The truth about time management and academic success

When it comes to time management, there are some limitations – such as the number of hours in a day and days in the academic term – which are outside of your control. How you choose to use the periods of time between the permanent-marker items in your calendar like class time, work obligations and family commitments, can help you to change “crunch time” stress to an investment in your academic success.

How Do I Break the Habit of Procrastination?

Recognizing the habit is the first step. Next, if you’re procrastinating and pushing things off, ask yourself:

“What task am I avoiding and what am I doing instead?”

Everyone has procrastination triggers – those things we choose to do instead of the work that has to get done. One way to limit procrastination is to list these triggers and create an action plan for how you will deal with each trigger.

For example, if you know you binge watch for hours when you have a looming assignment deadline, try changing your procrastination behaviour into a reward. On your list, write: “Finish my assignment first, then watch some Netflix.”

How Can I Up My Time-Management Game?

Laurier has you covered with a wide range of workshops, consultation options and self-directed resources to build your time management skills:

• Attend student academic skills workshops – ‘Mastering Time Management’, ‘Procrastinate Later’ and ‘A Peer Mentor's Guide to Motivation’
• Book a one-on-one appointment to reflect on time management goals and create a practical plan that will work for you
• Review professional time-management resources – ‘Laurier Assignment Planner’, ‘Time Management Strategies’ and ‘Prioritized Task List’

How Do I Balance Productivity and Self Care?

If you’re in the middle of crunch time and feeling stressed out, reach out to your peers, instructors, and the Student Wellness Centres to support your mental and physical health. Addressing stress will help you with your time management in the long-run.

Maintaining consistent sleep patterns, eating healthy foods, and integrating some of these other small-but-mighty practices can bring out your academic best:

• Step away from the screen – go for a walk outside.
• Practice deep breathing throughout the day.
• Connect with your social network from a distance – eat a meal or watch a movie together over a video call, send check-in messages, or schedule "phone dates."

“Better late than never” can quickly turn into “out of time”. Addressing procrastination, actively developing your time-management skills and practicing self care will help you get the most out of your schedule while living and learning within one of life’s ageless realities: there are only so many hours in a day.