Time Management at University

In this video, the student guides discuss their experiences of managing their time. They talk about the differences between managing their time at university compared to at school or college.

Time management is how you consciously control your time doing different activities. Doing this well means you can work more productively and effectively.

The student guides in the video highlighted the importance of managing your time to keep on top of your deadlines and to enable you to still have time to take part in the many social activities at university.

Time Management for Undergraduates

When you become an undergraduate student, you may have more free time than you are used to. You will be expected to manage your time independently around your own studies. It will be important to ensure that you give yourself enough time to complete your work to the best possible standard. Here are five useful top tips to consider when organising your time at university:

1. Break tasks down

Katie acknowledges that it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by a big task, especially if it is left until the last minute. Breaking down bigger tasks into smaller more manageable chunks will help in managing the work you have.

You will look at ways to break tasks down in the next step.

2. Start early

It’s common to receive a recommended reading list for each course. These are the texts that will underpin a lot of the content for the module. Therefore, starting your core reading before the module begins will help you manage your time as your workload increases.

It’s common to hear people say: “I wish I had started this work earlier.” It’s less common to hear: “I really regret starting early on all the essential reading for the course.”

3. Make a To-Do List

It can be really easy to lose track of all of your social and work commitments. To-do lists are a great way to prioritise tasks that you currently have and they give you a clear picture of what needs to be completed. Similarly, a diary can be used to keep track of all your commitments.

Katie suggests you could use the two minute rule:

“You can also use the two minute rule when writing your to-do lists. I find this really helpful… if there’s a task on your list that will only take two minutes, do it there and then.” – Katie

4. Keep a work-life balance

“There will be lots to do, but you don’t have to do it all.” – George

5. Speak to your tutor

Things to Consider:

• Have you had any similar experiences when managing your time?
• How do you currently balance your time?