Time Management for Students 101: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need

Creating a distraction-free zone often seems like an impossibility when you're a busy student with so much on your plate. If you feel overwhelmed and stressed out with your classes and tests, take a breath.

As we go over this time article on time management for students, we are giving you the tools you need to succeed. Time management isn't a gimmick or some sort of pie in the sky. Continue reading this article to learn time management tips for students that really work.

Time Management for Students - Tips You Need to Know

The following tips are great for those that are learning the foundations of time management. We've also thrown some advanced tips in so you can be even more productive.

1. Let People Know When You'll Be Unavailable

If you don't let people know that you're going to be unavailable, they will unknowing derail your day. If you let people know the times they shouldn't contact you, most people will be fine with leaving you alone.

People understand when you're trying to use your time wisely. Make sure you give people times when you will be available, so they don't feel discouraged trying to get in contact with you.

2. Get a Study Group Right Away

Study groups help you learn after and help you beat procrastination. When you're the only one you have to answer to, it is easier to put things off. Having a group of people with a common goal will help you get things done.

Allowing your study group to double as an accountability group will ensure you get things done promptly. You want to have something good to report back to them.

3. Look for Time-Wasters & Eliminate Them

Do you notice there is something that you do that wastes your time? Maybe one of those time wasters is spending too much time on social media or watching TV? If you have a goal you're working at attaining, you might need to cut these things out altogether while you're working toward the attainment of this goal.

If you will feel too deprived not participating in your favorite time-wasting activities, at least set a very small time period for when you're allowed to do these things.

4. Create To-Do Lists

While to-do lists have been around for a long time, many people fail to use them properly. You can set up to-do lists in a multitude of ways, but the way we're going to explain it is going to be as simple as possible so you can implement it right away.

You can either use a physical checklist or download one of the many apps with a checklist feature. If you're going to use the app on your phone, make sure you don't get distracted when you're checking your to-do list.

Your to-do list should have the urgent must-dos at the top. You can then have a second to-do list that are things that would be nice to get done. If you get your whole to-do list and an extra item on your second list done, give yourself a special reward. 

5. Break Up Larger Tasks Into Smaller Tasks

If your tasks are too large, you may get discouraged and give up altogether. After all, you've worked really hard. Don't you deserve to take a little break?

Even if you aren't done and haven't accomplished what you wanted to get done, it is easy to rationalize a break when you are demotivated. When you break large tasks up into small tasks, the times when you experience low motivation are fewer and farther between.

6. Do Your Small Tasks First

Get some momentum at the beginning of the day. Get your smaller tasks done first. You'll start to see your to-do list decreasing, and your belief that you can actually get it done will be higher than if the list has ten items.

7. No Multi-Tasking

Have you ever said that you're a good multi-tasker? While you might think you're doing multiple things at one time, you're actually just switching back and forth between tasks.

You might feel like you're getting more done faster when you multi-task, but you're actually using more brain power to go back and forth than if you stay on one task. 

8. Routines Are Your Friend

Creating routines are important. When you get into a routine, it means that your mind and body are going to stop fighting against the newness of the task. When you're studying for a big test, the sooner you get study routines in place, the sooner you'll be able to get into the flow.

9. Use Your Breaks to Refresh

Don't just sit and stare blankly at your books during your breaks. You should plan something relaxing to do even if you only have a ten-minute break. Some simple stretching or yoga will allow you to get out of any funk you might be going towards as you're studying.

10. Take Time Off

Taking time off goes hand in hand with breaks. While time off is a longer period than a break, it is the same thought. When you take some time off, your brain can reboot.

Just like your computer, your brain needs a little break. Clear the history, delete the cache and whatever else you need to do to make sure your system is running as well as possible.

11. Learn the Skill of Delegation

If you feel like you have way too much to do, you need to learn the skill of delegation. Anything that you can have someone else do - you should have them do it. Learn to delegate and be fine if the thing wasn't exactly perfect.

Take Your Education to the Next Level

Now that you know these important tips on time management for students, why not build on this knowledge? We have many unique and interesting opportunities for our members.

If you're not familiar with the benefits of members, make sure to look through those today. We are dedicated to our members and are excited to have you. Read through our member benefits today and get ready to win even bigger.