The Sandspur

Issue date: 9/4/06 Section: Life & Times

Media Credit: Jessica Combs [Click to enlarge]

All of us have been there. We had a list of things to do, and we really wanted to get it all done, but somehow, time just ran out. It happens to everyone. The truth is many people do not really have a need for time management until they reach college. Suddenly, there is so much to do, so many people to meet, and between going to class, studying, extracurricular activities, and making time for the occasional party, it can become very overwhelming.

Luckily, time management is not something one must be born with. It is a skill that can be practiced and perfected over time, and the better you get at it, the more you will see the results in your day to day life.

Before anything, it is important to know what it is you want to accomplish with your time. Well defined goals are essential in being able to prioritize the different ways you can spend your time. You can divide your goals into three categories: immediate, short-term, and long-term. Once you have these clearly defined objectives, you can begin to plan in a way that will make the most out of every hour.

Monthly planners are very important in staying on track, especially when it comes to some of the longer-term goals. They can be used to track any major deadlines, appointments, birthdays or anniversaries, etc. If used correctly, a monthly planner should show you during what time you will be especially busy, or when you have a little more time to work with.

Weekly planners are just as important as monthly planners. Many of us use these already, probably to keep track of our class times, our extracurricular meetings, and any upcoming appointments. However, many people do not take it any farther. Other activities, such as homework time, are not scheduled. We assume that because it is something we must do, it will get done at some point, but if it is not scheduled, it will easily be put off until suddenly we are looking at our to do list with items still unchecked, completely out of time.

In planning, it is important to realize how much time a certain activity deserves. By prioritizing our list of activities, and dedicating appropriate amounts of time to each item on our list, we can avoid wasting time unnecessarily. It is advised that for every hour of class time, there should be two to three hours dedicated to work outside of class. This is a big jump for some people, who found that they could breeze their way through many high school courses.

This being said, balance is key. Just as it imperative to schedule homework time, it is also very important to add "personal time" to your schedule. After all that studying and hard work, it is important for both your physical and mental health to schedule time for yourself, to unwind and enjoy college life, because in spite of the hard work it represents, it is also a unique time in your life that should be enjoyed to the fullest.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools