As a student, you know that time is a precious resource. It can be difficult to balance your studies, extracurricular activities, and social life. By using time management strategies, you can stay organised, reduce stress, and make the most of your valuable time whilst studying at university.
Here are some techniques to try and see if you can boost your productivity; they may not all suit you, but you can mix and match to find an approach which works best for you.
- Prioritise Tasks: Create a to-do list and rank tasks based on deadlines and importance. Focussing on high-priority assignments first ensures you stay on track and complete essential work on time. Don’t be afraid to delegate or say no to less important tasks.
- Use Time Blocks: Divide your day into focused time blocks for different activities. This will help you stay focused and avoid procrastination. Allocate specific periods for studying, breaks, and extracurricular activities. Stick to the schedule to maintain a balanced routine.
- Set Realistic Goals: Set achievable goals for each study session and don’t try to do too much at once. By breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and keep track of your progress.
- Eliminate Distractions: Find a quiet place to study. Silence your phone, log out of social media, and create a dedicated space to help you stay fully engaged in your task.
- Try the Pomodoro Technique: The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method, which suggests that you complete 25-minutes of focused work, then take a 5-minute break. After four repetitions, take a longer break of 15- or 30-minutes. This technique can help you stay focused and avoid distractions. Search online for more information on this method.
- Avoid Multitasking: Multitasking can actually decrease your productivity and mean lower-quality work. Instead, by concentrating on one task at a time you can be more efficient and retain information better.
- Learn to Say No: It’s okay to say no to social invitations or extracurricular activities that will take away from your study time. While it’s important to maintain a balance, there are times when you need to prioritise your academic responsibilities.
- Make use of Productivity Tools: There are many productivity tools available that can help you stay organized and on track. Some popular tools include to-do list apps, calendar apps, and note-taking software.
- Review and Reflect: It’s really helpful to regularly review your progress and then make adjustments to your time management strategies as needed. Reflecting on your productivity will help you assess what is working and allow you to fine-tune your approach for better results.
- Practice Self-Care: It’s important to take care of your physical and mental health. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly. Taking care of yourself will help you stay energised and productive.
Remember, productivity isn’t about working longer but working smarter. Time management is a skill that takes time and practice to develop, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep practicing and you will find a system that works for you, helping you be better organised, feel in control of your studies, reduce your stress see an improvement in your academic performance and overall wellbeing.
For more study skills advice, see the firstpoint study skills webpage.
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