Mastering Time Management and Organizational Skills

Applying the appropriate time management skills and tips can help you become more organized as a student and increase productivity.

I would highly recommend investing in a planner. Planners allow you to keep track of assignments and all important dates. At the beginning of each semester, I printed out the syllabus for each class I was taking and wrote down all of the important dates (presentations, projects, tests, etc.). Color coding by class is something that I thought was helpful. By doing this, you always know what is coming up. You know which weeks will have a heavier workload, and will require you to start assignments ahead of time.

If you plan on taking on extracurricular activities or part time jobs during the school year, I recommend using Google Calendar. It allows you to keep track of where you should be throughout the day and prevents you from overbooking yourself. You can easily determine when you are available for a group meeting by keeping your calendar updated. However, I would not recommend trying to take on a bunch of new responsibilities all at once. Add things to your schedule little by little and know what your limit is. You might run into cases where you need to turn down clubs, sports, or jobs because you have too much on your plate. Don't be ashamed to have to give up something because you're overwhelmed.

To demonstrate to you that I have truly developed time management skills, let me share what my time in college was like. During my junior and senior year of college, I had a full course load and worked 3 part time jobs. My classes were Monday through Friday and I worked 30 hours a week (Monday through Friday). All of my friends thought I was crazy and asked how I survived, and it all comes down to time management. As a result of my time management skills and great study habits, I graduated college Summa Cum Laude with experience from multiple jobs.

Time management and organizational skills do not develop overnight. Create small goals for yourself that will eventually lead to you being a more organized student. Each student will have different methods that work for them. Don't be afraid to ask friends, family, or teachers for help.