TRACK YOUR TIME.

To begin managing your time, you first need a clearer idea of how you currently use your time. You can assess this in several ways, but writing it down is important. One way is to track your time. You can do this by doing the following:

• Keep track of your time for a week and be fairly specific.
• Note how much work you complete while studying. This will give you a baseline of how much time different courses require.
• Keep track of things that distract you such as email, phone calls, television, or friends. You’re more likely to make positive changes if you’re first aware of what needs to be changed.
• Estimate weekly time use in various activities.
• Estimate how much study time is needed to get good grades in all of your courses.

Managing your time is important, whether you have too much extra time or you don’t have enough time in the week to get everything done. Because it’s easy to waste time if you don’t have structure or goals, having too much free time can lead to procrastinating. If you have too much extra time, you may want to plan as if you didn’t have much time. On the other hand, if you do not have enough time in your schedule, it may mean that you have a negative time balance. The following are some suggestions on what to do if you have a negative time balance:

• Steal time away from other activities.
• Decide what you can cut back on or eliminate.
• See what you can delegate to others.
• Determine what courses are easier for you. They may not require two hours per week for every hour in class.
• Multi-task! Do two things at once. Combine activities such as socializing and eating, or study while you do laundry.
• Use “waiting” time to study (while standing in line, taking the bus, or waiting for an appointment).

DAILY SCHEDULES.

There are a variety of time schedules that can fit your personality. These include planners, electronic planners, a piece of poster board tacked to a wall, or 3x5 cards. Once you decide on the style, the next step is construction. It’s best to allow spaces for each hour for a busy schedule. First, put down all of the necessities: classes, work, meals, meetings, and whatever else you think is essential. Now block in your study time, preferably for a time when you are the most energized. Make sure to schedule in study breaks, about 10 minutes each hour. Be realistic on how many course to take and how difficult each of them may be. To succeed in your courses you need to have the time to study. If you find you don’t have time to study and you aren’t socializing to an extreme, you might want to consider lightening your academic load.