Back-to-school season is an exciting, yet overwhelming time. Balancing classes, assignments, extracurriculars, and social commitments can be a challenge. The good news? With the right strategies and motivation, you can stay on top of everything, reduce stress, and make more time for the things you love and enjoy!
Here are 10 time management hacks to help you succeed this school year:
1. Plan Your Week
Write down all your personal plans, assignment deadlines, and other activities for the upcoming week. This way, you can see the bigger picture and nothing sneaks up on you. As the week goes by, you can always make changes. As a student, I find writing down all my plans on an agenda so useful. It keeps me motivated and organized, so I don’t forget anything.
2. Time Block Your Day
Divide your day into chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks, like going to class, studying, working out, eating, and downtime. This will mean less multitasking and you will be able to fully focus on each task.
3. Use the Pomodoro Technique
This famous technique is where you work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After 4 rounds of this, you’ll then reward yourself with a longer 15-30 minute break. This helps you to stay focused on your work and avoid burnout.
4. Group Similar Tasks Together
If you plan on answering one email, answer all the ones you need to answer in one go. This prevents you from having to re-focus after doing something else and can save you time.
5. Use Digital Tools Wisely
Using apps like Google Calendar and Notion can help you organize deadlines, appointments, exams, or any sort of reminder. I use Google Calendar religiously to organize my schedules and reminders. It keeps me in check so I don’t forget anything important. I also put my iPhone on “Do Not Disturb” mode during a study session or class to avoid distractions.
6. Prep the Night Before
As the school year ramps up, things pile up and you feel like you have little time. However, you can try meal prepping, packing your bags, and laying out your clothes for the next day the night before. Your mornings will become much less hectic and you’ll start the day with less stress and more time.
7. Break Big Tasks Into Smaller Steps
An exam or a big 10-page term paper seems intimidating. But if you break them down into small study or writing sessions, they feel more doable. Taking it day by day helps. As someone who procrastinates a lot, this technique helps me stay calm and feel so much more organized.
8. Follow the “Two-Minute Rule”
If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. Avoid letting it pile up with other tasks and get it out of the way.
9. Schedule Downtime
School and work can easily become a lot, mentally and physically. It is so important to rest and make time for hobbies, friends, or just doing nothing. Feeling burnt out is so common for students, so it’s vital to recharge and take care of yourself.
10. Be Flexible
Not everything goes to plan and that is completely okay! If your plans don’t go perfectly or how you imagined it, don’t stress. Don’t take it out on yourself and remember, time management is all about progress, not perfection!
Conclusion
A stress-free school year means you will feel in control of your time. By planning ahead, setting clear priorities, and making space for both productivity and rest, you will set yourself up for a successful year. It might seem difficult to make these hacks part of your daily life, but it all starts with discipline. Once you practice these habits, they’ll become second nature!
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References:
“11 Time Management Hacks to Keep You on Track.” Getharvest.com, 2023, www.getharvest.com/blog/time-management-hacks.
Cirillo, Francesco. “Time Management Course – Pomodoro® Technique.” Www.pomodorotechnique.com, www.pomodorotechnique.com.
