Time management can be challenging, especially when you juggle school and work together. Regardless, it’s highly essential if you want extra funds to pay off your student loans and get good grades.
If you don’t learn how to manage your time, you’ll usually have a hard time. You miss out on work opportunities, personal events, and even classes that could advance your careers.
No matter your reasons for studying and working at the same time, one thing is certain: you need exceptional time management skills.
With that said, here are some easy and quick time management tips to help you maximize your time and feel stress-free.
1. Identify Time-Wasters And Develop Goals
We all know how easy it is to get distracted. So you need to pay attention to what draws your attention away from your assignments and studies.
- Are certain activities preventing you from focusing on your job?
- Do you spend too much time on social media?
- Do you have a habit of answering phone calls and texting while studying?
Regardless, you need to set a goal to not engage in such behaviors when studying or working. It’ll require discipline, especially if you’re saving to get a private student loan relief.
So make a list of things you have to do, identify things that waste your time, and set goals for completion.
2. Plan Ahead With A To-Do List
To be effective at managing your time, you need to know what you have to do. Then, prioritize the tasks based on when the assignments or projects are due, including how much time is required to complete them.
This method gives you a set plan for the 24-hour day. Whether it’s a full schedule for the day or lists of priorities, a plan will ensure that you know what to do and when. Unless there is a project that requires utmost attention, it’s also essential to consider the work you’re in the mood to do.
Do you feel focused? Maybe you could spend the time studying for an upcoming exam.
If you feel creative, you could focus on working on a writing assignment.
So group your lists to things you have to do now and those you have to complete later. Then, set due dates for them.
3. Focus On Small Tasks First
You can easily get overwhelmed with big exams and large projects if you don’t have effective time management skills. And anxiety can make you procrastinate. So you need to begin with shorter and easy-to-do activities and then proceed to bigger assignments or projects.
- What can you do in the shortest time and have fewer dependencies?
- What projects require more time and have more intricate workflows?
In summary, prioritize your list according to:
- What you can do in a few minutes
- Projects and assignments that will require more time to complete
4. Focus On One Thing At A Time
Did you know those who multitask get their IQ drop similar to people who don’t sleep the night before? That means if you juggle up numerous tasks and assignments, there’s a high chance you’ll become less productive.
To avoid this, you need to know what causes you more distractions: social media, emails, electronics, etc. Is it possible to switch off your applications and devices? If you can, do so at all costs. And don’t switch to another task until you complete the first one.
It can be a difficult habit to break, but it’s worth it. And that’s because removing distractions takes practice and discipline. So do one thing at a given time, and if it helps you, use a time to schedule your focus time.
If you can work and focus on your studies, you could save enough to pay off all or a significant portion of your student debt. That way, when you graduate, you can use the various student loan forgiveness to take care of the rest.
Conclusion
The points discussed in this guide can help you become productive in school and at work. However, there are times you may need to sacrifice your leisure and reduce the long showers to get some projects done.
You also have to make some sacrifices and develop discipline if you want to see tremendous results. But, on the other hand, time management has numerous benefits for your future career. So if you’re able to get the hang of it now, it can be a valuable asset.
