Time management is one of the most crucial skills any student can have. Academic success is dependent on more than being an intelligent student or just getting good grades. Managing academic performance through good time management skills is essential to getting the most out of an education. Additionally, students who have good time management skills will be able to spend more time doing fun activities and less time worrying about completing their schoolwork.
What is Time Management?
To many students, time management can seem like an obsessive scheduling process in which every minute of the day is planned out, leaving no time for relaxing or hanging out with friends. However, time management is the skill of being able to complete tasks in an organized manner; the awareness of how much time things like schoolwork will take is the central quality of time management.
Being able to manage how much time is spent working can increase a student’s productivity, help them spend less time working and still get good grades. Developing time management skills does involve scheduling, but time management is more about individual responsibility.
How to Make a Time Management Study Schedule
The easiest way to use schedules for time management is to make a broad schedule, on a monthly basis. Create a spreadsheet or use a calendar with enough lines to write down everything that needs to be completed.
Start by including the basic things that occur every day: these are the building blocks around which time management will be based. Everyday tasks might include
- classes
- a job
- study groups or tutoring
Activities that occur every day and should not be missed, such as classes, should be the most important items on a schedule. After the basics are written down, students should begin using a syllabus from each class to fill in homework due dates. Use the syllabus to record the dates of exams, paper due dates and general homework.
A schedule can help remind students of what projects they have to work on and when they are due; this can help students avoid missing due dates, as well as prepare adequately for tests.
How to Manage Big Projects for School
One of the benefits of developing time management skills is avoiding the necessity of all-nighters and last-minute stress on big projects. Knowing how to break down big projects into manageable chunks is an important skill for any student, and it can make a dramatic improvement in grades. Teachers can tell the difference between a last-minute project and something that has had real effort put into it.
Most teachers and professors will announce a big project such as a speech or research paper several weeks in advance. Many college professors will let students know about due dates for papers at the beginning of the grading period so that students have time to work on them.
Whether the project is a paper, a speech or a visual presentation, there are a few easy ways to break any project down into manageable steps that will help any student stay on top of their due dates. Start by figuring out how much time is left until the project is due; try to begin working at least a month in advance.
Spend a minimum of three days researching for the project; gathering resources and information can help a student focus their project or paper on a single topic. Create an outline of what the project will look like or how it should be written. Write or make a rough draft of the project. This process should take one to two weeks. Spend the remainder of the time editing, perfecting and fact-checking the piece.
Study Skills and Time Management
Other good time management tips for students can help any student figure out the best way to organize her schedule. One of the easiest things to remember is to schedule time for fun –working a few hours away from work into a busy schedule is the best way to avoid getting burned out on schoolwork.
Students should also practice time management skills in all areas of life. Work on breaking large tasks down into small ones, focusing on the big, everyday activities first and sticking to an organized lifestyle.
Students might also be interested in reading about the Best Way to Organize for College Students, the Best Study Tips for College Students and Important Life Skills for Teens.
Bailey Shoemaker Richards - Bailey is a writer from Ohio. She is pursuing a creative writing degree at Ohio University, where she is currently a senior. Bailey ...
Join the Conversation