Managing Your Time
The idea of time management might be new to you. Basically, time management strategies allow you to plan out your time so that you can get things done and have a more balanced, less stressful life. There are several different time management techniques that can help you accomplish your academic goals while also maintaining some balance in your life.
Your Time Management Needs
Your Use of Time
Below are two videos that describe two types of typical college students: a recent high school graduate and a mature student.
Watch the video: High School Graduate: Introduction to Time Management (1 1/2 minutes)
Watch the video: Mature Student: Introduction to Time Management (1 1/2 minutes)
Questions to Assess Your Time Needs
Effective time management means creating a balance that allows you to do the things you need to do without getting completely overwhelmed and stressed. This requires being realistic about how much time you need. Try asking yourself each of the questions below. Click on each question for helpful tips to consider when planning your time.
Conduct a Time Audit
- How much time do you spend in class every week? Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you need every week to study and work on assignments? (hint: depending on your program, this should be about the same number of hours as you spend in class.) Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you spend at your job each week? Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you spend on hobbies, extracurricular activities, and down time each week? (e.g. – physical activities, gym, rec sports, music, games, etc.) Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you spend commuting to school or work each week? Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you spend on other commitments each week? (e.g. family commitments, appointments, church, social activities, etc.) Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you sleep each night? (multiply by 7) Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you need each day for personal care or personal routines? (e.g. – showering, make-up/hair, etc.) (multiply by 7) Write the number of hours. _________
- How much time do you need to complete domestic tasks each week? (e.g. – chores, laundry, dishes, groceries, etc.) Write the number of hours. _________
Add up your total hours based on how much time you said you spend on each activity.
Write your total here: _______
Subtract your total from the total possible 168 hours a week.
168 minus your total: 168 – _______ = ________
Your answer is the hours each week that are “unused”.
Click on the “if statement” that matches your answer to learn more:
Congratulations!
You completed this activity and got a better sense of how you use your time.
Explore Time Management Topics
Now that you have completed a time audit, it is a good idea to think about how you will plan your weekly schedule to ensure that you can accomplish tasks and maintain some structure and balance in your life while at college.
Why Use a Weekly Schedule?
Watch the video: Why Use a Weekly Schedule? (1 1/2 minutes)
Create your Weekly Schedule
You can create your weekly schedule using Word, Google Docs, or a digital calendar tool. Below is a weekly schedule template in Word that you might find helpful.
Explore More Time Management Techniques
There are several other time management techniques you can explore on The Learning Portal from College Libraries Ontario.
Attributions
Text Attributions
- This chapter was adapted from Time Management by The Learning Portal. Licensed under a CC BY NC 4.0 licence.
Media Attributions
- High School Graduate: Introduction to Time Management by The Learning Portal and Algonquin College. Licensed under a CC BY NC 4.0 licence.
- Mature Student: Introduction to Time Management by The Learning Portal and Algonquin College. Licensed under a CC BY NC 4.0 licence.
- Why Use a Weekly Schedule? by The Learning Portal and Algonquin College. Licensed under a CC BY NC 4.0 licence.
