As college students, one of the most common things we deal with is managing our time. Learning how to balance school with other activities such as sports, clubs, internships, and jobs can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. It is important to find out what your priorities are and to put them first each and every day so that you can be successful.
Being a student-athlete here at the University of Idaho (Women’s Soccer), I have come face to face with the challenges of managing my time. During the season, I plan out my entire semester week by week to make sure I get all of my coursework and other commitments done on time. My favorite time management technique to do in preparation for the start of each week is to make lists. I typically make three lists: one for soccer, one for school, and one for chores around the house and errands. By doing this, I get a visual layout of everything I need to see for the week and can check the tasks off as I complete them. I have always found this to be very effective to manage my time.
Kayleigh Frederick | Courtesy
Along with creating lists, I also enjoy using my planner, as it maps out the entire year for me. I use it to write down the days I have games, meetings, exams, and important assignment/project due dates. This is very efficient and helps me to stay organized with my work. I choose to do this because it adds structure to my daily schedule and creates a routine I can consistently stick with.
While trying to manage your time, it is essential to be aware of the distractions that surround you. Realizing your distractions and handling them is an important step in becoming more productive with your daily routine. One of my biggest distractions is my cell phone. To make sure I stay focused, I try to put my phone away or turn it off when I am studying or working on projects. This helps me to stay productive and get tasks done twice as fast. Since I get distracted easily, I find it helpful to take breaks every half hour or so. Whether it is simply taking a short walk around or getting a snack, taking breaks is healthy and can result in better time management and better focus on the task at hand. This helps reduce my stress levels and clears my mind when I am feeling overwhelmed.
Picking a few objectives to set for the week is a good way to try and achieve what you want to get done. Setting small goals to work towards throughout the week can be a very a rewarding process and can help motivate oneself when attempting to finish several tasks at a time. This is beneficial because it allows you to focus on what is most important to you, and to take it one day at a time. Managing time is not an easy thing to do and takes planning and organization skills. It is important to pick your priorities, stay focused, and remember the goals you wish to obtain in your life.
If you find yourself struggling with time management, reach out to the various resources we have on campus. Talk to your adviser, your professors or the supportive staff in the Academic Support Services department. If your concern is stress management and coping skills, connect with the Counseling and Testing Center or Vandal Health Education to learn ways to manage stress.
Kayleigh Frederick can be reached at [email protected]