How to manage your time like a #BOSS and boost your productivity this term
EXPERT ADVICE
By Bridey Martin, Student Support Advisor
What is time management?
Like a lot of things in life, managing your time is a skill which takes time to practice, learn and be good at! On the surface, it might look like just knowing what has to be done and allocating when to do it; but being highly effective in using your time is sometimes a different thing all together! It can take careful planning, prioritising and self-reflection – which are all important skills you learn along the way too!
Knowing exactly how to achieve a goal is sometimes the missing piece of the puzzle and requires extra planning to make sure a task is approached in the most efficient way– and most importantly, with the least amount of stress!
Why is time management such an important skill for students starting University?
When first starting university, it is very common to feel that you never have enough time! Often, it is this feeling of being out of sync, behind, or unable to focus when you need to that can cause a build-up of unwanted pressure – particularly in the busy periods when assignment deadlines are approaching! Learning to prioritise (another skill!) daily tasks when they all seem equally important is also challenging – but it doesn’t need to cause additional pressure if it is approached early and with a clear mind!
What are some important considerations for students to keep in mind when adjusting to their new University workload?
It’s important to remember that when you first begin university, the first few weeks of the term can really count – but are often under-utilised!
Once one week of content is missed, it can easily snowball, and by census date (Week 4) things can become overwhelming and leave you feeling a loss of control! When we feel like time has escaped us – this can impact motivation and it can all become a downward spiral quickly!
To avoid falling into this trap, it’s important to use the first few weeks of term to create a good study ‘rhythm’ for yourself that not only takes into consideration uni work, but all the facets of your life that are meaningful and important. Putting together a good plan for when to take advantage of not just your time, but energy levels, and which part of each day is best for focus is often a personal preference. However, there is help available - and once you start to build this self-awareness, it becomes a lot easier to be realistic of how to allocate targeted study time and juggle other responsibilities!
How can good time management skills help students be more productive?
Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries for non-university related activities and experiences, (dedicated ‘you’ time!) is just as important – if not more important to productivity than anything else! It's worth remembering that whilst being productive is part and parcel of getting tasks done to completion, being proactive about how you will achieve them is a must, and key to avoiding procrastination!
Being proactive about study can include lots of simple things such as reaching out to class mates or tutors for help early, noting down problems and questions you have before classes, printing out readings or listening to tips or topics on YouTube! This can help to build momentum for starting tasks as well as curiosity in the areas of learning which are new to you! Rather than letting things we are unsure about become a barrier to starting, we must attack the problem early and seek plenty of help where possible.
University can often feel like a juggling act, how can time management help students ‘fit it all in’?
Life can definitely become a juggling act and at times it is hard to know where the problems lie. Whether it be paid work, juggling family and friendships, keeping active, or simply finding time to rest and stay connected - all become a tough balancing act whilst studying! Students who seek help early to work through any issues, including building time management skills are much more likely to be able to identify problems with more clarity and generally be able to create space in their week to work towards solutions!
What are five questions you can ask yourself today to help you manage your time like a #boss
AM I FEELING CONNECTED?
CONNECTION – Feeling connected means actively scheduling time in each day to put into action all the interests and personal values that make you, you. University is not just about learning the content – it is about growing as a person and developing a sense of who you are and how you wish to contribute to the people and world around you. It’s a big learning journey, and can be challenging – but challenges can be enjoyable if you feel connected to the meaning behind why you are studying.
AM I REFLECTING ON MYSELF AS A LEARNER?
REFLECTION – When we are super busy, we often become too focused on the expectation and outcomes of what we are hoping to achieve rather then putting our focus on enjoying the process of learning in and of itself. This often means we lose sight of the big picture and can become overwhelmed easily. Making sure you are giving yourself time to rest and reflect on yourself as a learner and on your strengths and successes along the way is a skill and key to making progress in difficult times! Reflection can be done either in a journal, with a friend or through a support network and will help you stay curious about what you are studying and why which can assist in getting motivated!
IS THERE SOMEONE I SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH FOR HELP?
COLLABORATION – No one gets through a degree on their own! Always find others that you trust to learn from and lean on when the pressure is on and deadlines are tight. You are not alone, and there are a number of services at UNSW here to help you grow and overcome barriers – we all have them, so don’t be nervous to reach out!
WHAT IS ACHIEVABLE – AND NOT ACHIEVABLE IN THE TIME I HAVE?
LESS IS MORE – When there are many competing demands on your time, it is worth taking just a small half hour in each day to set a few (1-2) key priorities and then break them down into smaller, actionable tasks. Actionable means that you are aware of the steps it takes to actually take action! This can take time to plan – but once you have the awareness that it is achievable, mental barriers can become easier to overcome and getting things started less daunting!
AM I PUTTING MY WELLBEING FIRST?
SELF COMPASSION - Part of being great at time management is having the capacity to set healthy boundaries and knowing when it is time to give yourself a break. At stressful times it is quite common to raise expectations and be harder on ourselves, even when we know this doesn’t increase motivation and drive. Being compassionate to ourselves when we know there is still more to do is tough, but it can be the difference between getting through a hard day, and giving up completely due to burnout. If you imagine you are running a marathon - you don’t want to be the runner that doesn't take a moment's break to do up their shoelace! If you recognise early enough when it is time to stop for a break, you are far more likely to avoid a crash!
Being kind to yourself is key to staying healthy and achieving your best!
How can students get in touch with your team if they need help or support with time management?
Students can book appointments with a Student Support Advisor. Appointments are confidential, 30-45minutes long and free to access for all UNSW or Global students.