools can help students be organized and can help them manage their time academically.

Jessica Schaid

Curriculum Specialist,  Ivy Camps USA

Develop a realistic picture of how to spend your time

Time Management for students can be challenging, but there are many strategies that can be applied to help students as they progress through their academic journey.

It is important to remember that time management is a skill that is governed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain and is considered one of the key executive functions.

However, the prefrontal cortex and executive functioning do not fully develop in most individuals until they are 25 years of age. Therefore, when we ask students to apply time management, we are literally asking them to do something their brain is not fully prepared to do.

Fortunately, there are many strategies that students can use to help them develop time management skills as their brains grow.

Before students can begin managing their time, it’s important that they develop a realistic picture of how they spend their time. Conducting a time inventory allows students to identify areas of their day over which they have control and can therefore manage.

Keep a time log

Younger students can divide the day into morning, afternoon, evening, and night, and older students can log their time in either 15 or 30-minute increments.

Have students record how they spend their time throughout the course of a week. After students have recorded how they are spending their time, they can then reflect on where they may be able to re-prioritize their activities.

It is helpful if students can color-code their time log by highlighting different categories of activities in different colors.

For example, they might highlight anything that has to do with school in yellow and anything that has to do with sports activities in green. This allows students to quickly gain a visual of how they are spending their time, especially for activities such as social media, which can sometimes dominate the daily schedule of adolescents.

Categorize the time into productive time or unproductive time

Once students have a clear picture of how they are spending their time, they can begin to prioritize by scheduling productive tasks during areas times that they have identified as unproductive.

This is also helpful for high school students who may be experiencing stress as they prepare for college, as they can identify appropriate times to plan a break for self-care.

Providing students with a tool to schedule their time is also essential

Depending on the age of the student, this may be a simple daily or weekly calendar that outlines events and activities. For older students, utilizing a digital calendar with reminders can help them meet their deadlines throughout high school and the college application process.

It is also important that students are directly taught how to use a calendar, how to pace their work, and have examples modeled for them so that they understand what a well-managed calendar should look like.

Establishing a routine with a specific time during the day to reflect on and adjust calendars is also important in assisting students in the development of time management skills.

Dedra Eatmon, Ph.D.

High School Teacher | Founder, Tassel to Tassel

Know yourself

Work on the most challenging tasks based on your peak mental productivity time. You do better work in less time when your brain is ready to do the job. In the vein of Eat That Frog!, do the thing that challenges you the most when you are best able to process it mentally.

For some, that’s the first thing in the morning. However, as a student, you may find you are sharper mid-day, afternoon, or even evening.

While I don’t suggest waiting until late at night, even if you call yourself a night owl, I do acknowledge that everyone isn’t capable of solving the world’s problems — or even chemistry — at 8 AM.

Make a plan

Using your class schedule as the foundation, create a time management plan (or weekly schedule) at the beginning of each semester.

Include those things you have to do (class, study, work, family obligations, etc.), then add in the things you’d like to do (student organizations, leisure activities, workouts, etc.).

Don’t forget the 2:1 study rule — studying 2 hours outside of class for every hour (50-minute block) in class. After a few weeks, tweak it based on what’s working and what’s not.

Track your time

That’s just what it means. Use your phone or a time-tracking app to keep track of how you spend your time. Do it for just one week and see how it compares to the way you think you’re spending your time. Use that to adjust your plan and to adjust your habits.

Get a study partner or group

Everybody needs somebody to get the job done! That’s true of life, and it’s true of school. Find someone who would be a good study partner. Not sure how to find one? Pay attention to who asks good questions in class and approach them.

Also, a study partner doesn’t have to be someone in your same class. There may be someone in your social circle which is often headed to the library or someone in the residence hall study lounge on a regular basis.

While having someone to study with is nice, sometimes you just need another person to keep you honest.

Create buffers

Often, it takes longer to do something than we think it will. (i.e., Have you been to campus IT for help?) While the “thing” may not take much time, you want to account for long lines, travel time, delays, etc.

By building in buffers, you won’t pack your schedule too full to make sense. You also give yourself time to breathe and decompress when you don’t have to rush from place to place and task to task.

We can’t do everything all the time. All you can do is all you can do.

While it’s very easy to put things off when there’s only one more episode of your favorite show left to stream —especially if you’re not on a deadline — do yourself a favor by not putting off until later what you can do right now.

Trust me, you’ll feel better having done the thing.

Procrastination is very real as well are various reasons for it. It’s also true that some people can work better under pressure, but you don’t really have a choice when it’s down to the wire.

Related: How to Avoid Procrastination and Laziness

Save yourself the anxiety and stress of waiting until the last minute by being very honest with yourself about why you aren’t doing the thing.

If it’s because of things you can control, take a deep breath and take (small) actions to control them.

If it’s deeper than simple procrastination or avoidance, reach out to the counseling center. Let someone trained in working through thoughts and feelings help get you on track to feel your feelings and know what to do next.

Give yourself some grace

It takes time to get good at something. If you’re at a new high school or new to college, you may find the change in the environment takes you off your game.

Honestly, you may not have had much time management game, to begin with. Either way, don’t beat yourself up if you’re not great at managing your time right away.

Incorporate one or two small changes at first, see how they work, then keep adding more. Too many changes at once can put you in a tailspin just as quickly as doing nothing.

Just keep doing something. You’ll get there.

Lynne Fuller

Admissions Coach and College Advisor | Founder, College Flight Path

Make use of calendars, timers, and color-coated post-it notes

Do you keep a calendar? Is it organized by subject, activity, family member, or season? Is yours handwritten in a beautiful leather-bound planner, or are you a technocrat and believe that a digital calendar is the only way to organize your day?

When asked how to offer time management tips to students across elementary, middle, and high school, hands down, my top three recommendations are calendars , timers , and color-coated post-it notes .

After twenty years of teaching, tutoring, and college planning, I have found that basic supplies and strict adherence to organizational processes support time management most effectively.

When I work with high school juniors and seniors throughout their college process, one technique is to organize their list by application type (early action, early decision, regular decision, and rolling) and then code their deadlines by color:

• Green are the first applications due typically for rolling admissions schools.
• Yellow are those due around the turn of the season (10/15).
• Orange are the applications due later in the fall (11/1).
• Red are those required by December and into the new year.

With every email I send, there are action items to be completed by our next meeting. Years ago, I began to employ my own strategies, which helped improve my workflow.

