How to manage your time

One of the hardest things about going from school to university is that you are on your own when it comes to time management - no bells ring out in student accommodation or lecture theatres to tell you that it's time to move to your next class. Here are some of my tips for managing your time, whether you’re at university, sixth form, or school, so that you can get top marks and optimise your studying.

To do...

They are probably the most basic kind of time management, but they are so effective and the best way to keep track of all your tasks. Be reasonable about what you can achieve in a day, and maybe only set yourself 1 extra task to complete if you have the time. I always find that when I can see what I need to do, it is easier to plan some time to get it done.

Time blocking

This method includes blocking out spaces of time in your day to do your revision or work, and blocks of time for relaxing or going out with friends. For example, you could block out from 4pm-6pm to get some revision done after school, and then have from 6pm onwards to relax, watch a movie or read a book. Blocking out the time also helps you get a balance of study and time to yourself that will stop you from burning out further down the line.

Get a diary

This is probably my biggest tip for university, but it also applies for school and sixth form too. Online calendars are great, and really helpful for keeping track of your appointments, meetings, and classes, but, for me, nothing beats actually writing down what I have to do in a certain day and ensuring you don’t miss anything. It is also super satisfying to tick off your tasks, and you are always able to see what is happening in the next few days! (Also a brilliant way to be a better friend and never forget a birthday again…)

Keep an eye on the clock

This doesn’t mean having your eyes glued to your watch at all times, but having a clock on your desk or workspace to remind you of the time is really helpful, especially if you suffer from chronic lateness!

‘Urgent' v 'Important'

A key aspect of time management is being able to split your tasks into different categories, and the best way to do this is to designate your tasks as ‘urgent’ or ‘important’. If a task is both urgent and important, it should take priority and you should try and get it done and sorted first. For example, if I needed to phone the doctors (important) but I had homework due for my class in 10 minutes (urgent, and important too!), I should prioritise my homework and then phone the doctors when I have the time - the doctor isn’t going anywhere, but my homework has a time limit!

If you struggle to decide, try numbering your tasks based on what needs to be done by when. A presentation due at 10am will take priority over another task due at 10pm, and so you can number them as such - I find this much more achievable and it is nice to have a countdown to your day being complete!

‘Tidy space, tidy mind’

I know this will probably just sound like your mum nagging you, but working in a tidy space is almost guaranteed to help you be more productive. Instead of wasting time on clearing your desk, if you took 5 minutes a day to keep your workspace tidy and neat, you will save SO much time in the long term - which you can put towards revising for exams or something else you love!

Task lengths

When writing your assignments on your to-do list, have a think about how long they might take. An essay may take longer than a problem sheet, or you might find that you need to put some extra work and time into Religious Studies than into Maths. Write an estimate of how much time you need to spend on each piece of work next to them on the list, and make sure you aren’t overloading yourself.

Knowing how much time you need to dedicate to each task will help you slot the tasks into your day, and, you can pair this with time blocking to really get on top of your time management!

Defence against distractions

I know that it can be hard to not get distracted, especially with laptops and phones pinging, noisy houses, and the TV luring you back to Netflix, but to be on top of your time you need to be able to defend yourself from these pesky distractions. Try putting your phone on silent, or setting a timer for an hour - after this timer goes off, you can check your messages or have a browse through social media for a while before cracking back on with your work. Having a set time when you will leave your work and have a break is great motivation, as well as helping you combat the urge to leave your desk and stay on task.

Treat yourself

You can’t spend all day sitting at your desk working - even though you might think that a 16 hour study day makes you seem ‘super productive’ and is the only route to top grades, you will soon find that you will burnout and exhaust yourself. Make sure when you are organising and planning your day that you have some time to hang out with friends, or to do something you love. Your academics should fit around your life, not become your life! Even in my busiest days at university, I always make sure that I schedule an hour to have dinner with friends, an hour to go for a coffee and get some fresh air, and some time in the evening to watch some TV and wind down.

Relax

Sometimes we can’t do everything - and that’s ok! Learning how to prioritise responsibilities and to manage your calendar is a skill that you will hone and develop throughout your exam years, university, and even into your working life. Don’t beat yourself up because you missed something, or if hanging out with friends after school ate into your ‘essay time’. Learning to manage stress and juggle responsibilities is what school and sixth form are there for, and are skills that your GCSEs and A Levels teach you along with all the content you learn.

Thanks for reading; I hope you found my time management tips useful. Good luck, and happy studying!

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