TIME MANAGEMENT

People from all walks of life struggle with procrastination and time management and students are no exception. Here’s how to get stuff done.

At uni, good time management is one of the most valuable skills to learn. Possibly for the first time, you will be responsible for attending class, doing your work, preparing for exams, sorting your laundry, having a social life, managing your money, ensuring you eat properly … the list goes on and on. And whilst you might not have it cracked from day one, there are a few simple tips to help you get started:

1 Work out what it is you need to do

What you need to do and what you want to do may be different things. No-one wants to spend a Friday night in the library revising, but if it’s what you need to do to get where you want to be, do it. Make a list of all the things you have to do (and when you have to do them by), and a list of the things you would like to do (think: parties and festivals).

2 Create a plan Next up, you need a plan of action. Whether you use a scrap of paper to create a to- do list, or a paper or electronic diary, block out some time to get the stuff you need to do done, and then fit in the stuff you want to do around it. If it goes on the list or in the diary, it’s non-negotiable – you have to get it done. Reward yourself if you stick to your schedule.

3 Leave some space for downtime

Word of warning – don’t overpack your schedule or put an overwhelming number of things on a to-do list. Keep

The Number One Trick To Avoid Procrastination

Just get started. It might seem super simple but how many times have you put something off only to do it later and it was nowhere near as bad as you thought? If you set a timer and do five minutes of a project, assignment or to tackle some revision, you are more likely to keep going when the five minutes is up. Usually, the hardest thing is starting. Try it.

it manageable and leave lots of time should things overrun or take longer than expected. Block out time to take care of yourself too – for rest, fun and exercise.

4 Don’t take on too much

There are so many opportunities at uni – which is great – but you can’t do everything. If you are a serial ‘over-committer’, try to limit the amount you schedule, even if it’s just for a while. You can always add more commitments later.

5 Account for ‘busy periods’

The academic year has peaks and troughs in terms of workload. For example, on the lead up to and during exam period, your focus will be on your revising, but during the summer, that’s when you could pick up some extra money with a part time job. Use your time wisely to make sure to account for these changes in workload.