II. What Is Time Management ?

Time management is a system that allows you to plan in advance the exact
amount of time you want to allocate for specific tasks each day. The goal of
time management is to make the most out of each day and finish it with the
satisfaction of knowing that you've completed what you set out to do within the
24-hour period. Being good at time management helps you effectively complete
work and life-related tasks, activities, or responsibilities1.
1. What are time management skills ?
Time management skills are not just about multitasking or completing tasks
quickly. At its core, time management is about controlling how you use your
time to achieve your goals. This involves prioritizing tasks, staying organized
and focused, knowing when to say "no" and understanding how to delegate
tasks.
Time management skills are soft skills that improve with practice. The great
thing about soft skills is that they are transferable. So, if you have strong time
management skills, you can apply them in any area of your life, including at
work (in any industry), at home, and in your personal life2.
2. Why are time management skills important?
There are many reasons why time management skills are important, both for
students and workers.
As a student, time management skills make it easier to meet submission
deadlines and stay organised throughout the course.
For workers, time management skills lead to greater efficiency in the
workplace. Of course, employers love to see this, but it also benefits the person
doing the work. Having good time management skills will reduce stress levels,
as individuals with these skills will better manage their time and workload.
Rushing tasks or working extra hours to play catch up isn’t something you want
to do regularly. And that’s why taking a moment to get better at time
management now will benefit you in the long run.
University students often have a lot of work to do, including assignments,
projects, tests, and exams. They also need to take part in extracurricular
activities, social events, and may even work part-time. So, being able to manage
time well helps students balance studying and other activities, reducing stress
and making it easier to reach their academic goals.
2.1. Time management helps students to be more productive
Firstly, time management helps students to be more productive. With proper
planning and organization, students can allocate their time effectively to
complete tasks efficiently. They can set goals and deadlines, establish priorities,
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Bright Network. Time management skills: definition and examples
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definition-examples/
and focus on the most important tasks. Effective time management helps
students to avoid procrastination, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase their
productivity3.
2.2. Time management helps students achieve better grades
Secondly, time management ensures students' grades will improve and achieve
better grades. When students use their time management skills effectively they
will complete assignments on time and study efficiently. They can plan their
study time and allocate sufficient time to each subject. This enables them to
understand the material better and prepare for exams adequately. Effective time
management can also help students to balance academic work, extracurricular
activities, and social life, reducing stress and improving their overall well-
being4.
2.3. Time management helps students to develop self-discipline and
responsibility.
Thirdly, time management helps students to develop self-discipline and
responsibility. Once students take their time management skills to the next
level, self-discipline and responsibility will allow them to accomplish their
dreams in the future. Students learn to prioritize their tasks, make informed
decisions and take action. This helps them to become more self-motivated and
accountable for their actions, which is essential for success in all areas of life.
2.4. Time management helps students to develop essential life skills
Also, time management helps students to develop essential life skills.
Effective time management requires students to develop skills such as goal-
setting, planning, prioritizing, and decision-making. These skills are transferable
to other areas of life such as work, relationships, and personal development. By
developing these skills students can become more successful and fulfilled
individuals.
2.5. Time management helps students to reduce stress and anxiety
Finally, time management helps students to reduce stress and anxiety.
Students who manage their time effectively are less likely to feel overwhelmed
by their workload. They can approach tasks with a clear mind, focus on their
priorities, and avoid last-minute rushes. This reduces stress and anxiety, which
can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.
3. Strategies/Tips for managing time effectively
3.1. Set Your Goal and Commit
Defining clear goals reduces wasted time on irrelevant tasks and helps
maximize time on more urgent ones. When setting goals, students should
establish both long-term and short-term objectives and set deadlines to
stay on track and avoid procrastination.
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Simpli learn (Nov 11, 2024). 10 Time Management Skills and Techniques for Students
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UPDF. Time Management for Students: Recognizing 5 Best Skills For Efficient Work
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 Commitments allow you to break down large objectives into smaller,
manageable tasks. The most urgent tasks aligned with your goals should
take priority. By staying focused on your workflow, students can achieve all
their goals without losing self-control.
3.2. Create a Calendar or Agenda
Setting up a productive calendar or agenda will provide a visual roadmap of
your duties and deadlines and organize your life. This calendar comprises
specific time for particular tasks like homework, extracurricular activities, and
hands-on experiments.
We can use the digital calendar on our smartphones for quick access and
reminders. Besides, a paper planner is ideal for those who prefer a physical
view and easily categorize the importance of tasks by color.
3.3. Make a To-Do List
Many of us spend our days doing stuff and periodically wondering whether
we forget something. Well, not anymore. A simple to-do list can alleviate that
burden.
A to-do list should include your work tasks as well as any personal activities
or responsibilities you wish to complete. Maintaining a proper balance between
work and life obligations is important. This is where a to-do list gets very
useful, as it allows you to see more clearly how much time you spend on each.
When you make your own to-do list, be sure to rank your tasks based on their
importance5. It’s easy to make a list of stuff that you can finish quickly. But, if
you do that, you risk allocating insufficient time for the day's most important
tasks.
To successfully use a to-do list time-management strategy, you should not
only jot down your daily tasks but also regularly update and check your list.
This will help you prioritize and make adjustments if anything unexpected pops
up
3.4 Remove Any Distractions
Distractions can severely impact your productivity and hinder your
ability to complete daily tasks successfully. Therefore, one of the most
important strategies for effective time management is minimizing
distractions.
To do this, identify what distracts you from your work and either remove
or minimize their impact on your productivity. By reducing distractions,
you can maintain better focus and efficiency
3.5. Figure Out and Set Your Priorities
Finding out what your priorities are and setting them according to their
importance is another great strategy that can be used to manage your time.
Making a clear distinction between what's important and what’s not can help
you improve your daily productivity significantly.
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 By organizing your tasks according to their priority, you’ll have a clear vision
of what needs to be done and in what order. You might even surprise yourself
by discovering that some tasks don’t need to be completed at all. That’s the
power of setting priorities.