Time Management Tips for Students
Let’s work smarter, not harder.
Ask anyone out there if they’ve got enough time to do everything they want (and need to) and we almost guarantee you the answer is no. Finding time for your social life, study, family, work and hobbies? It’s nothing short of a serious juggling act.
But it’s not just fitting everything in that’s the reason time management is so important – it can help you:
- • Get better grades – By ensuring you’re on top of your assignments and exams (and have time to properly understand everything!), you’ll be rewarded!
- • Reduce your stress – We all know the stress that comes with last-minute cramming and missed deadlines. Time management means that goes away!
- • Have better balance – Because when we’re constantly having say no to things that bring us joy because we have no time, that’s no a balance life at all!
Always struggled with managing your time as a student? Here’s our top tips to help you out.
Tip #1 Set Clear Goals
Sometimes you struggle to manage your time because you don’t *actually* know what you need to fit into it. Define what you want to achieve with:
- • Short-Term Goals: Break your tasks into daily or weekly goals. For example, “Complete my assignment by Friday” or “Study for biology test this week.”
- • Long-Term Goals: Set broader goals such as “Maintain a 80+ this semester” or “Read 30 books this year”
Tip #2 Create a Schedule
Scheduling is your friend! Use a planner or digital calendar to map out your time:
- • Weekly Planning: At the start of each week, plan your tasks and activities. Include class times, study sessions, extracurricular activities, hobbies and personal time.
- • Daily Planning: Each evening, create a to-do list for the next day and remember to prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance (no, watching more TikToks is not important nor urgent).
Tip #3 Prioritise Tasks
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed when you’ve got 20 tasks on your to do list – which is where prioritisation comes into play. There are plenty of different ways that you can prioritise your tasks – whether that’s just writing them from top to bottom in order of importance, or using one of the methods below:
- • The Eisenhower Matrix: Divide tasks into four categories—urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, neither urgent nor important. Tackle them accordingly!
- • ABC Method: Label tasks as A (must do), B (should do), and C (nice to do). Complete A tasks first, then B and then C. If you do all three, go get yourself a treat!
Tip #4 Avoid Procrastination
Don’t worry, we’re guilty of this one too. Procrastination is a major time management killer – and it’s something we all do! Two ways you can avoid procrastination:
- • Break Tasks Into Smaller Steps: Breaking tasks into manageable chunks can make them less daunting and easier to start (think breaking an assignment into parts, rather than trying to tackle a huge assignment in one go!).
- • Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle and take a longer break after four sessions. This one’s a crowd favourite!
Tip #5 Limit Distractions
Easier said than done, but having your phone vibrating every 5 minutes and Netflix playing in the background is *probably* not helping you get the things you need to done. Create a focused environment:
- • Pick a Dedicated Space: Choose a quiet, well-lit place free from distractions.
- • Turn Off Notifications: Use apps like “Forest” or “Stay Focused” to limit phone usage during study time (or simply switch Do Not Disturb on!).
- • Set Boundaries: Let friends and family know your study/work times to minimise interruptions.
Tip #6 Take Care of Yourself
This may come as a surprise to you, but a big part of working and studying efficiently is actually looking after yourself! We’ve all tried to smash out that assignment on 4 hours sleep after one too many Netflix eps the night before – and it’s no secret that it’s much, much harder than it should be. Remember to:
- • Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. A well-rested mind is more productive and focused.
- • Exercise and move your body: Regular physical activity boosts your energy and concentration levels (that means not sitting at a computer for 8 hours straight!).
- • Eat healthy: Maintain a balanced diet to keep your energy levels stable throughout the day and avoid the mid-afternoon sugar crash.
Tip #7 Learn to Say No
Something that will always throw your planning out the window is unexpectedly saying yes to tasks that are probbbbbablyyyyy not going to fit within your already overloaded to do list. Again, we’ve been there – we get it. Remember to:
- • Assess Your Capacity: Before taking on new commitments, assess if you have the time and energy to fulfill them without compromising other important tasks.
- • Politely Decline if You Need To: It’s okay to say no to activities or requests that don’t align with your goals or current priorities.
Tip #8 Seek Help When Needed
One of the things we see a LOT? People not asking for help when they need it. It’s okay to get help from others, or to work with your peers to keep each other motivated.
- • Tutors and Teachers: If you’re struggling with a subject, seek help from a tutor or teacher to make sure you fully understand what you need to do, rather than wasting time going around in circles!
- • Study Groups: Join or form study groups with classmates to share knowledge and stay motivated.
- • Counseling Services: Many schools offer counseling services to help with time management and stress.
Time management is not an easy skill to master – with many adults still struggling with the constant process of planning and prioritising. The more you work at it, the better you’ll be able to balance your social life, study, family, work and hobbies. As they always say: Work Smarter, Not Harder.