Time Management: Learn It 1

  • Explore time management and scheduling strategies
  • Identify strategies for avoiding procrastination

How to Effectively Manage Your Time in College

Transitioning from high school to college brings significant changes in how you manage your time. In high school, your schedule was mostly fixed with classes running back-to-back and structured activities filling much of your day. College, on the other hand, offers more flexibility but also demands greater responsibility. You have fewer in-class hours but are expected to dedicate much more independent time to studying, completing assignments, and preparing for exams. While this can be liberating, you may find that social opportunities conflict with academic expectations. For example, a free day before an exam, if not wisely spent, can spell trouble for doing well on the exam. It is easy to fall behind when there are so many choices and opportunities.

Recognizing the difference between fixed and flexible time is essential for managing your time effectively.

fixed vs. flexible time

  • Fixed Time includes non-negotiable commitments like:
    • Class schedules
    • Exams
    • Work shifts
    • Appointments
    • Holidays and important events
  • Flexible Time covers activities that can be adjusted to fit your schedule:
    • Studying
    • Socializing
    • Meals and meal preparation
    • Running errands
    • Exercise and hobbies

Balancing these two types of time requires thoughtful planning. Begin by examining how you currently spend your 168 hours each week. Ask yourself: How much of your time is fixed? How much is flexible? Are you satisfied with this balance?

Here is a time management calculator where you can enter the credits you are taking. This calculator auto-populates the three hours you’ll need to study for every credit taken. You can also fill in the hours of your personal life, the time you sleep, and other commitments. Seeing the time broken down may help you organize and prioritize.

Especially for students new to college, there are additional demands on your time. There is also the time it takes to adjust to college culture, college terminology, and college policies. What a student needs to know or learn may be different depending on where they are in the process of earning their degree. First-semester students may be learning basic expectations and the location of classrooms or other campus resources. Students in their last semester may be learning about applying for their degree, how to confirm they have all of their requirements completed for their goal, commencement information, or how to find a job. Whatever it is students may need to learn, it takes time.