Modeling this behavior became the backbone of how my students take on their processes independently.

Not only does this practice take the stress out of what, when, and how work can be tackled, but it forms a routine that is adapted by each user to make any large task much more manageable.

For students across all grade levels, I always revert back to their planners. For students who struggle with day-to-day tasks, ensuring that they have color-coded post-it notes that span each weekday and one for the weekends can help further organize their workflow (think Green Monday, Yellow Tuesday, and so on).

Once a student has a white, cork, or chalkboard to line up their process, they can pull the tab to mark its completion. These notes can also be transported in a planner or journal, and the same color coding can be applied to digital calendars as well.

With that said, my best example of a digital model is what I personally use. My husband is a volunteer fireman, so any related events are denoted in a red calendar.

Our dog is dark brown, so his calendar helps us stay on top of his appointments, and I match the school I am working with to its related calendar.

If students were to adopt calendars that coincide with their history, English, math, science, foreign language, and elective courses, they could set up digital reminders with alerts about what task is due.

If they need a two-factor authentication system to ensure assignments will be completed, I recommend that students follow up with a written calendar and post-it notes to set physical reminders of what is already in their online calendars.

In terms of time spent on a singular task, I recommend the use of kitchen timers to set limits.

When I personally fall down the rabbit hole of research, writing, editing, or developing new materials, I must set time limits for myself or, at the very least, reminders to get up and move.

For students, time management can come in the form of:

• Setting limits on their social media use.
• Writing down a to-do list in half-hour increments.
• Setting timers to help complete tasks in targeted focused work.

Technology is obviously very helpful in completing work but makes it equally as distracting because of access to so many distractions.

With that said, what other supports can students use to remain on time? When having to tackle a great deal of novel reading, I recommend the use of audiobooks to help enrich reading and encourage students to move while they listen.

This practice helps support daily movement and fresh air but offers students the opportunity to absorb content in a new way to increase focus and processing. This discussion of time management skills and one’s overall organization are really just a component of one’s executive functioning.

The frontal lobe helps govern the workflow by managing time, paying attention, being able to switch focus, planning events, and remembering details.

These are skills that can be fostered over a lifetime, making those who struggle more prone to missed assignments, misfires in communication with teams, or unable to make all the events they intend.

By incorporating visual aids like post-it notes and calendars , using a step-by-step approach to break down assignments , planning out homework days before it is due , and setting time limits , students can grow their executive functioning skills and gain more success in managing their time.

Ziad Bentahar

Associate Professor of the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures, Towson University

Read course assignments carefully

Always read the prompt of an assignment carefully to avoid having to start over midway when you realize you have not been following the guidelines.

When pressed for time, it is perfectly natural to try to read as fast as possible.

However, assignment prompts, whether it is a paper, a question on a quiz, a reading report, or anything similar, are a place where you may want to slow down.

Professors often craft assignments with purpose, so reading them very closely is a great way to find out how to complete them efficiently. This saves time, as well as improves the chances of obtaining better grades.

Create a daily habit

The best way to save time by improving efficiency is to create regularity through a routine.

Set time aside every day for schoolwork. It matters less how much time and when than to set that time aside in the first place. So choose a time that does not conflict with work or other obligations, and stick to it.

One hour a day for five days will accomplish more than a five-hour streak in one day. Train yourself to become habituated to daily homework time.

Invest in a time-management app, but only if it works for you

There is a plethora of apps, programs, and websites offering time-management solutions. Some are even free.

However, none of them are magic. They will not create more time in the day or give you more energy. Therefore, do use one if you find it useful, but do not feel obligated to get one thinking it could solve all your problems.

If time-management apps do not respond to your needs, feel free to look for solutions elsewhere. Sometimes there are ultra-specialized apps that can better serve your specific needs.

For example, if checking references and bibliographies for your research papers is a time-consuming task for you, then software for managing citations may be what you need.

There are free options that you can download, such as EndNote , Mendeley , and Zotero .

Use campus resources

Most campuses will have resources such as Tutoring and Learning Centers. Make an appointment and use these resources, as they are designed to help you complete your assignments.

If a due date for a paper is getting near and you haven’t started yet because you can’t seem to get an idea for your thesis, then your Writing Center may offer brain-storming sessions were talking about your paper with a tutor could spark an idea and get you going before it’s too late.

Campus Libraries also offer wonderful resources, and taking the time to familiarize yourself with them is an investment that will pay off by saving you a lot of time in the long run.

Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA

Adjunct Professor and Faculty Adviser

The first day of classes when a new semester begins can often be stressful…new subject…new professor…new classmates.

Over the years as a college professor, I’ve had countless “talk off the ledge” meetings with students who were having some level of a panic attack as they tried to digest the amount of work…studying…remembering…that lies ahead.

My advice comes from my own (long-ago) years as an undergrad literature major:

Don’t overload yourself

There have been a few times when, as a faculty advisor, I’ve ordered a student to drop an extra course that they have signed up for. I know the student…I know their capabilities…I know that success with the original schedule is doomed from the start.

Read the syllabus for each class carefully

Take note of all reading…textbook and outside…that will be required. This means actually looking through each textbook to get an idea of just how long each chapter is and how complicated the reading appears to be.

Calculate how much time you will need

Calculate how much time it will take you to complete the assigned reading…i.e., how quickly do you read normally? Next, put your math skills to use and figure out how much time you need to set aside each day in order to read everything that’s assigned for all classes.

Take your calendar and block out a “reading time” time slot each day

I recall, for one particular semester, the time being 1:00 AM! My roommate was asleep; I didn’t start classes until 10:00 AM, and my first class was right across the parking lot from my dorm, so there was no problem with the “commute.”

Stick to your schedule

Yes, there will be days when things go kerflooey, and you don’t get your reading in. Don’t panic… it’ll all even out!

This organized planning enabled me to successfully read and remember for tests (without totally losing my mind!) everything required for all my courses.

It also made it possible for me—many years later as a public relations professional—to read and remember all the data required in order to take and successfully pass a professional accreditation course (combination oral and written exam) while holding down a senior-level position that itself averaged 45-50 hours a week.

As I reassure my students and others that it’s all about organization. Do your homework in advance.

Know what’s required for all your courses in order to pass. Know your own capabilities. Pace yourself and, most importantly, believe in yourself. You can do this!

