Time Management, Study Habits, and Routines

Every semester, I do an activity on time management with my first-year students. Invariably, the majority of the class has somewhere between 30 and 70 hours unaccounted for in their week. If you are earning As in all your classes, you should use those 30 to 70 hours of free time to do whatever you would like. If you are not earning As in all your classes, you need to use some of those spare hours studying, reading, and working on assignments.

Students who do not manage their time effectively also experience more stress than students who do, which is unhealthy and ultimately destructive to both your body and mind.

Keeping in mind your commitment to work approximately 40-45 hours each week on your school work, you should establish a routine early so that studying becomes a habit. Some ways to make good use of your time and to establish good study habits include

            keeping up with your reading. In classes where your outside work is regularly measured—through quizzes, short writings, or other assignments—it is easier for students to complete the chapters. In classes with only periodic exams to measure your learning, many students are tempted to wait until a day or two before the exam to do the reading. Adding to your lack of preparation for the exam is the fact that you probably have not learned everything you need to in the classroom because the professor plans lessons that assume you have completed the assigned readings. When it comes time to take the test, and you have waited until the night before to read the chapters, you no longer have access to your greatest resource—your professor. This strategy is ineffective and will reduce your chances of succeeding in college. Build time into your week to complete weekly assignments in every class.

 using time between classes to review reading assignments and notes or to jot down ideas for your next assignment. Some short assignments can even be completed between classes. You should allow yourself time to eat and to take breaks, especially if you have particularly long days of classes, but don’t waste all of your independent time on play. Rentschler Library in Schwarm Hall, the second floor of Rentschler Hall, and the study area on the first floor of Mosler Hall are all quiet places to study. The Commons, on the other hand, is not a quiet place to study.

             rewarding yourself for completing assignments. When you have completed everything assigned for the week, reward yourself on the weekend with time spent with friends, doing something you enjoy, or reading for pleasure. A reward system will motivate you to complete your work and reduce your stress level.