On Topic: Eight tips on improving time management

The start of a new school year is an exciting time with a new academic schedule, plenty of extracurricular activities to choose from, and meeting new friends and classmates, but tight deadlines and pressures can suddenly make life overwhelming. That's why time management tools and skills are so important.

So, what exactly is time management?

"Simply put, time management is the planning and blocking of time to focus on completing tasks," says Dr. Erik Albinson, director of the Academic Resource Center, located inside the Lemonis Center for Student Success. "A more nuanced perspective is that effective time management creates a calm, anxiety-reducing workflow that promotes deep learning and smooth productivity."

Below, Albinson shares guidance on wrangling busy schedules and getting the most done in the least amount of time.

Why is it important to get a handle on your schedule at the beginning of the semester before stressful situations come into play?

When you become overwhelmed due to poor time management, two stress hormones are released that negatively influence mental health and learning. Adrenaline results in feelings of anxiety and restlessness. Cortisol causes brain fog and makes it difficult to access memories. Unfortunately, many students interpret this anxiety-ridden brain fog as a personal failure. Students build a false narrative that they are not smart enough to be in college. When they believe this thought distortion, it leads them to not try as hard or quit. In reality, they are just experiencing a normal physiological response to stress.

In your experience, what are some of the biggest challenges/roadblocks for students trying to manage their time effectively?

The biggest challenge for all students, but particularly first-year students, is not realizing how much they need to study. Students consistently underestimate the time it takes to learn their course material, which results in cramming and other maladaptive strategies that will lead to failure. The average high school senior studies six or fewer hours a week outside of class. The average student at Marquette puts in between 20 to 30 hours a week.

As students get settled into their new routines on campus, what are some best practices when trying to manage your time.

1. Put all your due dates in a monthly calendar.

1. In parentheses next to the due date, put the percentage of the worth of the assignment/exam. I want you to know that your exam is 25% of the class grade and that the paper is 5% of the class grade. This will help you prioritize your work on the items that have the biggest impact on your grade.

1. Plan backward from your due dates. If you know you have a big assignment due in a month, work backward from that date and put the tasks you need to accomplish in your calendar. This will ensure that you are building in enough time to finish the task in a way that is not too stressful.

1. Once you have a monthly calendar, you need to create a weekly study schedule. Go to a digital calendar of your choice (I recommend Outlook since Marquette is a Microsoft campus) and pull up a weekly view of your schedule. Put the following in:

1. Your fixed events - Things you do every week (class, a job, club meetings, etc.).

1. The big three - Put in food, exercise, and consistent sleep/wake time. This is basic wellness, but it is also brain health. This will stop you from burning out.

1. Block in 20 to 30 hours to do your academic work.

1. Keep a to-do list on your phone. You should have one to-do list that is easy to access and is easy to capture new information. There are many sophisticated ways to manage a to-do list, but at the bare minimum, you should have one big easy-to-access list.

1. Before the week starts, do a weekly review. Look at your monthly calendar, look at your to-do list, pull to-dos off your list and insert them into the academic work time you blocked earlier. Once you plan out your week, you are now using your weekly schedule to manage your to-do list. This is a highly effective way to monitor your productivity.

1. Start with the focus on managing your time. As you start to live your schedule more regularly, switch your focus to managing your energy. When are you the most productive? Where are you the most productive? Adapt your weekly schedule to better align with your energy and motivation.

1. Try your best to follow your weekly study routine for 66 days (about two months). Research shows that in a real-world setting, it takes about 66 days to form a habit. Once you have developed a habit, your weekly schedule will begin to feel natural and easy. It will take less mental energy for you to follow your plan.

If you need more help with time management or ways to achieve your academic best, please reach out to the Lemonis Center for Student Success, located in the former Memorial Library.

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