Karen Southall Watts

Professor in Humanities | Founder, Ask Karen Coaching | Author, “ The Solo Workday “

Below are the tips I think are most useful for college students.

Start with a master schedule

Build yourself a master calendar at the beginning of the term. Put in all your “carved in stone” elements first, like your classes, commuting time, or recurring appointments you can’t miss.

Then add in your study time, meals and exercise. Put in your social events and empty leisure time last, as these items have the most flexibility.

Watch out for time and energy wasters

Pay attention to the way your days and weeks play out.

If you find you are always behind and are constantly turning in late work or trying to catch up, then you may have some time-wasting activities buried in your schedule.

Common time thieves are binge-watching shows and endless social media scrolling. These pursuits will drain time from your days and energy from your psyche.

Discover your best time of day

Are you a night owl or a morning lark? It’s important to know when you are at your physical and mental best. Then, whenever possible, schedule your most demanding tasks during these times.

For example, you might do math or chemistry homework when you are at your peak and save casual reading for other times.

It’s not always possible to make coursework fit your personal needs, but whenever possible, set up your week for the highest possibility for success by cooperating with your body’s natural rhythms.

Create start-up and shut-down routines

Avoid the wasted time and headaches that come from lost keys, missing socks, and disorganized class materials.

Have a staging area where you drop your stuff off each day when you come home and pack up each morning before you leave. Put things in the same place each day so you don’t ever have to wonder where to find what you need.

A nightly routine that prepares you for a good sleep and a morning routine that gets you energized will help too.

Conduct a weekly review

Sunday night is the traditional night for this task. Go back over the past week. What worked? Where did you find yourself behind or struggling?

Plan your next week. Whether you are using a to-do list, a traditional planner, or a calendar app, you need to set aside some time each week to be sure all your tasks and commitments are plugged into your schedule.

Evan Weinberger

Co-Founder, Illuminos Academic Coaching & Tutoring

If your student struggles with time management, take a look at the list of tips for effective time management for students.

Structure your days around non-work activities

School tasks can seem daunting without an academic schedule to provide structure to your student’s day. When days are unplanned, things often get put off until the last minute.

A useful tip that many of our academic coaches utilize while working from home is to structure their days around non-work activities. This organizes your student’s free time into small blocks of time and allows you to plan each block of time for a specific task.

So, try organizing your student’s schoolwork schedule around periods of exercise, short breaks, and small tasks. Make sure you set a time limit for each activity so that you don’t run into your work time.

Have a reward system in place

A simple self-imposed rewards system can help stir up the motivation your student may be missing. Whether it promises a small treat, 20 minutes of TV or screen time, or a bit of outside time, a reward system can help keep your student on task.

Designate a proper workspace

To minimize distraction and maximize productivity, our academic coaches always recommended designating a workspace specifically for homework.

Preferably, this workspace will be somewhere your student can work daily without interruption. An ideal workspace has plenty of desk/ table space, proper lighting, and even a little area for breaks.

Utilize airplane mode/snooze mode

Technology is both a blessing and a curse for the learning process.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has allowed offices and classrooms to be transported into the living rooms and home offices of millions of students and employees.

However, technology also can distract us from our goals and allow us to waste time that could be spent productively.

Social media, texting, Facetiming, and phone calls all require an internet connection or cell service, so while working, consider setting your students’ devices to either snooze mode or airplane mode for a set amount of time. This method can work in tandem with a rewards system.

For example, after 45 minutes of device-free concentration, reward your student with 10 minutes of device access.

Take breaks to recharge

Taking breaks allows your student to take a moment to recharge in the way that they choose and will ultimately lead to a more productive work period on either side of the break.

Like the airplane/snooze mode tip, taking a break from working can be incorporated into a reward system for your student.

Even in our hour-long academic coaching sessions, our academic coaches regularly implement the use of small breaks to keep our students focused and motivated.

Plan ahead and hit the ground running

Planning should start at the beginning of each week in your student’s academic planner and then be adjusted each night for the next day based on current productivity and new assignments.

Our academic coaches check our student’s planners regularly until we can ensure that our students are using their planners to the fullest extent of their potential.

Exercise regularly

Daily or weekly exercise is one of the most powerful weapons at our disposal for combating unproductiveness and procrastination.

Exercise raises our energy levels, helps fight stress, reduces fatigue, and improves general happiness and well-being.

If your student is restless and has trouble focusing, exercise will help reduce their unrest. If your student is lethargic and generally bored with academic work, exercise will help improve their energy levels.

Lindsey de los Santos

Elementary School Teacher | Owner, Migraine Road

Find what motivates you

Time management lessons are as essential as reading and writing.

Students are required to know more now than ever and often in a timeframe that seems challenging.

Schedules are packed with activities from a young age, and many times this only compounds as students get older. This calls for lessons in time management to be a priority.

These lessons can happen as intentional conversations, modeling by others in their lives, and learning through their experiences.

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How do we teach time management?

The how piece can be puzzling and frustrating at times. Sometimes in life, we learn best by doing things ourselves. This means having students keep track of due dates and expectations at an early age in a manageable way.

In my fourth-grade classroom, students have a monthly calendar where they do this. We also discuss keeping track of your out-of-school events, as this all takes our time.

Other students may stay on top of their assignments and events through a planner or online calendar. It is most important that students have a system that is going to be both purposeful and manageable.

If not, students will likely not follow through, and with that, they will fall behind.

Being transparent with students and your own children can be meaningful as well.

For example, I am a fourth-grade teacher and blogger, as well as the mom of two boys. This takes some serious time management, but I am motivated to do my best for all of these things.

I share my own success and challenges with kids so they can see I get it.

Finding what motivates students can also make a big difference. This is where relationships come in and not simply giving students a to-do list. When they feel cared about, they will be more likely to try out a system that could help them.

What to do when students struggle?

These skills do not come naturally for all and do require some teaching. Just as we provide interventions for reading and math, we must, at times, provide interventions for organization and time management.

At our level, this may mean a daily check-in, a student checklist, or even providing a student with a buddy or student leader to work with on these skills.

For older students having someone to hold them accountable and check in with them can be very powerful.

Related: Why Is Accountability Important?

The important thing is to help students realize they can do things on their own, and a setback does not have to mean giving up. Teaching can include grace and encouragement.

This can come from the people in students’ lives at school and home.

Nikki Bruno

Executive Director,  Student Coaching Services

Here are some of my thoughts on effective time management techniques.

