Campus Resource

Building Time Management Skills

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Effective Time Management

University life involves more than just attending lectures and tutorials. You must also dedicate time to complete your readings before class and study after class for tests and assignments.

When you add in the time needed for your personal well-being and managing responsibilities at home, the workload can become overwhelming.

Effective time management is crucial for success in university. By developing strong time management skills, you can improve your grades, reduce stress, and achieve a balance between your academic and personal life.

Remember, time management is a skill that you need to learn; it is not something you are born with. Give yourself time to understand how you learn best, estimate how long tasks will take, and ensure you allocate time for relaxation to recharge.

Being productive doesn’t mean being busy all the time. Good time management helps you balance your academic responsibilities with downtime, allowing you to meet your goals effectively.

 

 

Time Management

For more information on time management, please visit:

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that helps you breakdown working time into smaller intervals that include regular short breaks.
Tomatoes

Procrastination

Did you know that up to 40% of university students struggle with procrastination? Often, procrastination occurs because students feel anxious and stressed about an assignment. To avoid this anxiety, they may delay starting the task.

Many students resort to last-minute cramming, which only adds to their stress. Effective time management can help reduce this stress. By planning ahead and setting SMART goals, you can be proactive rather than reactive to academic challenges.

Starting an assignment can be the hardest part. It’s important to remember that your initial attempt doesn’t have to be perfect. Treat each study session or assignment as a draft; just begin and make improvements later.

Focus on taking one step at a time. Ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do today?” Consider how your actions today will benefit your future self.

Motivation

Motivation can be categorized into two main types: intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards, such as grades. In contrast, intrinsic motivation comes from within; for instance, you might study because you are passionate about the subject.

Choosing courses that interest you can make finding motivation easier. Reflect on why you were passionate about your program when you started, or envision your future goals and achievements.

It’s natural to experience fluctuations in motivation. Reflect on how you learn best and tap into your internal motivation. Reward yourself once you accomplish your goals to maintain motivation.

 

References

York University. (n.d.). Building time management skills. Learning Skills Services. Retrieved from https://www.yorku.ca/scld/learning-skills/time-management/skills/

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