Being a college student is one of the most difficult tasks anyone will perform in their entire life. Fresh out of high school and getting tossed into an unknown world that anyone could hardly prepare for is hard. Learning to balance social life, work life, school life, and any bit of free time is relatively hard. On top of that it is important to take care of yourself, life isn’t easy and it can take a huge toll on mental health.

Common things I’ve heard students say is that they are just tired, stressed, and most importantly they don’t know how to manage their time in a way that benefits their lifestyle. Which is all completely normal to feel especially in high stress environments. According to Gitnux Marketdata Report 2024, about 54% of college students experience increased stress related to poor time management and only 3% of college students are considered “highly effective” with regard to time management.

So don’t feel like you are alone in the never ending pit of “I don’t have time”, because a lot of students feel the same way. Hopefully this article will be able to provide you some tips to help manage that time. This whole list won’t work for everyone but hopefully you can mold it to a way it’ll work for you.

 

1. Don’t Take On Too Much

Knowing how much work you can manage is a great first step. If you’ve struggled in previous years with four classes then maybe drop it down to three for the next semester. There is no shame in limiting your workload so you can have more freetime. Sometimes it can even benefit your mental health and give you a chance to reset so you don’t get burnt out on college.

 

2. Use a Calendar

Most students will attempt to use a planner or physical calendar but they never seem to really stick. You could misplace them or just forget about it all together. But something you never forget about is your phone. So find a calendar app or some type of planning app you like and turn on those notifications. Microsoft has one that you can link to your student email and will give you alerts about upcoming classes. Canvas also has an option to link your classes and assignments to your calendar if you have an iPhone which is extremely helpful!

 

3. The Two-Minute Rule

The two-minute rule is that if any task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately to get it out of the way. This was developed by productivity consultant and author David Allen and is a rule that is recommended by Johnson and Whales University. This can be great because if you pair it with the mobility of phones you can do schoolwork anywhere. If you’re on break at work, type up that short assignment. Waiting for a friend to pick you up? Go ahead and get those little discussion boards done!

 

4. Get Plenty of Sleep

It’s no secret that college students are known for staying up in the late hours of the night, finishing assignments last minute or just playing video games. A key part of a successful college career is sleep. You need it to function, to focus, it is vital to life in general. Adults function best on seven to eight hours of sleep each night so make sure you get those hours of sleep.

 

5. Find Your Most Productive Hours

Figuring out what time of the day you tend to be most productive is a great way to finding the best time to get your work done. Block of those hours once you’ve figured that out and dedicate some time to school during your productive hours.

 

6. Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Asking for help is one of the hardest task a person can do, especially if you tend to be a pretty independent person. There is no weakness in asking for help, your professors and counselors are more than willing to provide you any help they can. If it is too much to ask them, ask your peers, join study groups. Gulf Coast has many wonderful tools to help students throughout their time at the college.

 

7. Use The Eisenhower Matrix

The technique was designed by the 34th US President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had to make tough decisions from moment to moment. The Eisenhower Matrix is another approach to prioritizing tasks according to urgency and importance while also deprioritizing anything less urgent or important. This is also a technique that is recommended by Johnson and Whales University.

 

8. Take Breaks

Don’t sit for hours on end and power through your assignments. You’ll lose focus and not learn anything or turn in an assignment of poor quality that could have been better. Pace yourself and take breaks away from the computer screen.

 

9. Switch up your Environment

Whether you are studying or working on assignments, switching up your environment may prove to be beneficial. It can be a good change of pace especially if you are an online student. You don’t have to any drastic like go to a coffee shop or library. It can be a simple change like moving from your bedroom to the kitchen, or to the living room. Sometimes small changes like that can help our mind stay focused.

 

10. The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is one to consider if you need a proven time management system. It encourages students to work within the time available. It breaks your day down into 25 minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. The combined work-break intervals are known as Pomodoros. There is a psychological component associated with the technique, building a manageable sense of urgency that helps you accomplish tasks on time. This is one also recommended by the Johnson and Whales University.

Video Guide:

The internet is full of wonderful resources. This video by Lauryn Willkomm is very useful and great for some extra tips.

HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN COLLEGE: 10 tips from a straight A college student