The Key to Being Successful in College and Beyond

Time management is one skill that we must all learn to master. This will make school, homework, work responsibilities, and taking care of families so much easier. Prioritizing your time in a more efficient way can decrease your stress and increase your productivity. That sounds pretty great, right? Let’s get started!

Create a “To-Do” List
- Simply by writing down all the things you need to accomplish can help you organize your thoughts and complete the tasks at hand more efficiently.
- Add a timeline to your list so you can finish the most urgent items first and get to the others later.
Utilize a Planner
- This is where you can write down upcoming appointments, tests, projects, events, classes, or meetings.
- Use color codes that help you remember important information or dates. For example, write urgent items in a bold color so they cannot be overlooked.
- Plan long term. A month long calendar can help you stay organized and see what upcoming deadlines you have. This allows for further planning and preparation to decrease last-minute stress.
Identify Helpful Resources
- Are you struggling with an assignment or project? Ask the expert. Contact your instructor or a Brighton Team Member that can clarify your concerns.
- Get a tutor or study with a friend. Sometimes incorporating the ideas of others can help you see problems in a new light. A discussion might be all you need to get the ideas flowing.
- Collaborate and delegate with coworkers, friends, and family that can support you and ease your stress in busy times. Sharing the responsibilities with those around you is a good way to manage your time.
Create a Dedicated Study or Work Space
- Finding a place free of distraction is crucial. This will allow for full concentration as well as creating structure. These are both important for creating efficient work habits and establishing a routine.
- Have a back-up space that you can go like the library or bookstore. This can provide a change of pace as well as offer you with additional resources.
Use Your Free Time Wisely
- What are you doing as you drive in the car or walk the dog? How about when you take your children to their weekly activities? Think about how you can restructure that time to get some extra studying in. Bring some flashcards, review new information that you just read and think of how you are going to apply it. Take notes from memory to see what items you need to revisit.
- Turn lull periods in your day into productive and positive ways to manage your time. All it takes is a new way of thinking!