Managing your time effectively can be tricky thing to master.
Whether you’ve got a packed timetable and lots of extra-curricular activities or you have lots of free time but never seem to make any progress. It’s something we all struggle with.
When we don’t feel like we’re in control of our own time, it can feel pretty overwhelming and it can really take a toll on our wellbeing and mental health in the long-term.
If managing your time more effectively is something you want to get better at, check out these top tips from Student Space:
Plan
Planning can help you to take a more practical approach to time management – and there are a range of options available. From basic to-do lists to more advanced apps, you’ve got lots of tools to help you so you might need to try a few before you find one that works for you.
Whatever you use, try to look realistically at your time and what you can achieve on any day. Try splitting your tasks into two categories – ‘Essential’ and ‘Bonus’. Always try and complete your Essential tasks, and then if you complete your Bonus tasks, that’s just a double-win. It also means you don’t feel disappointed at the end of each day when you haven’t managed to complete every task on your list.
Balance
The more you tick off your to-do list the better you’ll perform academically right? Not necessarily – it’s really all about balance and ensuring your wellbeing is also considered.
Yes, it’s great to blitz through your tasks, but if it leaves you overly exhausted at the end of each day and means you can’t work the next day, it’s not an ideal long-term solution.
Once you’ve completed your ‘Essential’ tasks, give yourself a break – get outside in the sunshine for a walk, attend one of our free fitness classes, catch up on the latest episode of your favourite series or just call a friend for a catch up. These small breaks can massively help our wellbeing overall and are important to factor into your day.
Studying in short bursts can help
Research indicates that studying in shorter blocks can actually be more effective than working for hours on end – so keep this in mind when planning your day.
Mix it up
Just because you need to study, it doesn’t mean you need to be chained to your desk. Try and mix up your study locations to give yourself a break – and consider getting your classmates together for some group study sessions.
Take advantage of support
If you’re struggling with an area of your studies in particular, don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to your tutor or fellow classmates – or request a meeting with our Academic Skills team. By getting the support you need when you need it, it means you can then use your time more effectively moving forwards.