Time Management Strategies: 8 Tips for Balancing College and Life

Juggling family, career and college coursework requires more than just a can-do attitude. Understanding how to manage your time is critical if you want to crush your academic goals, but you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your health or sanity in the process.

By following effective management techniques, you can balance the demands of college, career and life.

What is Time Management?

Time management refers to your ability to plan and control how you spend your day to effectively accomplish the goals you’ve set. This involves dividing time among each of the domains of your life — work, family, and social life, according to Psychology Today.

Because everyone’s goals are different and carry a different weight, it’s important to set clear priorities to separate non-essential tasks or “time wasters” from the activities that really matter. Poor time management skills can not only lead to habits like procrastination but can cause undue anxiety and erode your overall quality of life.

“Time management is probably the single most important skill that will help a student succeed,” said Academic Advisor Colin Deyman, who advises undergraduate STEM students at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “How well a student manages his or her time will also affect overall well-being — at the end of the week or at the end of the term.”

When Academic Advising Team Lead Cheri Shannon worked as an advisor, she would review new SNHU students' work schedules to help them determine how they could fit their coursework into their week.  This usually involves squeezing extra time into packed schedules that already include full-time jobs and caregiving.

“Staying on top of coursework requires some planning and determination to stick to scheduled study times,” Shannon said.

While students may believe that online classes allow for plenty of time to complete coursework, many underestimate the amount of time they will need to focus on their work.

“Some students think that without the travel time, their study time will just happen. In reality, they need to schedule in their schoolwork just like other appointments,” said Darby-Sue Perry, a business planning analyst at SNHU and former academic advisor.

Benefits of Time Management

While establishing a concrete plan may seem daunting, it can pay off in enormous dividends. Everyone gets 24 hours in any given day. Gaining insight into how to spend your time and how you can better allocate it to the tasks that matter most can bring you a greater sense of freedom.

Some of the benefits of time management include experiencing less stress, fewer mistakes, more free time and space to pursue new opportunities. By sticking to a schedule, you are bound to increase your overall productivity at school and at work, according to Indeed, which also noted there are many benefits to effective time management:

• Properly preparing for a project before it begins can help you increase the pace and the quality of your work.
  
  
• By prioritizing tasks, you can then distribute your energy in the right amounts across different projects.
  
  
• If you have your schoolwork under control, you’ll be less likely to feel stressed about other aspects of your life. Good time management will allow you to relax when you need to and prioritize other commitments and relationships outside of college or work.

8 Tips to Help You Manage Time Better

There are some tried-and-true techniques that can help you master time management. Like any habit you develop, you can become better at it through practice. Looking for a list of practical time management tips? Here are a few.

1. Understand what your assignments entail and when they are due.

Whether you are taking one class or several, chances are your coursework will include a mix of short-term and long-term assignments. Writing down deadlines for each one and breaking longer-term assignments into tasks with their own deadlines can help you avoid beginning a major project at the last minute.

“I let my students know that if they are aware that writing papers takes them longer, they shouldn’t procrastinate,” said SNHU academic advisor Madeline Upham, who advises STEM undergraduate students. “My favorite time management tip is for students to break their work into manageable chunks over the course of a week, month or term. They can then look at the big picture of their responsibilities over the course of a specific time frame and schedule themselves to ensure completion.”

2. Develop a schedule and stick to it. 

Do you have more energy in the morning or the evening? If you find yourself losing steam after dinner, it can be tempting to forgo assignments for TV time. While you may not be able to control every aspect of your schedule, there are many parts you can control.

You might prefer to write on the weekends and read before your workday begins, for example. You might also find that you work better free from distractions, which might mean spending time at a local coffee shop rather at your kitchen table.

Sultan Akhter '19 '21 MBA, an esports operations manager at SNHU, relied on Microsoft Outlook to keep track of his busy schedule while completing his MBA. Akhter also used a notebook to check off daily and weekly tasks as he completed them. While he couldn't change his work hours or adjust the 3-hour class blocks in his schedule, he could avoid missing important meetings and assignments by using scheduling techniques that worked for him.

Despite your best scheduling efforts, unexpected life events do happen. Students need to be flexible and make adjustments to their schedules — but ultimately must hold themselves accountable for getting their work done, Deyman said.

“Successful students consistently communicate when necessary and do not allow excuses, no matter how legitimate, get in the way of the goals they have set for themselves,” he said. 