Pomodoro technique

Do you struggle to sit down and get work done when you have so much to do? Do you find yourself getting started with one project only to get distracted by something unrelated that ends up wasting your whole day? If so, try the Pomodoro technique!

Related: Does the Pomodoro Technique Work?

Basically, it’s a way of blocking your time into small chunks so that you can chip away at your project bit by bit.

Find a task that needs to be done, and set a timer (say, for 25 minutes). Devote yourself fully to that task for the complete 25 minutes, but the moment your timer goes off, go ahead and take a short break (say, 10 minutes).

And after your 4th timer goes off (meaning you’ve worked for 2 hours), take a longer break — say, 15-30 minutes.

You can adjust this to fit your own schedule, but the point stands: if you block out your time in this manner, you will be so much more productive!

Block your days out in 15-minute chunks

Want to know a secret about wealthy people? They tend to “block” their days out in 15-minute chunks.

• At 9:00 am, they eat breakfast.
• At 9:15, they go for a walk.
• At 9:30, they prepare notes.
• At 9:45, they edit their notes and send out the invites for their weekly video meeting.
• At 10:00, they begin the meeting.

You get the drill — they already have planned out their entire day from start to finish, making sure to hold every 15-minute segment of time accountable. They even schedule downtime.

If you’re a highly structured person (or you feel you need a little more structure to be productive), try to plan out what you will do with each 15-minute segment of time for a whole day.

Get work done while hanging out with your friends

Last (but certainly not least), consider getting work done while also hanging out with your friends! This is especially helpful for social people.

If you struggle to hold yourself accountable to get work done, start a study group that meets on a consistent day and time. (E.g., Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:00 pm). Show up to each of those meetings, and get work done while also spending time around your friends!

A nice upside to this trick is that, while you are in the presence of others doing work, you’ll feel more obligated to be busy yourself. And thus, you’ll be a lot more productive.

Understand how your brain works

It’s also good to understand a thing or two about how your brain works.

For example, did you know that you will never feel motivated to do something until you’ve started actually doing it? This is because the neurotransmitters for motivation are only released in your brain after you’ve started doing something.

In other words, your body wants you to be lazy—and you have to fight it!

And make sure to be as free of distractions as possible. Work in a clean, clutter-free space (maybe not your room), and consider using website blockers to keep yourself on track.

And make sure to give yourself grace! You may not get everything done that you want to, but just focus on one piece at a time, and in no time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you’ve accomplished.

Education Specialist and Head of School, MUSE Academy

Nip procrastination in the bud

Once you start procrastinating, it can be very difficult to stop.

You become comfortable with the idea of putting off school responsibilities and leaving it until the last possible moment. And although this might give you more free time, it also increases your stress levels and makes school a very unenjoyable experience.

If you want to succeed at time management as a student, you need to get rid of procrastinating in all aspects of your life. It helps to use a day planner so you can write down all due dates and events coming up so you can physically keep track.

A big reason why students tend to procrastinate is because of the lack of organization, to begin with. If you don’t see what you have to complete, it will not be on your radar which makes it almost impossible to complete in a timely manner.

Using a day planner also helps you to write down specifics of when you plan to do school work and other extracurricular activities. When you plan this out, you will actually end up with more free time than you thought because you manage your time properly.

Beverly Gearreald

College Counselor and Community Manager,  Transizion

Prioritize tasks and find more time to get things done

As a student, it often feels like a million things are vying for your attention. It can be hard to know how to prioritize tasks and find more time to get things done.

How to prioritize tasks

I recommend starting by creating a list of everything you need to get done . Go as broad as possible.

Definitely include assignments like homework and projects, but also consider including regular things like taking out the trash on Tuesday nights or things without deadlines, like reaching out to a professor to see if she has any research opportunities for you.

Next, take that list and put it on a calendar or in a planner , using the assigned due dates.

For items that don’t have due dates, rank them by order of importance to you or necessity to get done and slot them in wherever you see space in your schedule.

Before you know it, you’ll have a list you can walk through and check items off of, already ordered, so you don’t have to spend time wondering what to work on next.

Finding more time to get things done

It’s easy to get lost in the moment and only do what needs to be done right now. However, in the long run, this takes up more time. As much as possible, you want to batch tasks together .

For instance, instead of waiting in line at Subway every day, it’s faster to make a few sandwiches all at once and simply grab one on your way to class every morning. (As a bonus, it’s generally healthier too!)

Similarly, it’s more productive if you can set aside three straight hours to work on a project rather than breaking it up into three one-hour slots.

As you learn how to dedicate time to specific tasks rather than doing them every day or piecemeal, you’ll find you have more time to get other things done. (Or to relax!)

Eileen Roth

Organizing Expert,  Everything in its Place®  | Author, “ Organizing For Dummies “

Organize your locker

There are very little time between classes to change books and binders, and/or notepads. So it’s a time saver to organize your locker. Tall locker organizers let you put binders underneath them and notepads or books on top of them.

However, if you live in a climate where you wear boots, you might want boots under the tall locker organizer in the winter and a second shelf for binders during that time. Boots must be on the bottom as they will be wet.

Keep a magnetic board on your locker door with a wipe-off pen/eraser combo so you can write notes to yourself as reminders- that there is a test, to take something home, or to bring something to school tomorrow.

Use a student planner

Use a student planner to schedule your assignments as well as quiz dates, test dates, and major project due dates.

You can also put notes in there about bringing something home or taking something to school. (i.e., A teacher requested a new school supply or a test is tomorrow, so take home a book/notepad to study.)

Plan your projects

If you know you have a paper to write, plan when you will do the research, draft, and final paper. Don’t leave it to the last minute when you have other homework to do or might even have a test or two—plan on doing it earlier and finishing before the due date.

If it’s a big project, break it down into smaller steps, so you have time to do research, make the project, and do a presentation, if needed. (i.e., science projects, book reports)

Get enough sleep

If you need 8 hours of sleep to be refreshed and not tired, be sure to get 8 hours of sleep. That means leaving enough time to do your homework, even if you have to start right after school.

If you don’t get enough sleep, you may be tired at school and not understand a concept the teacher is presenting, hearing that you have a test tomorrow or a project due in a week.

Don’t overschedule activities

If school is hard for you, that might mean giving up some or all extracurricular activities after school because you need to start doing homework before dinner in order to be done before bedtime.

Do at least take a snack break right after school. If you play video games or talk on the phone for a break, you might want a timer, or you can waste your time and have to stay up late to finish homework.

