Time management strategies

Back-to-school season buzzes with activity and anticipation—new teachers, fresh faces, and new knowledge!! Yet, amidst this excitement, there's a post-summer learning curve as we transition from leisurely days to packed schedules. It's too easy for deadlines to slip, and the next thing you know it’s midterm season. While teachers stress the importance of time management, what does that actually mean in practice? 

We're here to share the top strategies to help manage your time with efficiency and effectiveness (best when paired with an academic planner):‍

Looking long-term 

Seeing the big picture is always helpful. It prevents assignments from catching you off guard and allows you to plan around academic and social events, maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It's also great for having things to look forward to!  

Create a semester overview:

At the start of each academic term, map out all major assignments, exams, and projects on a calendar. This allows you to keep track of key deadlines and pace your workload over time.

‍Set milestones for large projects:

Break down big assignments into smaller, manageable tasks, and set deadlines for each. By doing this, you avoid the stress of last-minute cramming and ensure steady progress.

Review progress weekly:

Set aside time each week to review your progress and adjust your plans if necessary. This ensures you're not caught off guard by changing priorities.

Task prioritization 

Organizing your tasks methodically reduces the stress and anxiety that often accompany a heavy workload of assignments, projects, and social commitments. It provides clarity and flexibility, allowing you to adjust to shifting deadlines and priorities. 

Task prioritization doesn’t have to be complicated either! You can keep it simple by: 

• Brain dump: A method where you write down anything and everything you think you need to do‍
• To-do lists: More structured than a brain dump but equally as effective‍
• Audio note: Too many things on your mind? No time to write it out? You can use Notability’s audio recording tool to quickly capture your thoughts and tasks

Using study time effectively 

Studying can be tedious with hours consumed by mindless content review. Having a clear game plan not only cuts down on study time but also allows you to prioritize tasks effectively. Additionally, Incorporating rewards is a powerful motivational tactic. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a sweet treat or guilt-free episode to look forward to?

Study Methods:

• Active recall: Retain information in the long-term by quizzing yourself using the tape feature and summarizing the content to someone else
• Pomodoro method: Break your study time into allotted focused intervals of 25 minutes followed by a 5 minute break. After longer intervals you can take longer breaks (10-15 minutes) to prevent burnout.
• Incorporate rewards: A powerful motivational tactic. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a sweet treat or guilt-free episode to look forward to?

Set Specific Goals

Before you begin, use a study schedule to map out the content you need to cover. This can be breaking down the content of one study session or mapping out the material of a unit over the course of weeks. Having a routine makes it easier to stay consistent. 

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