by Leigh Goessl

Created on: July 01, 2008   Last Updated: July 03, 2008

The college years undoubtedly include some of the most time-pressed days of your life. Between assignments, reading, exams, research papers, course projects, extra curriculars and perhaps even a job, you're probably always on the go. If this hectic schedule sounds like yours, take comfort in the fact you are definitely not alone. Many other students like you feel an acute sense of never having enough time.

When under deadlines you probably sacrifice any potential time for yourself and never have any down time. While it's important to meet your commitments with your studies, it's also valuable to set aside some quality time just for you. It's not easy to do this, but finding ways to spend a little time on yourself will really make a difference in the pressures you may be feeling, and to accomplish this good time management skills are essential.

If you can effectively develop strategies to budget your time, it not only keeps your goals on target, but will be the tool which affords you the luxury of catching a little bit of free time to use for enjoyment and relaxation. It's also important to take good care of yourself by getting solid nourishment and enough rest. Socialization is another important aspect of college and this is an area often neglected by students due to busy schedules, but nonetheless, it's a vital piece of finding time just for you.

BUDGET YOUR TIME

By scheduling your time wisely, you can easily stay on top of your coursework on a regular basis. Instead of scrambling before a deadline to get an assignment done; you can relax and know you're ahead of the game. Time management enables you to prioritize and you'll get the most important things out of the way, and this hopefully frees up a bit of time. While everyone else is racing to the library, you can enjoy some recreational reading, take a walk or go see a movie.

If you can multi-task wherever possible this is another good way you can conserve time. For instance, if you have laundry or a bit of idle time during the day, use this opportunity to work on your assignments, freeing up your evening so you aren't hovering over your textbooks and notes. I've fallen into the habit of carrying study materials around in a tote bag, and I work on them whenever I have a few moments to spare. This effectively reduces the time spent cramming, and creates a little extra time I can use for myself.

REDUCE FATIGUE

If you're constantly tired, chances are all you want to do is nap whenever a free moment opens up. While

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>