What homework to do first?

Start with the hardest homework, so you are doing the easiest homework later in the night.

If you struggle with a class, that homework is first. If you love a class, save that class for last when you are more tired and have less brain power the later it is in the evening.

Pack up your homework in your backpack before you go to bed, so you don’t waste time in the morning. Also, add any extra items you need to take to school, like clothes or items for after-school activities.

Save time by choosing your clothes the night before so you don’t waste time deciding in the morning.

Katja Sieling

Publicist, Tribe Builder Media

Time management techniques in academics can help provide the necessary structure students need to succeed in other parts of their life.

Without an effective time management strategy, college studies can quickly become overwhelming and take away from things like extracurriculars, hobbies, work, and the ability to be present with your family and loved ones.

Here are the time management tips that led me to success in my academics and beyond.

Take syllabus week to gather all coursework-related due dates in one place

Putting every due date in the same place can be daunting, but it is a time investment that gives back all semester.

Whether you put your due dates on a calendar, in a spreadsheet, or write them out in a notebook, having the due dates of all of your classes in one place can give you a clear picture of the semester course load from the get-go.

I designed my system by putting all of my due dates into my Google Calendar as tasks and used the description section of each task to input any details that would be important for me to know. Doing this meant I could pull up my due dates on my laptop, phone, or public library computer.

In addition, being able to access my due date schedule at any time gave me a sense of control over my schedule and plan for academic success.

I also took the extra step of creating a one-page “roadmap” document for each class, with a chart made of two columns.

The column on the left was labeled by week, and the column on the right contained a list of all the assignments, papers, presentations, or exams I had for that particular week.

Crossing each item as I went was satisfying, giving me a quick overview of the time commitment I had to set aside for each course every week.

But each student is different, and what works for them when it comes to deadlines is unique to their workflow and organization style.

Block schedule your non-negotiable time commitments

Marking off important times like your course meeting schedule, work schedule, religious activities, date nights, friend get-togethers, and dorm cleaning (yes, even that) can help students gain a better sense of the time that they have available to them for both coursework and personal time.

For my system, I made my block schedule directly on my Google Calendar, but this can also be done on a paper planner or using a different online program.

I used a different color for each category, which made it easy to glance at my calendar and understand what each day and week would look like in terms of my non-negotiable commitments.

Show up for yourself

Nobody can want success for you more than you want it for yourself. The key to time management is acknowledging that you are in control of your schedule and your commitments.

Part of that means you need to show up for yourself, whether it’s turning down social commitments that cut into your study times or taking breaks from that massive term paper to get some fresh air.

There are thousands of articles advising on how to manage your time, but in the end, those are just suggestions.

You are the only person who will know what will work for you, and you are the only person who can hold yourself accountable to the time management system you put in place.

Showing up for yourself and taking control of your time means you can continue showing up for important people in your life.

College is temporary, and once it’s over, the time management systems and discipline you build in college will prepare you for your future career and for the life that you want to live.

Anquisha Janea Crutcher

Author, Entrepreneur, Social Activist, and Writer

Prepare ahead

Preparing ahead is a way to help you master time management. Preparing for your weekly tasks can be done in one setting. You can prepare your week, or even your next task, by setting out one day of each week or by setting out an hour of each day.

When creating a plan for a successful time management skill, try to add the things that will take the most time to complete at the bottom of your to-do list. If things seem to take a huge amount of time to complete, split the time up in a sequence of days, preferably in 30 minutes increments for each task.

By doing this step, you will be able to focus on creating a plan to complete things in a timely manner.

Always arrive on time

Arriving on time for anything can help set you up for success. Arriving early for an event, class, or even for a task, in general, will help bring time management under control.

By doing so, you’ll have enough time to wrap your mind around the task at hand without being overwhelmed. You will also be able to relax and focus.

If you’re at a career fair or in a group setting, you will be able to walk around and socialize, meet new people, and network prior to the start.

Set time limits

Setting time limits for your busy schedule is another tip to help set you up for Time Management Success.

You can set time out of your day to complete many tasks, such as doing laundry, cooking dinner, completing homework assignments, or even hanging out with friends.

Setting a time frame for each task can help set you up for success, and at the end of the day, you will have a successful feeling of completing tasks and practicing time management skills.

Set enough time in between your tasks

Create enough time between your tasks. It is always good to have at least 30 to 45 minutes between each task if you are planning things that are across town. Set enough time based on travel time.

Always have enough time to travel, set up, socialize or network with people. This step will help reduce anxiety and can help create a smooth transition for you in preparation for your next task and for your overall Time Management Success.

Emilia Moskal

Parenting Content Specialist,  HiJunior

Make time for yourself

Time management is about being able to schedule and plan one’s day or month, depending on the deadlines and workload. However, oftentimes students will forget to include time off in their timetables, focusing only on being able to finish a project or assignment.

Managing time and juggling multiple tasks can be difficult, but it has to also be realistic. Not taking breaks or making time for hobbies, or just relaxing can lead to the schedule completely collapsing.

How? Well, humans, especially kids or teenagers, need fun and entertainment; it’s normal and to be expected.

Related: 40+ Self-Care Tips and Activities for College Students

When this need is not satisfied, then the mind will try to look for fun by itself, meaning that the student will be more prone to distractions and, therefore, procrastination.

It is much easier to focus on a task when the mind and body are taken care of, and with time management, procrastination should be avoided as much as possible.

Urges to do something else while working won’t be as strong or be there at all if the schedule includes breaks and time off.

Realistic goals and prioritizing

First, weighing the importance of each task, then also identifying the approximate time it would take to complete are the first two steps to good time management.

Doing these two things allows for an efficient allocation of time, i.e., Task A is more important than Task B, but Task B only takes two days to complete, whereas Task A takes two weeks.

Logically, Task B should be done beforehand, so the student can give more time and think about Task A without worrying about having to finish as fast as possible to have time for Task B still.

Moreover, knowing the importance and time needed for assignments leads to realistic goals, and realistic goals are necessary in order not only to be able to use a schedule effectively but also to not be overworked or overwhelmed.

Not only is a student’s motivation boosted, but also their self-confidence and self-esteem in completing their tasks due to how well they have maximized their time and resources to create an efficient timetable.

Have a clean, decluttered workspace

Having a workspace that is well organized, has everything needed, with nicely stacked papers or good lighting can really help a person with productivity. It also means that a neat and tidy desk keeps distractions at bay.

