If you're in high school, college or university, managing your time effectively is one of the many keys to success. You need to set aside the necessary time to get things done. We at the EPYDC have come up with a list of time management tips to help you out.
Make a "To Do" list every day
- Even if you don't write anything down, always get an idea of what you're going to do that day as early as possible. Put tasks that are important at the top of your list and do them first. To make it easier, you can use a planner to keep track of what you need to do.
Use spare minutes wisely
- Find extra time to get things done, so you can have more free time later. For example, get some work or reading done on the bus ride home from school.
It's always okay to say no
- If your boss asks you to work on a certain night, or if you get a call from friends who want to go out, remember that if you have an exam or something important coming the next day that it is always okay to say no. Keep your long-term and short-term priorities in mind.
Find the right time
- Work in different environments and times of day to figure out when you do your best work. For example, if you find you can handle math better in the afternoon, don't wait until late at night to start it.
- Most people think this is a waste of time, because they just learned the material, but it's one of the most important tasks you can do. When you reread your notes after a day of school or even the next morning before classes, the information is reinforced, and because you are reading it yourself and not being forced to listen to it, you will remember it better, and won't need to cram for your next test.
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Make sure you get a good amount of sleep every weeknight, and stick to a schedule. When you wake up still tired and unrelaxed, it could take you until mid-afternoon to reach your full work potential, and by then, the school day is almost over. When you have a hard time getting up in the morning, and you're running on empty, tasks seem more difficult and the day will seem to drag on forever.
Communicate your schedule to others
- If you have a big exam or project coming up that you need time to work on, tell your friends that you won't be available for a few days. You have a lot to work on. Tell friends that you would rather not take social calls at a certain time of the evening so you can work and study more effectively. It may sound a bit silly, but it really helps when your working time isn't full of unexpected distractions.
Become a taskmaker
- Figure out how much free time you have each week. Make yourself a strict schedule and budget and stick to it (even if it's just in your head). Always plan your activities around your work, instead of planning your work around your activities.
Don't waste time agonizing
- Don't fret and worry about all the time you're going to spend doing all the work you have coming up. You can waste a whole evening worrying and procrastinating, when you can take the initiative and just get the work done.
Always keep things in perspective
- Don't set goals for yourself that are unrealistic, this will just set you up for failure. Setting high goals is good, just make sure you don't overdo it. Goals you set should be difficult enough, yet still reachable.
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