Calendar Time Management - A Must For Working Students

So you’ve entered the hallowed portals of the college of your choice? The heady, exciting and invigorating feel on being on your own, being a senior and starting into the adult world is an inexpressible feeling for many young college students straight out from high school and full of dreams about enjoying their new-found freedom. However, they need to guard against becoming casual or complacent about studies, extra-curricular activities, choosing friends, selecting their major and so many other related details that only campus life can reveal as there is a need to contain themselves to lead the organized life in college that will ultimately either make or break their career dreams.

The college years are the most important for setting the foundation for your future i.e. deciding which vocational training or career path to choose and your dedication to all the important aspects of life at college is what ultimately determines your professional as well as personal life, so don’t fritter away your precious time casually. Instead, choose with care who you spend your time with, make and stick to a proper time-table for academics, free-time, social pursuits and home life so that you are emotionally, financially and mentally prepared to deal with life out of college too.

For example, if you are financially limited in paying full tuition fees, how about taking up a part-time job somewhere near the college (if not on campus itself – e.g. library, cafeteria, administrative block for clerical help etc.) to cover these needs? If you’re worried about losing out on study time, you an always listen to audio notes while working or keep them handy for ‘slow business’ hours after ‘okaying’ the same from your supervisor.

Since college life also means having to mange social life, you may well be up to your neck with invites to events on campus or outside that friends or colleagues may insist you attend and that’s where basic time management skills can help you out! Learn to prioritize your things to do list based on interests and activities that will help you succeed, learn to say no to in-essential things and activities that take you away from your goals and stick to a calendar for best time management!

Fill in the time management Calendar with all the activities that your routine at college contains: be it study, cleaning-up, laundry, work, extra-curricular and social activities and see if your university allows for re-scheduling of classes (most do these days) if you need to hold down a job. Take a blank semester calendar from the college admin office (also available online that you can customize yourself) and enter your class schedules, project due dates, registration dates etc. and have another one handy for adding in personal commitments. Plan your day and week according to the entries you make (make it a point to always update this daily or as you know of an event/project date and scope) and fit in your time-off from work/study/socializing in between so you have enough time to rest, exercise, cook and eat healthy meals, clean your space and have fun on the campus – all in your own good time!