Time Management Tips for Students: From Procrastination to Productivity

time management tips

One of the most essential skills to develop in life is time management. The importance of time management is endless, especially for students. Time management can help one achieve success, become disciplined, and achieve their goals in life with patience. It requires a lot of patience and hard work to learn the skill of time management, but once excelled, it can lead to a disciplined and organized life. Managing the time of students is an art that Gurus can help you understand fast, it is always best to seek online tuition classes where teachers can help you understand your custom need for specific areas. Since professional opinions are far-fetched and expensive so we have also discussed different techniques and strategies that can help a student in managing their time efficiently.

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How to manage time for students-

There is a lot of technique you will follow to manage your time, mentioned below

Have a schedule-

One of the main aspects to be kept in mind while working towards time management is having a proper schedule and timetable that complements your learning and working style. Having a set schedule with different things arranged in the order of their prioritization can help a student manage their time while completing all their tasks.

These days students have a lot on their plate with academics, extracurriculars, and learning different skills. Hence it is important that they learn how to manage their time efficiently while being able to complete all their activities and academics. Thus, developing a timetable and schedule can help a lot with time management.

Taking small breaks-

Taking small breaks

While having a schedule with different activities scheduled at different times can help a lot in time management. Working consistently without any breaks in between can lead to burnout. Hence, taking a break between Math sessions and English sessions during online tuition while doing something fun in between like taking a walk or listening to music can help in relieving of stress and not lead to boredom and burnout. Taking small breaks is an important aspect of learning time management.

Getting enough sleep-

In order to work efficiently throughout the day on different activities and studies, it is important to be energized and fresh. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep is extremely important to feel refreshed and work consistently throughout the day. It is even more important for students as they have to work on their academics and extracurriculars. Being well rested can lead to better energy levels and help students in better time management. Learn more about how students can benefit from quality sleep here,

Removing distractions-

Time management requires a lot of discipline and consistency, and to achieve that it is imperative that a student stays away from distractions and focuses and concentrates on the task at hand in order to complete it in the stipulated time period. To manage time, students must learn how to keep various distractions at bay such as staying away from gadgets, and other unnecessary and less important activities that can be done later, they should prefer sitting in a quiet room where there is no disturbance and noise. For example- students must stay away from their phones and Ipads and study in a quiet room when doing a specific subject as they will be able to focus on the task at hand and be able to complete it on time.

Start early on with projects-

A key fundamental principle of time management for students is being able to complete work on time, hence a great way to do that is to start working on assignments and projects early on while keeping different time constraints in mind. This will help students in managing their time efficiently while being able to complete different things and studies on time. This is especially useful for students who have extreme workloads and a lot of assignments.

Reward yourself-

Self-reinforcement can be a great way to boost motivation and work effectively throughout. When talking about time management, it is important to consider the relevancy of rewarding yourself when you achieve certain tasks. Some examples can include going for a walk, talking to a friend, cooking, doing a relaxing activity, and spending time with family. This can make the process of learning and working more motivating and can lead to better time management.

Techniques of Time Management for Students-

Learning about techniques of time management can be very essential for students and help them manage their time in a better manner.

Pomodoro Technique-

Pomodoro Technique

This technique which was developed in the 1980s involves short 25-minute intervals of work/study with five-minute short breaks. As described by Cirillo, the founder of his technique in his book, it usually involves the following five steps-

  1. Bring a to-do- list and a timer.
  2. Set the timer to 25 minutes and try to focus on one task at hand till the timer rings.
  3. When the session ends, tick off that activity or Pomodoro and try to record what you have completed.
  4. Enjoy a 5-minute break.
  5. After 4 activities, take a longer break.

Various studies have found the effectiveness of this technique in time management, with students reporting better time management and relaxed states. One such study which was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the Pomodoro technique in teaching descriptive text to junior high students, the results indicated that this technique was beneficial in assisting students in improving their writing skills.

Eisenhower Matrix

Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management framework that is used to prioritize tasks and agendas by categorization those items based on their importance and urgency. This involves drawing a matrix like the one depicted in the picture above and labeling urgent, not urgent, important, and not important tasks respectively.

This technique involves understanding items in the four boxes, through items that.

  1. One has to do now, which is urgent and requires attention right away- Quadrant 1
  2. Important items which are not very urgent and don’t require immediate attention. These can be scheduled for a later time- Quadrant 2
  3. Important items that require immediate attention but due to their lack of necessity, they can be assigned to someone else- Quadrant 3
  4. Items that are neither essential nor important at the moment can be deleted from the list. – Quadrant 4

This technique can be used by students to manage their assignments and study schedule. This technique has been proven to be very effective for time management.

