Become A Time Management Expert With Tips From Cengage Learning: Part One
How would you rate yourself when it comes to time management?
If you’re a college student, I don’t even have to ask: I know you’re busy. With academics, work, social activities, sports, clubs, family responsibilities and volunteering, time management is not an easy task. While it is important to possess a well-rounded and satisfying schedule, juggling so many things at once can easily lead to fatigue and burnout.
According to a recent press release, 78 percent of students reported struggling with time management at some point during school, and of those struggling, 59 percent pointed to procrastination as the main culprit.
Additionally, instructors agreed that time management is a challenge for students with 91 percent of instructors surveyed in a recent Cengage Learning study reporting their students struggle with time management all or most of the time (Cengage Learning Student Engagement Insights Survey, Spring 2015).
But never fear, Cengage Learning has some tips for you to kick procrastination to the curb, gain more control over your schedule and start the school year off right. Increase your classroom performance and improve your grades while experiencing less stress, better focus and improved quality of life with the following best practices for becoming a time management expert.
Create a schedule. Once your priorities are in order, create a schedule, which is an extremely helpful tool for tracking time. Each week, take a look at your upcoming assignments, projects and activities and design a schedule that makes time for the priority items. You will find yourself more organized, focused and in control of your to-do lists.
Study in small chunks of time. Studying doesn’t have to be done in marathon crunch sessions or all-nighters to be effective; some of the best studying occurs in small chunks where you can do a little bit at a time without burning out.
Take advantage of 10 minute commutes on public transportation, 15-minute breaks before class or even those 5-minute intervals when you’re waiting for a friend. Use flashcards and quizzes from mobile study tools like MindTap Mobile from Cengage Learning to test your knowledge on the go.
Study smarter. Your study habits could be negatively impacting your attempts at time management. Ineffective study skills could result in zero grade improvement, even after countless hours of studying. Rather than simply reviewing your material, integrate self-testing into your study habits to ensure you know the material and identify the areas where you need more work.
Don’t miss Part 2, offering even more best practices on time management!