How to Get the Most of Your Valuable Time

time4It may seem like there’s never enough time in the day to do everything you want to do, but the fact remains that everyone has the same amount of time – we just have different time management methods!

Of course, it can be hard to change long-time habits in ways that will help you make better use of your valuable time. In fact, it’s tough to notice poor time management habits you might have in the first place: Most people were never “taught” time management, but simply did what works. But things change!

College is the perfect time to go deeper and take a close look at the way you do things. It’s a time to explore and experiment, and you can choose to make positive changes in every part of your life. Time management is one area that can yield great benefits for years to come!

So, consider these tips:

Use Organizational Tools

There are many different apps out there you can use to stay organized. You might choose to have reminders set on your phone, develop to-do lists, and much more. It can take a while to find the right option for you, so try something new each week until you find a good solution. You might just discover that staying organized can be fun!

Plan Ahead

A simple “to-do list” will help you get a lot more done than you might otherwise. Even if you don’t strictly follow every single thing, you’ll at least remember what you intended to get done more easily. This helps ensure that things don’t slip through the cracks and end up late! The best time to write tomorrow’s list is at night, when everything else is done for the day.

Have Goals, Not Just Lists

Lists are helpful, but they don’t tell you much about why you’re actually doing something. Each week should include an overall goal that you want to accomplish. For example, you might want to focus on studying for a certain class, getting involved with an organization on campus, or looking for a part-time job. This will help guide you when you have unexpected downtime.

time2Stay Organized

Something as simple as a personal planner can help you manage classes and assignments – but there are also plenty of other ways to get organized. For example, if you sort out your closet, it’ll be easier to get ready in the morning (and you might find some nice things to give to charity!) If you plan one or two meals a day in advance, you’re more likely to eat healthy.

Consider Timing Routine Tasks

A lot of time gets wasted in two ways: a) Simply not knowing what to do next or b) Going slowly on routine tasks because, well, they’re boring. If you have something simple and boring to do, like cleaning your dorm room, consider setting a stopwatch and giving yourself 30 minutes. Stay focused for that time, but don’t stress – if it takes longer, give yourself a short break!