Time Management

Your success as a student depends as much on your time management as it does on your academic ability and level of study. Those who effectively manage their time will be able to keep up with their commitments outside of the classroom as well as put in the necessary effort to their study.

Here are a few tips to help you manage your time more effectively:

Make a record of your current activities, paying particular attention to how long you spend carrying out various activities such as eating, working and studying.

Create a daily or weekly planner. Ensure that you mark down all class times, homework deadlines, exam times, fee deadlines and other important activities.

Keeping a to-do list is a smart idea. Try to complete the difficult tasks first, that way the tasks get easier as you work through them.

Ensure that you have a suitable place to study. If it is particularly noisy this can affect your concentration. It may be more suitable to go to a local library or even your college to find a suitable place to concentrate.

Try also to break up your study into 20 minute blocks i.e. study for 20 minutes and take a 5 minute break, then study for 20 minutes and so on.

Allow time in your daily/weekly schedule to review your notes from classes. It is best to review your notes within 24 hours of writing them. This is so that you can ensure that you are revising not relearning the information.

If you get the opportunity, read the last set of notes you made just before the next class. That way the material will be fresh in your mind as you prepare to learn additional information.

Remember, time management will help you to develop a routine whereby you can get the most out of your studies and still do all the other things you need to.