Moreover, enough desk space means that everything needed can be kept at arm’s reach, and decluttered spaces are proven to keep the mind de-stressed and productive.

Being able to start allocating and managing time with a clear head will aid in focusing and truly creating a schedule that works.

Ashley Rios, MS, CPSC

Certified Professional School Counselor | Partnership Manager, UPchieve

Break school projects into manageable steps

Receiving a big project can feel overwhelming for many students. Before starting a big project, I recommend that students take a few minutes to break their project down into more manageable baby steps.

For example, if you’re assigned a large research paper, a student can break the project down into four initial categories:

From there, they can break the project into smaller steps until the project no longer feels overwhelming.

Create a study schedule

In order to be successful in school, it’s important to be organized. One of the best ways to do this is by creating a study schedule!

All you have to do is break your assignments into baby steps and create a schedule. You can do this in a paper planner, a free planner app, or even in a plain notebook.

The most important thing is to break assignments up into manageable chunks so you feel less overwhelmed as the semester kicks into high gear.

Not only will this keep you on track with each step in a big project, but planning out regular study sessions before big tests can save you from cramming the night before.

Richard J. Brandenstein

Attorney and FBR Law partner,  Fusco, Brandenstein & Rada, P.C.

Do not chain yourself to your desk for hours at a time

It can be tempting to do it, given that you will feel like you’ve worked hard, but you can be significantly more productive if you study in bitesize chunks rather than for hours at a time.

I’m not talking about studying for half an hour 6 times a day, each separated by an hour or more (though that does work for some people). Rather, you ought to study for a short amount of time, take a short break, and return to your studies.

For example, I used to work for 45 minutes and take 15 minutes off; in those days, that was actually somewhat difficult since there weren’t the same number of distractions that there are nowadays.

It should be easier than ever now since you can browse the internet or social media during your breaks, and this has the added benefit of creating a reward cycle where for each 45-minute block you work, you can enjoy some leisure time.

While there’s nothing wrong with this, a complete break from your screen is perhaps best, with fresh air being best of all for enhancing your productivity.

If it’s a nice day, why not brew a coffee and sit outside to drink it? I promise you, it will do wonders for your productivity.

Do not try to multitask

While a large workload can be intimidating, the best way to work through it is to work through each task one at a time methodically.

Of course, you should prioritize your work based on its relative importance, as well as when the deadline or date of the exam is.

Jitesh Keswani

CEO, e intelligence

Setting realistic micro goals

Setting micro-goals can be an effective time management strategy. Ideally, they should be short-term and have a clear deadline. You should add these to your To Do list or calendar and try to complete them in the shortest time possible.

Setting goals will increase your productivity and help you reach your long-term goals. By setting micro-goals, you can see where you are about your big goals.

When you know your progress, you can make minor adjustments as needed. This method will help you stay on track and avoid burnout. In addition, you’ll be able to accomplish tasks much faster.

Using time management apps

Time management is an important life skill, and time management apps can help students to manage their time better. Using these applications, students can stay on top of their to-do lists, prioritize tasks and limit context switching.

They can also organize focused time into calendars. It is a good idea to choose a system that works for you.

Some of students’ more popular time management applications include Evernote and Todoist. These apps help you keep track of your daily tasks and events, such as homework, assignments, and projects.

They allow students to set timers to remind themselves about assignments and to take breaks. They also enable students to collaborate.

Minimizing distractions while studying

Distractions are everywhere, and it is essential to minimize them while studying. While many of us underestimate the importance of these distractions, they can significantly disrupt our concentration.

By following a few simple strategies, you can minimize the chances of interruptions while studying. These steps will help you focus more, learn harder, and will help you retain more information.

To reduce distractions:

• Start with removing external sources of noise.
• Turn off your phone or set it to do not disturb mode.
• Let your friends and family know that you are studying, so they can refrain from bothering you.
• You can even listen to classical or ambient music in the background to help you focus on your studies.

Dr. Michael K. Newman

CEO and Plastic Surgeon

Decide what’s most important to you at any moment and design your schedule around that

If you’re a student, the assumption would be that school is the top priority, but it’s much more complicated than that.

If you’re working part-time while studying, your job can also be a priority because you could be self-supporting. Or, at the very least, it gives you an opportunity to gain experience and build networks and relationships that will help you further down your career path.

Meanwhile, your personal life can also be a top priority because you’re young, and it’s simply the best time to live life.

So how do you balance the three effectively without sacrificing anything too much? My advice is to look realistically at your particular circumstances.

• Which is more flexible, your class schedule or your work schedule?
• What time of day are you most engaged in academic learning?
• Are there night classes available at your chosen university or college?
• Are there jobs available in the area that will happily accommodate your class schedule?

Gather as much information as you can about these things so you can make a decision as to which system works best for you.

And don’t forget to reserve ample time for yourself. Take a walk. Have fun.

Being dedicated to your studies doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life. Giving yourself a share in your calendar makes it easier to handle the more serious parts of your schedule. Plus, it makes you more engaged and less vulnerable to burnout.

Lauren Schmidt, MSW

Social Entrepreneur | Founder, A Tree That Grows

Don’t try to do it all, overwhelm is never our friend

Oftentimes when we put 10+ things to get done on a list, it can feel overwhelming and not very much fun. Choose no more than three to tackle in a day.

If you find yourself procrastinating, forgive yourself and try again

If you have one day where your schedule feels like it’s become unmanageable, it’s okay. Recognize you’re trying your best, forgive yourself, put on some amazing music to get yourself pumped up, and try again tomorrow.

Find a journal you love and write it down

They say that if you don’t write it down, it’s not real! So find a fun journal, make it yours, get your favorite quotes on there, and write down your goals.

Imperfection is so much more fun than feeling stuck

Many times we don’t start work because we’re afraid people will judge us, or it won’t be good enough. Keep in mind that even the best in their fields started at the beginning, and doing something wrong is so much better than staying stuck.

Ask yourself what matters most to you

Ask yourself the question: “What matters most to me?”

Sometimes we can get caught up looking at what our friends are doing instead of taking the time to ask ourselves what matters the most.

Celebrate the small wins and find your people doing the same

Things become so much easier (and a lot more fun) when we share our goals and journeys with people who are also working towards their dreams! Find your people and watch everything else fall into place.

