Make goals.
Create a "to-do" list.
Set restrictions.
That’s all it takes to manage time – prioritizing, Lorraine Schroeder, outreach/learning strategies counselor, said.
And as a way to help students, UH Learning Support Services provided a time management workshop on Aug. 30. They will conduct another Nov. 20.
"I’m a bad procrastinator," psychology junior Ebonie Trotter said.
Working 20 hours a week and attending classes full-time, Trotter said she took this workshop because she needed some advice.
Schroeder recommends incorporating fundamentals such as time for errands, scheduling in free time and making a study routine.
"Schedule essential daily activities. Adequate sleep time, eating well-balanced meals and exercise are important parts of your daily schedule. Be realistic about how much time is needed for these activities," Schroeder said.
Students should also consider how to deal with stress. Stress plays an undesirable role in time management that causes students to feel defeated and overwhelmed. Most students do not know how to handle stress and tend to give up when it comes to academics.
"One way to avoid stress is to put things in perspective. If a person looks at the big picture, many times the little things will lose their importance. Organize yourself and handle one thing at a time. If you are stressed, it’s a good idea to talk to a friend," Schreoder said.
Social work graduate student Julia Randle sought advice on how to cope with the anxiety of assignments and tests. She was given a few guidelines including asking for extensions on assignments or projects and accepting as a student that there might not be enough time for all tasks to be completed.
"High school is not any preparation for college, it’s like being thrown from one world into another," Randle said.
Schroeder said that if students are unable to come to a workshop they should start organizing by buying a monthly calendar or syllabus sorter and list all assignments, tests, and activities. Then, schedule fixed blocks of time.
Other activities must be scheduled around them.
Overall, students should not forget to prioritize, she said.
"They should take the time to come to a workshop. Students must be proactive in getting help with problems," Schroeder said.
Trotter said this was her first workshop and thought it was beneficial.
"I think that students struggle with time management for two reasons: lack of knowledge and experience and goals aren’t clarified," Schroeder said.
University Studies freshman, Julia Garza was a high school athlete and said that the coaches played a large role in education. Without her old coaches to guide her, Garza must solely manage her school schedule.
Schroeder said that students should educate themselves on time management and even ask their friends for suggestions.
"What you learn in college is to be a balanced person, students that focus on their books may make good grades but didn’t develop themselves as a person. Time management helps with that," Randle said.
For more information, visit www.las.uh.edu/lss.
