Time management is difficult in the age of the internet.
Choose one hour of one day sometime in the next week to turn off all devices - phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, gaming system, radio, mp3 player, etc.. everything.
On paper write out what you want to do with your schedule. If you know your college course load then that's great! Plan 1 hr of study time for every time you are in a class or lab each day. (e.g. if you have 3 classes on Monday, plan for 3 hours of study time, minimum. If you have 4 classes Tuesday, plan for 4 hours of study time, minimum, etc... proceed like that for your entire week.) When planning, make sure to eat and wake/sleep consistently, at least during the week. Try to plan in one hour of physical activity (even if it's walking at a brisk pace) each day. Make sure to give your mind and body time to relax as well -- a few hours each week to just do nothing or to relax and unwind doing a sport or activity you find enjoyable (music, athletics, etc.). Block out how all of that time will fit into your schedule on paper. You'll find that your schedule will rather quickly be filled in.
Now that you have a schedule sticking to it is the hardest part.
It requires turning off all those devices while studying and in class.
Your brain works best when you are 100% focused on the task at hand. You're naturally smart enough to be above most students even when your brain is at, say 80% or 70% focused, but there is a "wall" that you will reach at some point which will require you to be able to put forth close to 100% focus to succeed (undergrad or graduate studies or advancing beyond a certain point in your career, etc.). It is easier to develop that habit of 100% focus now than 4 or 5 or 10 years from now. :)
If you can make and keep a schedule you will basically be super(wo)man compared to your peers.
They'll be panicking and cramming before exams, and you'll have it all under control. They'll be rushing to finish a lab report or HW set, and you'll have it already done or need only one or two hours where they will need the entirety of that beautiful Sunday afternoon to finish it.
Hi Joe! I was reading through my old Xanga posts and I just realized that it's been a really long time since we last talked, so I'm saying hello :-). I hope you're doing well. And this is really good advice - it's hard to turn off the electronics but it's worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteKate, how are you?? Long time no talk!
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