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7 Time Management Tips for Online Students

More students than ever before are turning to online learning to further their education. In fact, studies indicate that over half of all students  are now taking at least one online course. Given the benefits of online learning , it’s easy to see why so many students are drawn to virtual classes.

For students who are new to online learning, transitioning to this modality can take some getting used to. And if you are adjusting to a full-time online program or balancing school and work , it is critical to be able to manage your time effectively.

Whether you’ve chosen to pursue online learning or you’ve been thrust into it, there are key skills, like time management, you will need to make the most out of your online education.

The importance of time management for students

One of the most valuable skills you can have as an online student is effective time management.

This is especially important for online students who are often working full time, taking care of family, or juggling other commitments. Without the camaraderie of a class to motivate you or having a set time when you need to be on campus, effective time management is crucial to helping you stay focused.

Effective time management not only helps with your learning but can also make you more productive at work and in your personal life.

Below are seven time management tips to help you stay ahead of your coursework.

Explore Northeastern’s online learning experience.

Learn what it’s like to take a class online, get tips for excelling in an online learning environment, and more.

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Time management tips for online students

1. plan ahead..

Despite the flexibility of being an online student, it’s important to have frequent engagement with your studies throughout the week. For this reason, planning ahead is a critical part of time management.

Planning ahead allows you to divide your required readings, assignments, and online discussions into manageable segments.

Consider purchasing a calendar to help you plan your daily and weekly assignments, highlighting:

• Assignments due, including drafts and final submissions.
• Activities related to your program, such as study group meetups or on-campus networking events.
• Virtual or in-person office hours with professors and advisors.

Melanie Kasparian, former associate director of assessment for the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies , shares a sample schedule of what a typical week might look like:

2. Don’t multitask.

Avoid multitasking—which can actually decrease your productivity . Focus on one assignment at a time, whether that’s studying for an exam, reading a textbook, emailing a professor, or participating in an online forum. Arrange your tasks in order of importance, and pay attention to the three or four crucial tasks that require the most effort.

If you need help staying focused, then consider creating lists using a project management tool to help organize tasks. Some useful tools include:

If you prefer a traditional to-do list, then look at digital notebooks such as:

Lastly, concentrate on what needs to get done in the present, and avoid anything too far off. If it’s a small assignment that you don’t need to address for several weeks, put it on your calendar to focus on when the deadline is closer.

3. Set up your virtual office.

Whether you study at home or your local café, it’s important to find the optimal setting needed to complete your work. Here are some tips for setting up your virtual office:

• Check your Wi-Fi: Whether you’re working from home or somewhere else, it’s important to ensure that there’s high-speed internet. If you’re unsure of your connection speed, check it using an online speed test . You’ll want to aim for a download speed of at least 6 Mbps —more if you’re sharing your connection with others.
• Make sure you’re in a comfortable environment:  Your surroundings should be conducive to effective study. Make sure you’re in a relaxing space with the right lighting and comfortable seating.
• Minimize auditory distractions: Make sure the background noise you hear while studying isn’t distracting. For example, some people prefer to work with headphones on, while others prefer silence or an ambient backdrop with people quietly chatting.

Along with these elements, make sure you have all the required materials, such as textbooks and industry-specific software. Set up as much as you can ahead of time to stay on task with your coursework.

4. Block out distractions. 

Your hectic schedule, combined with daily distractions, can easily get in the way of finishing tasks. So it’s important to learn how to set aside time to focus. This includes having a consistent time and workspace, and tuning out distractions such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

Close out any tabs or browser windows that don’t pertain to your study, and put your phone away. Doing so will make it easier to concentrate on your work.

If you’re struggling to stay focused, then consider the Pomodoro Method . This technique helps with productivity by arranging how you work to increase efficiency. The tool builds on 25-minute work sessions, optimizing your time to focus on your online studies. The best way to use this method is to:

• Set a timer for 25 minutes and work uninterrupted for the scheduled period.
• Take a five-minute break to grab a coffee, check emails, or do something else.
• Treat yourself to a longer, 15-minute break once you’ve completed four work sessions.

If you’re still struggling with procrastination, download a website blocker for your Pomodoro sessions. These tools minimize online browsing and let you follow through on your daily tasks. With these tools, you can block all websites or redirect your favorite sites to your school’s homepage.

5. Reward yourself.

It’s important to reward yourself after a job well done in order to avoid burnout. Otherwise, it will be difficult to concentrate on even the simplest tasks.

You can reward yourself by celebrating your accomplishments and treating yourself to something you truly enjoy, whether that’s watching your favorite show on Netflix or going out to a nice dinner and a movie. If you’ve been working on an assignment for several months in a row, then take a week off when you’re finished.

6. Create a balance.

In addition to rewarding yourself, it’s also important to find a balance between coursework and your other obligations, especially if you’re juggling school and work . 

To help create an effective balance and avoid burning out, be sure to prioritize your time in a way that allows you to focus on school, work, and your personal life when you need to. Creating a predictable schedule can help you establish a routine that works for your lifestyle and allows you to dedicate your full attention to each aspect of your life at a given time.

7. Get a good night’s sleep.

Sleep is essential to rest your body and keep your mind fresh for the next day. Try to get seven to eight hours of rest a night. In addition to the quantity of sleep you get, however, it’s also important to ensure that the quality of your sleep is sufficient.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the following tips for improving sleep quality :

• Be consistent: Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, including the weekends.
• Be comfortable: Keep your bedroom’s temperature at a comfortable level for you, and make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet.
• Disconnect: Turn your electronics off before getting ready for bed, and don’t check them again until morning.
• Avoid caffeine: Large meals and caffeine can interfere with sleep quality, so avoid them before bed.
• Exercise: Physical activity during the day can help improve sleep quality at night.

Pulling all-nighters is less productive than studying consistently. Include sleep in your schedule, and you’ll be rewarded with increased energy and productivity levels.

Taking charge of your online education

Enrolling in an online degree program is a great way to further your education and ultimately advance in your career, but it’s up to you to take charge of your learning so you can get the most out of your classes. A key component of doing so is employing effective time management strategies to stay on top of your responsibilities. 

As important as it is to be a good student, finding an online program that fits your needs is also critical to success. When choosing an online degree program , be sure to do your research and understand how the content and structure of the courses align with your own goals and objectives. If career advancement is your ultimate goal, for example, a program that values collaboration and networking could be a good fit. 

By choosing the right program to fit your needs and taking charge of your learning, you can prepare yourself for online learning success.

