Finding time management seems to be the number one hardest thing a person can deal with. I know it was for me. I wish I had an older mentor or someone to help me out when I was a freshman in college...trying to balance the schoolwork, extracurricular activities, jobs, etc. It can really be stressful, but that is what this article is all about....helping YOU find the perfect ways to balance everything and achieve time management. I feel as if once you can master this, then everything will become easier to you.

First things first, a planner is probably going to be the best thing that has come your way since scholarship money. You can literally print out of planner sheets or even buy a planner for yourself. You do not need an Erin Condren or a Lilly, you can use a simple one from the Dollar Store or Walmart. You can treat yourself to a bigger and better planner later. Once you get this, go ahead and write down any dates you have been given ahead of time. Then, when you get dates in class or know you have to do something tonight...pull out that planner and write it down! Check your planner daily! I recommend twice a day, so you do not have time conflicts. When someone asks if you want to do something on a certain day, make sure to check your planner. That way you can tell them what times are good for you without risking a time that may not be. This is one simple way to assure time management.

Secondly, choose wisely on when and what you choose to focus your time on. If you have a report due at 10pm and a concert that you want to go to at 8pm that same night, then make time the night before to work on that report. Then you can finish it up the next day and submit. Better yet, work on it a little bit at a time at least a week in advance. This will eliminate stress big time. The same thing goes for studying. I know you guys like to cram the night before and then when you get that test grade back, you are shocked at that low score, but let's be real. If you studied a little bit each day, you would be BETTER prepared for that test.
When you cram the night before, your brain cannot keep all that information in as if you have known this. If you study a little bit each day, your brain is slowly retaining all that information. That way, you should only be reviewing the night before. Plus, this gives you time to actually get some sleep the night before.

Third, make time for you. When you get stressed out, you never give yourself time to de-stress. Spend some time with yourself. Make time for yourself. This is a key factor in being able to balance out everything. All those assignments, events, and study times will not be so overwhelming if you can find time to balance yourself. Remember, you need to take care of yourself first before you can take care of everything else effectively. Always keep in mind that there is always going to be a party, there is always going to be another time to go shopping with friends, etc. It will not kill you to miss something for the sake of doing better at work, in your class, or even with yourself.

Fourth, you need to get your priorities straight. Let's go back to the previous paragraph where I told you to keep in mind that there will always be a party, a shopping event, a school event, etc. Remember your main goal or that main focus. For instance, if you are in college...why are you there? To get your degree and have a great future, am I right? Well do not lose sight of that. Yes, parties, events, and get-togethers are a lot of fun, do not get me wrong, but remember that if you skip studying for that test to go to a party that will happen again next week, then was that 60 really worth it? No, it was not, and you will sit there and get upset about it when you know it was your fault. So, set your priorities. What is going to come first, second, third, and so forth.

Overall, time management is such an important concept in college. This is crucial to learn before you really get over-loaded in your classes for your major or before you start the real-world with paying the bills, your job, and kids, etc. The more you can train yourself in time management the more punctual you will be as a person and the less stress you will have in your life. So, keep this in mind guys!