6 Tips for Better Time Management
Hi everyone! My name is Andres Pinedo and I’m a second year Economics and Business Administration student from Mexico City! The transition from high school to college can be hard, and time management can be the key to success. I have outlined a couple of things that can help you to manage your time better and to be more productive!
- Prioritize what you have to do
I usually like to categorize my to do list as follows:
Important and urgent (big and significant tasks with a hard deadline)
Urgent and not important (errands that you need to get done soon and are making a lot of noise in your head but will have no lasting impact)
Important but not urgent (assignments that are coming up and still need to be done but are not the top priority in that moment)
Not urgent or important (everything else)
Once your prioritize what you have to do it’s easier to decide what needs to be done today and what can wait until tomorrow.
- Make a list or have a physical planner
In my experience having a physical list that you can see can help you stay organized. Likewise, crossing out tasks that have been completed is useful and empowering, plus it can boost your confidence and help you define next steps.
- Get involved!
I have found that having clubs or extracurricular activities can help me manage my time because they add structure to my day. If I’m sitting around in my room and have all day to complete an assignment I may literally take the whole day to do it. However, if I know that I have practice or a group meeting later, I get myself to work more productively. Having said this, make sure that you are not overcommitting or overbooking your time. There are a lot of opportunities on campus so you have to prioritize a couple and stick to those.
- Find a place to study that works for you!
Eliminate distractions and look for a setting that will make you the most productive. Some people are very productive from the comfort of their bed (I usually end up falling asleep and can’t get anything done in my room), while some of us need a quiet and well lit place. You have to try out a couple of things and figure out what works best for you! I have found that one of the best kept secrets on campus is the Law Library, which is open to undergraduate students and is usually quieter and less crowded than Snell. Another great option is the Explore Program office! 1 Meserve is always a great place and students are welcome to study in the Student Leader office or the conference room when its not booked.
- Take care of yourself!
Take breaks, go to the gym, get some food, walk around, etc. Working for long hours without breaks can drain your energy and make you lose your focus. If you take some short breaks during your study hours and distract yourself from what you are doing you can come back energized and ready to continue studying.
- Don’t be afraid to say no!
There are a lot of things going on campus and with friends and our generation lives with a constant fear of missing out on something. Don’t be afraid to say no every once in a while. Evaluate the situation and decide if you can participate in a certain activity or if that will cause you more stress/pressure in the near future. You are the only one that can really tell!
I hope that these tips are useful and that you all have a smooth transition and first semester at Northeastern. As always, feel free to reach out if you need help or have any questions! Happy studying!
By: Andres Pinedo
Originally Published on March 2, 2018