College Time Management 101

Time management can be one of the most important—and difficult—skills to learn during your college years. With so much going on, staying on top of your time can sometimes seem impossible. You might very well come to realize that time is your most precious commodity in college. Fortunately, however, there are a number of things you can do to help make sure your time management as a student leaves you feeling organized and in control instead of exhausted and behind.

Planning Ahead

You can't plan your time well if you don't know what you're planning for. Although it can be a pain in the brain, spending a little time now can help save a ton of time in the future.

• How to Plan for a Major Research Paper
• How to Plan for a Major Group Project
• How to Prevent Procrastination in the First Place
• 8 Steps for Strong Time Management in College

Avoiding Problems in Advance

Of course, sometimes life just happens. So how can you make sure you avoid unnecessary time traps that can turn from a minor inconvenience to a major problem?

• Top 10 Time Wasters in College
• Just What Is "Good Time Management" Anyway?

Executing

You've planned ahead. You know what to look out for along the way. You're ready to start this semester/project/paper/you-name-it and stay on top of your time, all of the time. What's the best way to execute your plans?

• Good Time Management Systems—and How to Use Them
• 5 Critical Time Management Skills for College Students
• Using the TIMED System for College Time Management

Finding Motivation Along the Way

Good time management takes, well, time. So what can you do if you find yourself needing a little motivation along the way?

• 8 Benefits of Good Time Management
• 5 Disadvantages of Bad Time Management
• Time Management Quotations

Time's Up?! What to Do If Time Runs Out

Sometimes, not matter how much you plan or how great your intentions are, things just don't work out. So what can you do to fix—and learn from—your time management mistakes?

• How to Ask for an Extension
• How to Make a Paper Longer
• How to Break the Habit of Procrastination

Just like everything else you're learning during your time in school, great time management skills take time to learn—and that includes letting yourself learn from your mistakes. Strong time management is important enough, however, that continually striving to improve is worth the effort each and every time.