Time management is key if youre a working student.
Lets talk about time management for students who are also working, including some tips for achieving your goals.
Start by making a list of everything that needs to be done.
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Look at the list and note any items that have a due date.
For example, is there training at work you have to finish by the end of the month?
Do you have a research paper due next Tuesday?
Put the tasks that need to be done soonest at the top.
Do you have some lower-priority items left over?
For example, maybe a hobby or a novel youd like to get back to?
Keep them on a side list that you might skim and fit in when you have time.
Dont underestimate the power of having a schedule to guide you through your busy days.
Order is key for managing time, and a schedule helps get your life in order.
Start by writing out your day in 30-minute chunks.
First, fill in all the events that are not flexible, like class times and work.
Think about your priority items and fit them in first.
You’ll also have to accept that sometimes your downtime may have to be cut short.
You only have so many hours in a day.
You dont have to take an all-or-nothing approach.
You just need to balance the restorative power of stress-relieving activities with meeting your responsibilities.
Taking a short break can help you refocus.
When you come back to your work, you might even be more productive.
But resisting the urge toalwayschoose a fun pursuit over the more challenging things you should probably do requires self-discipline.
But instead of getting started on the task, you just keep putting it off.
And then you feel guilty.
Sound familiar?Procrastinationmight be common, but its not helpful.
It can make it harder to manage your time effectively.
Once you’ve started, youll feel relief at getting it done.
It can also help to think more creatively about the task.
For example, does the order of your to-do list matter?
Could you shake up some tasks so theres a little more variety?
There are apps and programs for everythingfrom scheduling and setting goals and reminders to enforcing productivity and reducing procrastination.
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