It is no surprise to find out that while you’re in college, you will most definitely have A LOT of time on your hands. The average college student gets about 6 hours of sleep a night; that means there are 18 hours during the day for them to work with, doing whatever they please. Their time usually gets consumed by going to class, studying, working, volunteering, and socializing.

Regardless of this, however, students can still find managing their time quite a difficult task. Lucky for you, I have provided four tips to help you effectively maximize your time so you are able to finish whatever you set out to do.

1. Meal prep

Being a college student and trying to cook yourself meals amidst all the stress is one of the biggest struggles to ever exist. Since college students lack time and are away from home, they typically tend to turn to cafeterias for quick and easy meals.

However, not only does this put a strain on their budgets, but also their health and productivity. Taking that extra hour or two during the weekend and putting in an effort to prepare healthy meals for the week can, in fact, boost both your concentration and memory. This, it is possible to eat healthily without sacrificing your time.

2. Workout

Many famous and successful entrepreneurs incorporate working out into their ultra-busy schedules. This goes hand in hand with healthy eating. Regularly exercising will aid in improving brain performance. Try to take at least 4-5 hours out of your week to exercise, and you will be surprised how much it improves both your mental and physical well-being.

3. Create lists

Similar to hour-by-hour schedules, creating a to-do list will help you in remembering all the smaller, less time-sensitive tasks you have to complete. The possibilities are endless when it comes to making your lists: they can be digital or on paper, and you can write a list for almost anything.

Whenever anything comes to mind, write it down. Then at the start or end of your day, you can properly look over your list and prioritize what needs to be done when. This will help you in remembering everything you want to do and give you a better understanding of what activities you focus most on.

4. Befriend people with similar goals

It is said that we reflect the company we keep. While in college, the amount of people you meet will be almost infinite, each one different than the other. To maximize your time and productivity, seek people who mirror you in terms of interests and goals. Spending time with them will keep you motivated and dedicated to excellence. Invest your time in these people.