Assess priorities and set goals

To start learning time management skills for students, it's important to make a good plan. It will make your responsibilities feel more manageable, and you'll be able to keep yourself accountable.

To start, follow these three core steps: 

Step 1: Assess priorities and set clear goals

Identify priorities: Start by understanding what truly matters to you. Is it excelling at a particular subject, building relationships, or developing a new skill? Recognize these priorities and plan accordingly.

Set SMART goals: Once you identify what's important, it's time to establish some goals. Having specific and well-defined goals will give you direction and motivation. You can use the SMART model to craft effective and realistic time management goals for yourself. The acronym stands for Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Time-Specific.

Understand the big picture: Your goals should align with your broader life ambitions and academic path. Understanding how daily or weekly objectives fit into the long-term plan will help keep you focused and inspired.

Step 2: Collect all tasks and prioritize them

Use a planner

Whether a physical planner or a digital app, itä tracking tasks, deadlines, and appointments is essential.

Prioritize tasks

Not all tasks are equally important. Using methods like the Eisenhower Matrix, categorize tasks into urgent and important, important but not urgent, etc.

This helps in determining what to tackle first.

You can create an Eisenhower Matrix by hand (on a piece of paper) or digitally using Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets or an app like TickTick.

👉 Our FREE Time Management for Students cheat-sheet can help you organize and prioritize your tasks.

Break down larger tasks

Students are often given large assignments that can seem daunting at first. To make them more manageable, break them into smaller parts and schedule time to complete each part.

If you're not sure how long each task will take, try to recollect how much time it took you to complete similar tasks in the past, and use that as a guide for your future plans.

Step 3: Regularly review and update your list

Monitor progress: Continuously evaluate how you're doing in relation to your goals. Are you on track? What can be improved?

Adjust and refine goals: As you progress through the semester, your understanding of your capabilities and needs may change. Don't hesitate to modify your goals to better suit your evolving situation.

Stay aligned with your long-term aspirations: Regularly reassess your daily and weekly objectives to ensure they are still in alignment with your overarching ambitions and academic milestones.

Create a schedule (timeblocking)

An effective technique for time management for students is timeblocking.

Timeblocking is the practice of scheduling every moment of your day into sections or "blocks" of time, assigning specific tasks or activities to each block.

It creates a visual representation of your day, helping you stay committed to your tasks and minimizing distractions.

👉 Here's how to do it:

1. Add time-sensitive events first: Important events and tasks that have to be completed at a very specific time (i.e. university lessons, dentist appointments or work) need to be added first. You can plan the rest of your day/week around these.
2. Group tasks: Tasks that are similar in nature are grouped together. For example, you can allocate a couple of hours a week for "admin work" - reviewing/planning your week, responding to emails, calling the doctor, booking appointments, and other similar tasks.
3. Review and adjust: At the end of the day or week, review your schedule and adjust as necessary for future planning.

At the end of the entire process, your calendar should look something like this:

Understand why you procrastinate

Did you know that 80-95% of students procrastinate? Research has also shown that there's a correlation between procrastination and anxiety and depression.

One of the key time management skills for students is self-reflection: you must understand why you procrastinate.

Here are some common reasons why students procrastinate and how to overcome them:

Reason 1: Lack of clarity and purpose

When you’re not sure why you're doing something or what the end goal looks like, it’s hard to get started.

The task feels vague or overwhelming, so your brain doesn’t see a clear path forward. Without a sense of direction or purpose, it’s easy to push things off because they don’t feel urgent or meaningful.

How to overcome it: Break it down and reconnect with the “why”

Before starting, take 5 minutes to clarify what you need to do and why it matters. Break the task into smaller, concrete steps. When the goal feels clear and meaningful, it's much easier to take action.

Reason 2: Fear of failure

How to overcome it:

Recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process.

Focus on the effort put forth rather than solely on the outcome. Celebrate your progress, regardless of the results, and view each task as a chance to learn and grow.

Reason 3: Perfectionism

How to overcome it:

Accept that tasks may not always be completed perfectly, and that's okay. Adopt a "good enough" mindset, as progress is more important than perfection. 