3. Create an environment that helps you focus.

Some work best in a coffee shop, and others prefer to study at home. While some can't focus without listening to music, others find it to be a distraction. Figuring out what works best to help you focus can make you more productive.

“Everyone should find their zen when creating their space as they will spend an enormous amount of time working, learning and planning their future (there),” said Jennifer Breshears '23, who earned her bachelor’s in business administration at SNHU.

Displaying the things that motivate you can also put you in a focused mindset. For example, hanging inspirational quotes on your wall might help you to stay on task, reminding you what you're working toward.

Breshears surrounds herself with messages that inspire her, along with her first diploma from SNHU.

4. Use technology wisely.

Most online class assignments require you to log on to the internet to post comments, access reading materials, conduct research or visit sites related to a course. While technology serves as a valuable tool, it can also cause you to fall into an unintended trap.

“Social media usage and general internet surfing are constant temptations, especially when course content may not be exciting or engaging to a student,” Deyman said. “Students can be bombarded by notifications constantly, which can take attention away from the task at hand. Ideally, students should put their phones away and close browser windows ... to avoid losing focus.”

However, you can also use technology to your advantage. There are many productivity tools that can help you become more organized or stay focused. You can use spreadsheet tools like Excel or Google Sheets to organize your projects or assignments, then use a calendar app to remember important deadlines.

5. Set time limits on specific tasks.

Just because you spend a lot of time on a given assignment, it doesn’t mean you’ve spent that time wisely. Lydia Alonci '18, earned her bachelor's in information technology at SNHU. She prioritized her assignments based on urgency, time commitment and dependencies upon other projects.

“I use timers as needed, but over the years I have come to understand how long it takes me to complete certain tasks, which then makes it easier for me to anticipate what I can actually get done in a day,” she said.

Alonci also recommended sticking to the same routines to ensure that reoccurring tasks (such as house chores and grocery shopping) don’t fall by the wayside.

Asking friends or family to hold you accountable for how you spend your time can also help you set limits.

6. Ask for help.

Don't be afraid to reach out to friends or family members if you're needing some support, whether you're struggling with a school project or just need a pep talk. Your advisor, instructors and peers can also be part of a support system that can help you succeed.

“Have a great relationship with your advisor," said Lacey May '20, who earned an online human services degree at SNHU. "I can call and know mine will help me any and every way he can. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors. If you’re (struggling), don’t struggle alone. Speak up and say something to get help.”

If you're worried about falling behind or are dealing with personal issues, you can reach out to your instructors or advisor. 

“Your instructors understand that life gets busy sometimes, so don't be afraid to let them know what's going on," said alumna Nancy Uliano '18. "They'll usually work with you if you have any issues, so you don't fall behind or fail.”

7. Schedule rewards for tasks completed.

Pursuing a college degree doesn’t have to mean your life is all work and no play. It’s just as important to pencil in breaks, exercise and time with friends and family as it is to schedule time for studying.

“The hardest part about time management while taking classes online is making sure to prioritize time for rest, recharging and social life. When you miss those things, you run out of energy and burn out quickly, “ Alonci said.

Akhter would plan lunches with his colleagues, hit the gym three times a week and find time to hang out with friends off-campus.

“Yes, a majority of that time goes to classes and work, but I always make time for my personal life,” he said.

8. Be kind to yourself.

It can be tricky to balance school and your personal life. It's important to be kind to yourself and ensure you're taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing. This might mean taking breaks if you're feeling stressed, getting fresh air or having rest days where you focus on hobbies you enjoy.

“It will feel overwhelming at first, but take deep breaths, and you will get through the hard times," said Marlene Shafer '21, who completed her bachelor's in psychology at SNHU and is now pursuing a master's in criminal justice. "If you manage your time well and remember there is life outside of class, you will do great."

What are the 5 Ps of Time Management?

There are a lot of different ways to manage your time, and it can be hard to remember all of them. These 5 P's can help you to recall them quickly:

• Plan ahead.
• Prioritize your tasks.
• Productivity tools can help you succeed.
• Procrastination can cause you to fall behind and lead to more stress.
• Personal time is important.

Even if you struggle with time management, it’s a skill you can build. Using these time management techniques, you can successfully balance the demands of college, career and life.

Krysten Godfrey Maddocks ’11G is a writer who covers K-12 and higher education topics, including policy and the role of digital technology in education. She spent almost a decade working in various marketing roles at an educational assessment company before launching a strategic marketing company. Maddocks earned a master's degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor's degree in English/ journalism from the University of New Hampshire. Connect with her on LinkedIn.