So many things happen every day in the life of a busy college student. I know from personal experience how hard it may be to manage time in college. It may feel like the four walls are closing in because you have so many assignments and things to do with what feels like so little time. Do not worry, though; you are not alone! Follow these three simple ways to more effectively manage your time in college.
1. Always keep a calendar in your viewpoint.
In your dorm room or bedroom, which ever you may reside in, keep a calendar on the wall or somewhere that is always visible to you. By doing this, you will be able to see what day it is and what day your assignments are due. This is an easy way to see how many days you have until your next assignment is due for all your classes. I recommend that you get a dry erase calendar so you will be able write down any task you need to complete and erase it as you complete it. You may also choose to use different colored markers for different courses, as well. If you choose not to use a dry erase calendar, you may hang up a regular desk calendar on the wall and use different colored pens for different courses and cross off assignments as you finish them. However, with this option, the calendar may not be as big and you may not be able to see what you have written from a distance.
2. Set reminders on your phone for assignment due dates.
You may choose to use the Reminders app on your iPhone or iPad to remind yourself when assignments are due or you may also choose to set alarms on your device if you do not have an iPhone or iPad. With whatever you use, I recommend setting multiple alarms or reminders on multiple days to remind yourself to complete assignments. You can also remind yourself to complete the assignments by writing them down in your notes section of your device. I do not recommend this option, however, because you will have to remind yourself to look at the notes. You may also go into the calendar on your device and manually enter the assignment due date and time, which is similar to using the Reminders app.
3. Try to complete assignments days in advance.
Procrastination is not key! Despite what your fellow colleagues might tell you, completing your assignments a couple of days in advance will allow you to focus on other assignments that are due. Completing your assignments in advance will also make you feel less stressed because you will not have to worry about them once they are completed, and you will feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders! You may choose to complete the assignments three or four days in advance or even the day before, but remember to pace yourself!
While all three of these ways are more assignment focused, it is important to allow yourself time for other things, as well. For example, after you complete an assignment, focus on something else. You can do some cleaning or get some groceries in between assignments. Or you can complete an assignment and then hang out with some friends for a little before getting back to your schoolwork. If you complete all your assignments in a timely manner, you can then participate in a leisure activity. Most importantly, managing your time effectively will allow you to feel less stressed and help you get more sleep because you will not be staying up all night to complete assignments last minute!
