Top 5 Tips for Time Management

Author: Thea Button
Posted on February 13, 2023

Course assignments and extra-curricular activities have a way of sneaking up on people, especially for those who struggle with procrastination or time-management. There are always events happening on campus or friends looking to hangout, making it easy to put off your work and let it pile up. Fortunately, as a fourth-year student I can proudly say that I have always completed my assignments on time and have passed in most of my papers a week or two early; I have decided to make a list of some of my top tips for staying on top of your work while at school.

1. It is never too early to begin your work…. Even if it is four weeks before it’s due. There is no harm in beginning to prepare for an assignment early. Starting something early prevents your work from piling up. If you know the middle of February will be chaotic for you, try starting an assignment in mid-January to save yourself time when the chaos rolls around, and it feels like everything is piling up.
2. Assign goals before starting your work. What is it that you want to accomplish? For example, maybe you want to write 3 paragraphs or finish a reference page in one setting. Before sitting down to work, decide what it is you want to accomplish in that session.
3. Set a timer and zone in. When I must study for midterms or exams, I often get really distracted by my phone (or online shopping…) or anything but studying. Setting a timer for 30 minutes enables me to zone in on my work. When the timer goes off, I give myself a few minutes to shut my brain off and scroll on Instagram or answer my texts. Then I reset the timer and do it all over again. This has been very successful for me. Also, research on studying shows that this is an extremely effective way for staying focused and retaining information.
4. Use spaces on campus. Depending on what I need to do, I will choose a space on campus that makes it easier. For example, the student centre is a great place to listen to pre-recorded lectures or study with friends. The third floor of the library is my favourite place to accomplish work on my thesis or study (there are no distractions up there). 
5. Be kind to yourself. We are all humans and there are some days when you feel off and just want to stay in PJs inside your room. Do that then! Starting your work early means that you can be flexible and take time off to relax when you really need it. There is no need to stress about assignments or studying when you have taken the initiative to get it done (or begin it) early.