On Aug. 31 at 4 p.m., in the Phillips Library, the Center for Student Engagement and Success hosted its first Tools For Academic Success series. The workshop was led by Associate Director of Learning & Success Kristin M. Sites. It was quite a large turnout as many college students were in attendance and eager to participate. This has been an incredibly tough year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students have had to shift from hybrid and virtual classes back to in-person learning. It proves to be a challenging task getting back into a routine.
For some, in-person classes have been overwhelming since many students have grown accustomed to online ones. It is now a shift that students have to try to adjust to, meaning learning how to manage your time is essential. The workshop reviewed time management and covered a multitude of topics regarding how to make the most of your time as well as recognizing individual time wasters.
A few activities took place where the students were able to assess their schedules, how they organize their time, figure out their personal time-wasters, gain tools for better time management etc. True multitasking is a myth and you cannot truly focus on more than one thing at a time. Sites mentioned that everyone receives the same 168 hours weekly, so managing your time effectively is critical.
There were a lot of key takeaways from the workshop. Learning how to get the most out of your time and planning accordingly is crucial to achieving your goals. The better you manage your time, the more you will get out of your day. Effective time management correlates highly with college success. Only you can control how you use your time. A few tips for managing your time are below.
● Recognize your goals and distinguish between long and short-term goals, such as getting good grades, participating in extracurricular activities, gaining leadership experience, pursuing part-time employment, forming better sleeping habits etc.
● Learn how to set priorities. Determine priorities and set aside time for necessities. You should figure out what your life priorities are, such as: working, attending classes, spending time with family and friends, completing schoolwork and studying, etc. The necessities would be sleeping, relaxing, eating, exercising, self-care and things of that sort.
● Plan the time you have. Take a look at the semester overview, start early and stay on task. Jot down important dates on a calendar and/or planner. Schedule all of your weekly commitments. Maintain a “To-do” list or utilize other ways to keep track of daily tasks.
● Be accountable! Find people who can help hold you responsible for your goals and how you plan to spend your time (i.e., peers, mentors, friends, coaches, counselors, parents, Learning Services or CSES staff).
If you need motivation or support in setting up your plans, properly managing your time and getting organized, get help! Students can also utilize the counseling resources offered by the university. You can reach out to the CSES or Learning Services for more assistance. Schedule a meeting with someone in Learning Services earlier in the semester and make sure to follow up. Tune in for more TAS workshops throughout the semester.
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