Rapid Planning Method (RPM)-

This technique was developed by Tony Robbins and focuses on how one can train their brain to focus on what one really wants so that one can make it real. Students can really benefit from this technique, and it involves the following concepts-

  1. Capturing- This involves writing down everything that one wishes to accomplish in that week.
  2. Chunking- Group together tasks based on common features. For example- clubbing school-related academic tasks together and extracurriculars in other groups.
  3.  Create your RPM blocks- This involves writing on a sheet of paper the results that one wants to achieve from completing that task, their purpose for completing it, and the actions one can take to get there.
  4. Create a role for yourself- This involves creating things that could be motivating for one to achieve their tasks.

Time management skills for students: What are these and why is it important?

Being able to manage time is a great skill to have. Developing it as a student can be really beneficial and can help a lot in the future in both my personal and professional life. Time management teaches one discipline, the art of focus and concentration, and organization. Hence there are various other skills that one must master in time management.

Organization-

Learning how to manage different tasks at different times can only be possible if students know the art of organization. Being able to organize your studies, and extracurriculars into your schedule can go a great way in developing your time management skills. This also teaches students the art of being able to organize and work efficiently towards their goals. Here are some easy ways to become more organized and manage your time-

  • Breaking down bigger tasks into smaller ones.
  • Using a planner to manage schoolwork.
  • Setting deadlines to stay on track.
  • Labeling everything such as notebooks and notes in order to know what goes where can save a lot of time.

Setting your priorities-

While all the tasks are important, it is very necessary to prioritize the most important ones. This can help one in staying organized and work towards things that hold more importance. Setting priorities can be beneficial in the sense that one is able to focus and concentrate more on the task that is to be accomplished first. For example- Between a history test day after tomorrow and a project submission next week, a student must set their priorities straight and focus on studying for their test to excel in it. Setting priorities can help in better time management as there is organization.

Focus and concentration-

Learning the skill of focus and concentration is extremely important for time management skills. As time management involves completing tasks in a stipulated period of time, staying away from distractions and focusing on the task at hand can make the process of time management better and easier. This can help students in developing discipline and the art of concentration, which is essential for student life and success in life. Check out this post on how to improve focus and concentration in students-

Managing stress-

Being able to manage the stress that comes with a hectic schedule is the key to being able to manage time efficiently. Time management requires a lot of patience and organization, which can lead to frustration. Learning to manage stress and frustration can help in better time management for students. For example- Taking it easy when one is not able to complete any given task or assignment in a given time period can help one to calm down. When one is feeling calm, they are better able to manage their time and strategize for the future. Hence, having a problem-solving coping response is essential for time management for students. It is beneficial for future success.

It is also important to know about some common techniques of stress management, which can include-

  1. Engaging in physical exercises such as yoga to calm the mind and body.
  2. Having a strong social support system can help a student in dealing with stressful times such as a strong group of friends can be beneficial for one.
  3. Listening to soothing music can calm the thought processes that make an individual anxious.
  4. Eat healthy foods as this builds up one’s energy levels and can help in reducing headaches or other physical symptoms of stress.
  5. Developing an optimistic attitude by practicing positive affirmations such as-

‘I can do it’, ‘I have got this.’ ‘This challenge cannot deter me.’

5 tips for time management for students-

Now that we have already discussed how to manage time, the skills required for it, and its importance, let’s look at some easy and important tips for students that can help them in managing their time efficiently.

  1. Maintain an easy timetable that works well for you.
  2. Do not multitask, this will reduce your concentration and focus and impair your ability to manage time properly.
  3. Set achievable goals that do not consume too much of your time.
  4. Make a to-do list and tick off the tasks as you complete them.
  5. Set a time limit for each activity and task that you are doing.

Conclusion

Time management is a very important skill to be learned. It has immense benefits and can be very beneficial for a student. Maintaining a schedule, making a to-do list, setting time limits, taking breaks, and rewarding yourself can help in better time management skills in students. Hence, time management can make one’s life organized, and disciplined and pave the way to their success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is time management?

Time management refers to managing time effectively to complete one’s activities and tasks in that stipulated time. Time management leads to better organization, discipline, and success in life. Time management holds a lot of importance in the lives of students.

Q. How to manage time for students?

The best strategy for students to manage time involves, maintaining a schedule, making a timetable and to-do list, taking small breaks between tasks, dividing bigger tasks into smaller ones along with avoiding multitasking. These steps can make the process of time management easier for students.

Q. What is the importance of time management?

Time management can help one achieve discipline in life. It can make one’s life easier as one learns about discipline and patience. Time management in a student’s life can pave the way to their success in academic and future life.

Q. What other skills are important for time management in a student’s life?

Learning the skills of organization, setting priorities, being able to manage stress, staying focused, and maintaining concentration are very important skills that one must master in order to learn the art of time management. These skills can be complementary to learning about time management. This can make the learning process easier and better for the learner.

Q. How can having a schedule improve time management in students?

When a student has a set timetable and a schedule that they follow regularly, their activities are divided into different time slots. This organization can help the student effectively manage their workload and assignments. Through this, they are able to complete things on time and maintain a balance between their academics and extracurriculars.

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