| During the first months in graduate school you are | | | | allows you to concentrate on achieving small |
| fresh and ready for the excitement and challenges of | | | | objectives and provides a record of your progress. |
| college life. Later on, as your commitments increase | | | | 4. You should be able to identify your set of goals and |
| you can easily become discouraged or suffer from | | | | to prioritize them. Setting deadlines helps you to work |
| stress. Graduate students often complain that they | | | | towards the bigger picture. An example of this is to |
| have so many things to do and so little time to | | | | breakdown a term paper and to assign milestones. |
| accomplish them. Keeping your sanity and achieving | | | | 5. You must classify your tasks and lists according to |
| top performance requires a fine balance between | | | | priority. The total picture must be taken into account. |
| competing demands. This is why a good understanding | | | | You must decide which is the most important among |
| of university time management is so important. Time | | | | your tasks and list of things to do. Which assignment is |
| management and stress management for college | | | | due this week? Which assignment will require extra |
| student's go hand in hand. | | | | dedication due to difficulty? |
| In order to be free from being burned out and drained | | | | 6. You must allow a degree of flexibility in your |
| you should do something about managing your time. | | | | schedule. Unintended items may surface and you will |
| That is, you should take charge of your time to ensure | | | | need to be able to fit them in. If you create schedule |
| you make the best use of it. Becoming more | | | | that is too tight you risk compromising other objectives |
| productive is one of the fringe benefits of good time | | | | if you don't have sufficient room to move. |
| management. Acquiring this skill requires a little | | | | 7. Make an effort to learn and understand your study |
| investment in your personal development. As you | | | | habits. Some students are more productive in the |
| become more productive and efficient you naturally | | | | morning whilst others work better at night. Identify your |
| eliminate stress. | | | | biological highs and lows. You should endeavor to |
| Here are some practical time management tips for | | | | schedule difficult tasks for the times you are most |
| students. | | | | productive and at your peak mental capacity. |
| 1. You will have to learn to make use of a calendar | | | | 8. Do not be ashamed to say no to social demands if |
| and school planner. Set aside some space to record | | | | you have important or pressing items to attend to. |
| your appointments, lists of things to do and | | | | Your studies should be a top priority. Hopefully you will |
| assignments. Make use of a yearly, monthly, and | | | | structure your schedule to provide adequate time for |
| weekly calendar. Your school commitments will | | | | recreation, sporting and social events. |
| depend on the duration of your course. Formulate a | | | | 9. Always evaluate your time to determine area's |
| plan to cover the years ahead with a yearly calendar | | | | where time is being wasted. If you are not in a |
| which will be divided into months. | | | | comfortable study environment you can easily |
| 2. Take time for planning and organizing. Everyday | | | | become distracted if there are other activities going on. |
| make it a point to check your calendar, take note of | | | | Follow the above tips to better organize your college |
| your future assignments and update your lists. Note | | | | life. College can be very enjoyable if you are on top of |
| your progress or any milestones that are close to | | | | your game. Hopefully the above tips will help you |
| being due. | | | | develop the right frame of mind to better manage your |
| 3. Divide tasks and assignments into smaller parts. This | | | | commitments. |