Introducing effective time management

Even in high school, time is highly organised for students with a structured timetable and frequent deadlines which have to be met. University marks the transition into adulthood and one crucial aspect of that rite of passage involves having to learn how to manage your own time. While you will have lectures and possibly lab practical experiments (if you are doing a STEM degree), these will fill up considerably less of your time than classes at school and will not be the only tasks which you are expected to complete.

Additionally, deadlines will often be longer with students having to write termly papers (which are due at the end of the term) or dissertations (which you have a year to write). While having such extended periods of time to write can seem like a luxury, you are also expected to produce a greater amount of work which contains considerable depth and thought. Add in any extracurriculars or social activities you want to take advantage of, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Time management is not only vital for succeeding at university but is a crucial skill which you will need throughout your professional career. 

Here are some top tips to help you learn the art of time management:

1.  Start earlier and do a little bit often

As a deadline approaches it’s almost inevitable to rush to complete a paper, spending many hours in a relatively short timeframe to complete an assignment. While it is natural to focus on a piece of work as its submission date approaches, beginning to plan how you will approach the research and writing of a specific paper soon after it is assigned to you will help make your life much easier later. While it can be hard to get into the habit of deferred gratification, doing a little bit often earlier, once you see it make your life easier the first time, it will become easier to adopt the habit as you proceed through your studies. 

2.  Perform a range of tasks

It can be tempting to dedicate a whole day to one specific task, say, writing one term paper. However, studies show that concentrating intensely on a task for a short period of time leads to higher productivity. Moreover, having several different tasks in a day which are scheduled beforehand keeps the mind refreshed and engaged. It also means that by having a limit for how long you can complete one task before you have to do another, it becomes harder to procrastinate.

3.  Get into a regular routine

This one comes as no surprise but trying to stick to a fairly regular routine by, for example, waking up at the same time each morning, not only provides structure to your day but also keeps you healthy which means that you are able to maintain your stamina throughout the intensive period of the university term.