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Time Management for Students

Did you stay up all night so that you could submit the term paper on time – again? Do you find yourself asking for extensions just because you tend to procrastinate? Then you need to learn time management. It is crucial for you to hone good time management skills as you prepare yourselves for the real world where missing deadlines or not being punctual could cost you your job.

You probably already know the importance of the value of time. You just need some tips on how to go about making the best use of your time – while enjoying your life as well. So that's where we will begin, working on your punctuality and deadline issues. To start off, make sure that you analyze your time.

Keep a Journal

You can not fix it if you do not know what’s broken. Therefore, instead of reading another time management article, we suggest you start putting it in to practice. Start by studying how you currently spend your time. For greatest effectiveness, write things down.

Use a worksheet like the one below to analyze a typical week. Divide your day in to slots and jot down what you do during that time.  A week or two of consistent journaling will reflect trends and highlight trouble areas. Chances are you’ll see chunks of time where you are doing little or nothing as compared to others where you have lots of activities crammed up.

A sample grid could be something like this:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6 

Day 7

Early morning 
 
 
 

9 AM to lunch 
 
 
 

Lunch to 4PM 
 
 
 

4PM – 8PM 
 
 
 

Late night 
 
 
 

How well did I do?

Where did I waste time? 
 
 
 

Once you see where the issues lay, try shifting activities for a more balanced day and a less hectic lifestyle.  Pencil down assignment deadlines and other important due dates well in advance so you are reminded of their approach when you refer to your grid.

Multitask

When you see empty slots on your grid, try to maximize your time there. Yearning to read a good book? Listen to an audio-book while exercising or commuting. Hate ironing clothes for an interview? Do it the night before while watching your favorite show.

Identify Time Thieves

Narrow down people and things that steal your time. An addictive computer game, a talkative friend or a mall obsession are just some examples. Nip them in the bud by setting limits. For instance, set a kitchen timer for twenty minutes and stop playing the addictive game when the timer goes off.

So instead of wasting time reading about how important it is that you utilize your time efficiently, use this time management article to get started on the time management path today.