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The
next effective tip that I have for college and university students is to MANAGE
YOUR TIME!! I know it all sounds so repetitive and you have probably heard it
on numerous occasions throughout high school. The truth is the earlier you are
capable of learning this skill in life, the more natural it will become a part
of your everyday life. Up until I began
writing everything down, and I mean everything,
I was constantly forgetting to do things. Time management allows for you to
allocate the time that is required for things that need to get done, as well to
allow for time with your friends, family, and other leisurely activities. If
you make the effort to manage your time wisely, it will pay off and soon become
natural to you. Not only is it important
to get you through college and university, but as an adult it will be an
effective skill used in order to balance everyday life of a family, full-time
job, and any other priorities.
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I don’t
just use one but I use multiple planners, including my phone, a calendar planner,
and just plain old lined paper. I know this may seem a little bit excessive,
but when I see things everywhere and I am surrounded by reminders it helps
drill into my mind the daily/weekly things that need to get done. Yes, having
more than one source of tracking things can sometimes get confusing, so if
there is one method you prefer be sure to use it on a regular basis.
Some
of the effective methods I have used to manage my time:
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Cell Phone Calendar & Memo
Pad – I am
constantly using the calendar in my phone for appointments, assignments, and
other various tasks which I know I will easily forget about during a busy day.
Having that automatic pop-up in your phone is a great function and has been a
great tool to help me get things done and out of the way. I have very recently started
something new, which is creating categories in my memo pad. It’s not that I am
a forgetful person, but all of a sudden life just one day got so busy I thought
I would be better off safe than sorry. How many times have you gone to the
grocery store, or the mall or Wal-Mart, just to get home and realize that you
completely forgot to pick-up that ONE item you specifically went there for?? This
method has really been working out great, since I can easily update each
category in seconds. I would suggest you give it a try, especially if you are
extremely forgetful…it is something new I have started doing routinely as of
this year.
Use a Daily Planner/Calendar – I am a strong believer in
having a daily planner because it encourages you to see things that need to be
done on a weekly basis. This way, at the beginning of the week you can tell at
a glance what your week is going to be looking like. I also like to have fun
with it and highlight what it is I have completed on my weekly list of things,
as it gives me a sense of accomplishment.It
is also great to include other important tasks outside of work or school that
need to be incorporated into your week, such as weekly sports practices or
other events.
Old Fashioned Lined Paper – I usually use this method
for the school week or at work (if it is high demanding job). The reason I like
to write things down on lined paper is so that I can mentally think about how
long it will take me approximately to complete a specific task, as
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well as to
make sure that I do not leave anything until the last minute. Even at the
office, sometimes there are just so many things that need to get done so it is
better having it written down. The allocated times are an indicator that I have
spent too much time on something and I either need to get a move on or need to
come back to it later. Sometimes your brain just also need a break, so if there
is something more pressing that needs to be completed move onto that and just
come back to the incomplete task later. If you are not a fan of writing things
down you can also make up a simple template in excel or any other computer
application you prefer to use. I have found even in a work environment time
slots are necessary, because it pushes you to complete something within a
certain time limit and move onto the next project. As you have completed a
task, crossing it off the list might give you a sense of relief that you are
getting closer to the end of your daily to-dos.
A
couple of other key things to keep in mind are to expect unexpected things to
come up, squeeze in some relaxing time, always try to plan ahead, and be
flexible. You are not always going to follow your daily or weekly time
management schedule 100%. Start with the critical things and easiest things
first to get them out of the way. But also, don’t procrastinate by putting off
the challenging projects, as these are the types of projects that require
brainstorming and constant improvement before the final product is complete.
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