In college, time management is vital to balancing academics, extracurricular, health (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual), a social life and jobs or internships. As I continue to take upper-level courses and become more engaged with my community, I have found that managing my time has become easier. This was not the case in the beginning of my freshman year, I did not put thought and effort into it. This has caused more stress and staying up late to study and finish tasks. After some trial and error, I have found that a few methods have worked for me!
With time management, it requires a lot of planning and setting up goals that are realistic and achievable. Don’t expect to do well in an exam by doing last minute studying and cramming! Conquer this by breaking tasks such as studying, into smaller pieces and setting a timer. From my experience, I dedicated more time on my science courses that required a lot of memorization and understanding of the concept. In these courses, practice problems worked better for me than simply rewriting my notes. By doing practice problems repeatedly, I was able to see a pattern for certain concepts and become more confident with exams. Many professors will also recommend certain problems in the textbook to help students know what concepts align with the course and stay on track. In a way, professors also help students build a schedule by including specific topics that the course will cover throughout the semester. The weekly readings and assignments are a lifesaver. The course syllabus and schedule has helped me set up my routine and goals every semester!
Remember, college is not about studying 24/7! There are many opportunities to meet new people, explore new hobbies and interests. The Claremont Colleges have many opportunities for students to meet each other and build a closer community. One of the biggest event is called Turf Dinner, in which all of the dining halls close and students gather on one campus to eat dinner and sign up for clubs. Other events are 5C annual parties, guest speakers, collaborations for study groups and festivals.
Something that my friend shared with me was that rest is a requirement, not a reward. I often found myself setting unhealthy goals such as “I can sleep once I finish studying” or “I can go outside after I finish an assignment”. While it is great to be dedicated and focused to your academics, listen to your body. Take the time to have a break and get back to what you were working on.
Time management can definitely be challenging, but it requires effort to find what works and what doesn’t. In the end, it will be worth it!