Editorials

Some college students lack time management

We all started college with the clear expectation to have the best time of our lives. We anticipated studying, attending classes, submitting assignments and meeting new people. But we never envisaged that all of this would occupy all of our time and space and get to a point where we cannot balance our social, work and academic lives.   

Time management is the key to efficient and effective work production, and students may need help developing time management skills. 

Students often struggle to balance academic, personal and work commitments after arriving on campus, and with so many competing demands on their time, many students simply give up and let the situation take its course. Without intervention from their professors, parents and/or program coordinators, students are unlikely to succeed.   

Procrastinating on tasks that must be accomplished is a result of poor time–management. Such behavior has many root causes such as fear of failure, lack of motivation, not understanding the content taught in class and uncertain priorities. 

These factors can make you feel more inclined to hang out with friends. However, a consistent pattern of avoiding deadlines will cause your grades to slip and jeopardize your academic future.   

I cannot deny the fact that I was unable to keep track of my work, sometimes because the issues to deal with are many. As an international student, my program demands a lot from me, and sometimes I end up just falling into the pit of late submissions and missed deadlines, which I do not condone, nor am I proud of. That is why I felt a need to change my ways and share ways that I stay on top of my game. I am sure that I am not the only one who is troubled by managing their time efficiently. It is not a shame but a weakness that we must accept so we can tackle it accordingly.  

The question is, how do you track your time? Well! That is not easy, but it is doable. And how do you do that? Follow these tips:  

• Set realistic expectations  

• Make a to-do list – number it in order of importance  

• Establish a daily routine that will best suit your daily goals  

• Avoid distractions such as cell phones, television and video games   

• Prioritize – decide what is important in your life, or what is required at that moment, and focus much of your time on those things.  

This may sound like a cliché, but it really does work. Soon you will start seeing a difference in your work and progression because time management will benefit you. Here is how it will benefit you: 

• The increased accomplishment of activities  

• Meeting deadlines easily   

• Having extra time on your hands  

• You will overcome procrastination  

• Reduced stress  

• Staying on top of your game  

You need to have a clear understanding and idea of how you spend your time because time well spent is more valuable than gold. Remember to be honest with yourself, know what you can and cannot handle, and do not over-commit. I said it, now go do it.

Categories: Editorials, Opinion