Reason 4: Lack of interest or motivation

How to overcome it:

Find ways to make tasks more enjoyable or rewarding. Incorporate elements of fun or creativity into the task, or create a reward system for completing specific milestones. 

Use technology to manage your time effectively

Time management for students doesn't have to be boring! You can take advantage of various productivity apps to stay on top of your tasks.

These are some of the more popular ones: 

Forest

• Motivates you to focus by converting your time spent away from your phone into a tree.
• If you try to click away from the app before the timer you set ends, the tree will wilt.
• The app is free.

Todoist

• Organize tasks into projects and set due dates with reminders. The app syncs across devices.
• It offers priority levels, labels, and filters and has many integrations with third-party apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, and Evernote.
• Free for the base option (which is more than enough for most students), but you can upgrade to the Pro version for $4/month.

Trello

• A visual approach to task management.
• The app uses boards, lists, and cards to represent tasks and their statuses, creating a clear and engaging overview.Allows for collaboration on group projects by sharing boards and assigning tasks to each other.
• Free for the base option (which is more than enough for individual students), but you can upgrade to the Standard plan for $5/month if you need more team features.

Note: Trello offers a discount to educational institutions, so your university may offer accounts! Make sure to check this.

Any.do

• Includes task management, calendar integration, and note-taking capabilities.
• The app's calendar offers seamless scheduling of deadlines and events.
• The note-taking function allows users to jot down ideas, lecture notes, or project details alongside their tasks.
• Free for the base option (which is more than enough for individual students), but you can upgrade to the Premium plan for $3/month if you need extra features like integrations, WhatsApp reminders, and color tags.

Digital calendars

• Digital calendars allow you to color-code your schedule, set recurring events, and even receive reminders for upcoming tasks or classes.
• Another benefit of using the default app is integrations with your smart voice assistant and other apps you use.
• Free for the default apps, but there may be paid options if you're using a third-party calendar.

Also read: 10 Best Free Apps for Students

Seek support when learning how to manage your time as a student

Remember, you're not alone on this college journey - you can learn how to manage your time as a student together with your peers!

Being around productive peers will motivate you to stay on top of your game. You can help each other stay organized and on track with assignments and deadlines. Plus, they offer a supportive environment where you can ask questions and clarify doubts. Time management for students has always been a popular topic of discussion.

Online forums and virtual study groups provide a platform for students to connect with peers from all over the world. Virtual discussions, sharing study materials, and collaborating via Discord, Reddit, and similar platforms allow you to develop time management skills along with students from all over the world. 

Listen to your body

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Discover your personal peak hours of productivity and make them work for you. Find your rhythm and allocate your most challenging tasks to those periods.  

Experiment with different study techniques to find what works best for you. Whether it's short focused study bursts or long immersive sessions, embrace your unique style and maximize your brainpower. 

Maintain good sleeping habits

Good sleep is fundamental to maintaining focus and productivity. It helps you learn more and problem-solve more efficiently. Research has shown that it's also great for learning a new language.

How much sleep do you need?

The U.S. National Sleep Foundation estimates that 18-25 year olds should get around 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day.

But how much time do you need?

Dr. Edward Pace-Schott, a sleep expert from Harvard, suggests the following:

When you’ve been on vacation for 2 weeks, how are you sleeping during that second week? How long are you sleeping? If you’re sleeping 8 or 9 hours when you don’t have any reason to get up, then chances are you need that amount or close to that amount of sleep.

Lack of sleep can lead to decreased concentration, impaired memory, and reduced ability to learn. So, you should prioritize getting enough rest!

Curious to know what kind of student you are? Our free 3-minute quiz will tell you what kind of study method suits you the best. 

Don't forget the power of self-care

Remember that taking care of yourself is crucial for effective time management, especially for students. College life can be demanding, but neglecting self-care can lead to burnout and reduced productivity. 

Make sure to include time in your schedule for relaxation, exercise, and hobbies that bring you joy. Taking breaks and getting enough sleep are essential for maintaining focus and cognitive function.  

Prioritize your well-being by practicing mindfulness, engaging in activities that recharge you, and seeking support when needed. By incorporating self-care into your time management routine, you'll enhance your overall well-being and be better equipped to handle the demands of college life.