Try our five essential time management tips
What time management techniques are you using? Time management is an essential part of succeeding at your online studies. A well thought-out plan for managing your time will allow you to get the most out of every minute you put towards your studies. Explore our top five tips for managing your time and see if any of them work for you.
1. Write a to-do-list
It sounds like the simplest time management technique, but a good list will really help you get organised. Start by writing down everything you need to complete over the next few weeks. It’s helpful to make lists for different categories like study, work, jobs around the house – whatever in your life requires the most attention. Break up large tasks into smaller tasks. You’ll end up with a list of all the steps you need to complete your immediate goals.
2. Prioritise your tasks
How do you prioritise what you should be working on? The urgent/important matrix is a great way to organise your to-do-list to figure out what you should be working on and when. Take your to-do list and assign the tasks into one these four categories.
- Important and urgent tasks have cropped up out of nowhere or have been left to the last minute.
- Important but not urgent tasks usually relate directly to accomplishing your overarching goals. You want to make sure you complete these tasks before they become urgent.
- Not important but urgent tasks block your goals. You want as few of these as possible! Who in your life can help take some of these off your plate?
- Not important and not urgent tasks are nothing more than distractions. Get rid of as many of these as you can!
3. Break up your tasks
Whether you’re working on a large assignment or just completing your reading for the week, breaking up your tasks is a great way to make your workload more manageable. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system you can use to break your studies up into easily completed pieces. You just have to set a timer and work on a single task uninterrupted for 25 minutes, and then take a five-minute break before repeating the process. This technique is also great for keeping your mind clear and your body moving.
4. Make a schedule
It’s a good idea to put aside some time each week for you to concentrate on your studies. You can use our Study workload planner to plan your weekly commitments and see how much time you have to fit in your studies.
5. Take a break
Remember, it’s important to put aside some time to relax and recharge. If you put all your extra time into study, there’s a chance you’ll burn out. Put aside some time to go for a walk, play with your pets, stream a TV show, or hang out with your family.