For more on how to be a successful online learner, explore our related  online learning tips and advice posts , or watch our online learning webinar here .  

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2020. It has since been updated for relevance and accuracy.

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Teaching Time Management Skills 

With a better understanding of time, students are able to plan and prioritize their work in ways that support academic success.

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Successful students are able to use their time effectively to get their work done. Teachers often encourage their students to use their time wisely and be efficient in their work habits without explicitly telling them how to do so. Providing explicit lessons on understanding time can be particularly challenging for new teachers, but there are several simple ways to teach students what time feels like. These lessons will make it much easier for students to independently self-monitor and better organize their time.

5 Ways to Teach Time

1. Encourage estimation. Before students begin an assignment, have them estimate how long they think it will take. After they complete the assignment, have them write down how long the assignment actually took and reflect on the estimation. Often students anticipate an assignment taking a shorter amount of time than it actually does. As a result, they may not set aside an adequate amount of time to complete the given assignment. Conversely, had they known the assignment would be completed quickly, the student may have prioritized work differently.  

As students progress through school, we want them to become better at organizing their schedules and prioritizing tasks. When students estimate and then reflect, they can be more aware of how long a given task will take and will anticipate accordingly. Initially it’s best to practice within class assignments. Once students have had practice, it can be incorporated into homework.

2. Use a visual. Use a timer that gives students a visual of the passing of time. This helps students stay on task and gives them a way to organize their time effectively. For example, if students have 10 minutes to finish four short written responses, when the timer hits 5 minutes, students should be reminded that they should be about halfway done. If this becomes a routine in a classroom, students can start to organize and prioritize the work they are completing independently.

3. Set a minimum. Teachers often give students a limit on the time they can use—for example, “You have 30 minutes to complete this assignment.” Instead, try setting a minimum rather than a maximum. By letting students know that the task should take at least 20 minutes, you are prompting them to slow down and monitor. Students might confuse speed for success. They are eager to announce, “I’m done,” but have rushed through the process.

Additionally, teachers can build in other systems that help students focus on the process rather than the product. For example, teachers can add in checklists or rubrics that students must refer to as they work on their assignment. This builds in natural moments of reflection. 

4. Incorporate silent time. Time, or the feeling of being timed, can cause anxiety to rise. As stress increases, one’s ability to utilize their executive functioning skills decreases.

At the beginning of a task or assessment, set a timer for a small amount of silent time, such as 5 minutes. During this time, students are not allowed to ask questions. You might find that when the 5 minutes are over, students have filtered their questions and either have gotten started or have identified their confusion. The use of silent time encourages students to implement a plan independently and initiate the task.

5. Try half timed and half not. When giving a task like recalling math facts, have students write their answers in pen for the first minute. Then, allow students to continue working untimed in pencil. This allows them to differentiate between automaticity and ability. Often the stress from being timed can negatively impact a student’s ability to showcase their knowledge. The use of a pencil and pen also allows students to reflect on how time restraints impact their learning.

Students need to learn how to organize time to be effective and productive. Fifteen minutes of playtime or screen time feels different than 15 minutes of writing. When teachers are explicit and teach students how to use time and give them a significant amount of practice, students will begin to internalize time and be able to independently plan and prioritize a given task. 

As students progress through school, they must eventually not only plan and prioritize a task but plan and prioritize many assignments over several weeks. In order to be successful, students must learn ways to organize their time efficiently and use their time effectively. If students can practice organizing their time when working on one task and experience success doing so, they can begin to generalize this skill and carry it out in their independent assignments. 

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Time Management: Conquering Long Assignments

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Time management is a struggle for students of all levels. Long assignments can make this issue worse because procrastination can compound over time, especially when the assignment has several components. Rushing to finish at the last second may be impossible. Even if it's not, opting for this strategy can drastically decrease the quality of your work and increase the likelihood of making an embarassing error (like misinterpreting your teacher's directions).

Thus, when dealing with a long assigment, time management becomes crucial. Working at a manageable pace over a long stretch of time minimizes stress and maximizes the quality of your work. Below, we've provided some tips that can help you stay on-task over the long haul.

Make a realistic plan of action...

• When you receive your assignment, make sure to highlight when any due dates your instructor has specified. Some longer assignments will have specific sections due throughout the semester, so be sure to mark these in your calendar.
• Is there a rubric (and if so, can you see it/have a copy)?
• What will your instructor pay most attention to when grading? What elements are weighted the highest?
• What can you do to succeed on the assignment?
• Does your instructor have any tips for specific practices you can implement to do well on the various components?
• What does your instructor most want you to learn from this assignment?
• You may even consider making checklists to help you out. If your teacher hasn’t given specific due dates for different chunks of the assignment or doesn’t require a draft, when does it make most sense for you to have a draft completed, given your upcoming schedule? Put some deadlines in place for yourself now so you’re not scrambling later.

Take advantage of every resource at your disposal…

• Clarify any questions you have with your teacher as they come up; don’t assume you know the answer if you aren’t sure. Some mistakes, like using the wrong kinds of sources, can compound over time and create more problems for you later on in the assignment.
• Talk to research librarians about your work, if you’re doing a research project. Explore the different resources available through your library, and learn about how to use your library’s search tools; you will need more than just the first few sources that show up, and talking to another person who has expertise in the area you’re looking at will help you not only find the appropriate sources, but learn how to search later when you’re working alone.
• If your university has a writing center, it doesn’t hurt to make an appointment to speak with someone there as well. It’s a good idea to book an appointment for the longest time slot they have available so that you can have all your questions answered and concerns met. Don’t be afraid to use the writing center no matter what part of the writing process you’re on (drafting, citing sources, proofreading, editing, etc.).

Pace yourself, make a schedule, and follow it…

• Many writers of all kinds (creative, journalistic, academic, etc.) recommend a daily writing practice. Writing just a little every day will help continue to move you toward your goal. Not everyone can accomplish that, though — whatever works for you is great. The most important thing is to be consistent (e.g., "I will write half an hour every day;" "I will write an hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday;" etc.).
• Make a point to mention your goals (e.g., deadlines you've set for yourself) to your buddy early on. This will help keep you accountable, as you'll feel compelled to accomplish your goals in order to avoid embarassing yourself.
• This will also help you make progress, since the sense of accomplishment you'll get from meeting minor milestones (like completing a page) will make larger ones seem less daunting.