Students have a number of responsibilities to consider during their journey into adulthood. Not only are there multiple classes to prepare for, but also exams to study for, sports to practice, and skills to develop. With so much to juggle, proper time management becomes an essential part of any teen’s lifestyle — teaching them how to prioritize, cope with stress, and accomplish goals that could shape their futures.

With the right resources and skills, students can give themselves the best possible chance of staying organized, on track, and focused on their goals, leading to everything from better health to improved grades, and even superior opportunities for the future. Following are just some effective time management tips and principles that students can consider to develop their skills.

1. Be Organized

Evidence suggests that organization is crucial to a successful student lifestyle. This means more than checking your schedule to make sure you set aside enough time for homework and extracurricular activities outside of your regular classes. Everything from your room to your files and school equipment should be organized and available to encourage easy access to the things you need at any time. What’s more, an organized environment helps to create a de-cluttered frame of mind.

2. Be Realistic In Terms of Socializing and Studying

Academics form a significant part of the growth and development of any young adult, but they are not detached from other considerations, such as socialization, the development of confidence, and even the development of leadership skills. By spending time in a group setting and interacting with others, students can learn crucial life skills that will stay with them for the remainder of their lives, from when and how to take charge to how to motivate others towards a goal. Because of this, it’s important to be realistic about socializing and studying expectations.

Students need time to study and socialize, and forcing them to focus entirely on academics can lead to stress and unhappiness. The best way to avoid this is to set realistic goals for how long a study session should last, and how many hours in the week should be set aside for extracurricular activities. By planning the week in advance, students can ensure a good balance between work and play.

3. Get Rid of Distractions (and Don’t Procrastinate)

Some environments are more conducive to learning than others. When preparing to study, students should seek out places that help them to eliminate distractions, such as a library or study hall. When in their own homes, students can easily become distracted by technology, family members, or opportunities to meet up with friends. One way to improve time management is to ensure that study time is for studying—with no distractions.

The fewer distractions present, the less chance a student has of procrastination—which is another killer of the organized schedule. It can be so simple for students to put something off for another day, but sticking to a plan for productivity means not only developing internal discipline, but also arranging workloads into manageable, stress-free segments.

4. Use Every Hour Productively

Classes don’t fill every hour of the day. Encouraging students to use their free time wisely can help to enhance time management skills and help students keep priorities in check. Sometimes it can be tempting for students to use the time between classes to socialize with friends, but if important assignments are due the next day or exams are approaching, then they should take the time to think about the most productive course of action.

By thinking about their priorities in depth, students can determine specific goals to work toward, both in the short and long term. Time management improves as students begin to think about how certain actions and behaviors will have an impact on their chances of reaching those goals. They’ll begin to avoid time drains, and perhaps even pursue extra activities on weekends that could be beneficial to their long-term ambitions.

5. Get into a Routine

Finally, this tip is crucial when it comes to turning time management techniques from a chore into a natural habit. The sort of routine encouraged in boarding school, where students go to bed, wake up, and eat meals at the same time can help them to find their own routine for study, socialization, and other interests. By studying at the same time every day, or attending extracurricular events at the same time, on the same days each week, good practices will begin to become habitual.

At the same time, as the routine continues to develop, most students will find that there are certain times of the day when they perform better in their studying attempts or sports efforts than others. From there, they can use those blocks of time to their advantage to improve their learning or hone their skills.

Optimize Time Management for Success
Finding a healthy balance between the various commitments in a student’s life can be difficult, but time management skills will continue to be useful throughout the remainder of their lives. In fact, a study conducted in 2002 suggested that students who procrastinated less through the use of time management were less susceptible to ailments and prone to better diets, sleep patterns, and exercise regimens. By implementing the right strategies early, students can translate the discipline, prioritization, and other skills they develop into their future career, and personal lives.

 

Contributed By: Paige Maslen is the Associate Director of Marketing, Media, and Public Relations at Army and Navy Academy, a private military boarding school in San Diego County, California. Her specialties include strategy and content for the school’s digital properties. In her free time, Paige enjoys hiking, tennis, and yoga.

 

 

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Time Management Tips for Students