Content Writer: Hira Ijaz
Time management is essential for success in the modern world and with the fast-paced lifestyle that we lead. Without knowing what has to be done, the day would be spent on pointless activities. It is crucial in everyone’s life, but particularly to that of a student. The majority of students find it difficult to complete their assignments because they lack a plan or strategy for achieving their objectives.
Students have multiple tasks that, with careful management, can make their lives easier. In addition to completing their assignments of different courses, working part time jobs, they also have personal obligations to attend to. Along with maintaining a positive relationship with their families, they also need to lead social lives. All of this is only possible, if they have effective time management skills. Following are some typical issues with time management that students face, along with solutions:
No Planning:
A lot of students have learning curves that include poor planning and poor time management. Inadequate planning, however, turns into a habit for some. But the repercussions of delaying an assignment, failing to turn in your work on time, and missing important deadlines can be far more serious than you may initially imagine. An aimless and disorderly timetable can result from studying without a plan. Because of this, students could find it difficult to cover all the information in the allotted time. To get around this, be sure to prepare a study plan before you start, which includes goals and a list of everything you want to get done in a given session. Students must be inspired to use calendars, planners etc. so that they can manage their tasks effectively. Learning to plan in this initial stage would help them throughout their life.
Use of Social Media:
Our lives have undoubtedly been significantly better off thanks to social media. Our style of thinking and even living has improved as a result of it. It now serves as people’s main means of communication. Communicating with family and friends only requires a simple tap on a smartphone. A plethora of business ideas has also been furnished to them by it. It has a lot of benefits, but its main disadvantage is that students who put down their work are more likely to use it as an excuse to spend hours online surfing. Students often find it difficult to focus on their studies because they are seen wasting time on social networking apps. They are frequently seen wasting time on social media, which makes it harder for them to focus on their academics. Technological barriers like as browser blockers and productivity-boosting apps need to be installed in order to solve this problem. Social media is a tool that can foster students’ creativity and even improve their ability to communicate clearly. Teachers need to advise students about these kinds of websites and applications that can support their development.
Feeble Study Habits:
Some students study for hours on end without truly learning anything. Their poor studying habits prevent them from ever moving further. Without comprehension, cramming information won’t get them anywhere. They must understand the lessons and summarize in their own words. They must take knowledge tests like; quizzes, and other tasks to demonstrate their understanding. In this way, they will be able to focus better and save time.
Trouble Prioritizing:
Knowing which task is more important and needs to be completed first is crucial. Pupils who struggle to prioritize their assignments sometimes wind up wasting a lot of time on trivial tasks. They must be able to distinguish between important and unimportant chores. In the long term, it will benefit them to finish the most critical tasks first and devote their time to the appropriate assignment.
Procrastination:
Procrastination is one of the main issues that today’s adults and students are dealing with. It seems that doing nothing but sitting still is the latest hip thing to do. But in actuality, it dulls the person. You feel depressed when you are indolent all day and accomplish nothing. When you put off duties till the last minute, you become more stressed and have to work faster because you have less time, which results in work that is of lower quality. Students can attempt dividing assignments into smaller, more manageable portions and assigning deadlines to each section to help them overcome procrastination.
Self-Care:
Students often don’t get enough sleep or leisure time. This lack of rest and relaxation is one of the major problems, which can have negative health effects. Working effectively depends on the peace of mind; if the students work nonstop without getting enough sleep, they’ll grow fatigued. Their workload will accumulate as well if they become ill. Ongoing work can reduce output; therefore, it is necessary to take breaks during work. Exercising and other self-care activities must be prioritised by students to avoid any health risks.
Overcommitment:
Students typically find it challenging to keep track of their commitments. They take on numerous tasks at once and then run into difficulties completing them. They become so overwhelmed by this that they have little time for leisure or education. Effective time management requires knowing one’s boundaries and striking a balance between obligations. Therefore, prioritizing their responsibilities and learning when to say no are critical life skills for students.
Problem in Delegating Tasks:
Relying on others and asking for assistance might be challenging for certain students. They consider themselves capable of handling every assignment. Every student has to understand this crucial lesson—that you will occasionally require assistance from others. One cannot accomplish everything on their own. To save a great deal of time and acquire the talent of teamwork, they must learn how to assign tasks to others. Increasing their involvement in group initiatives is the best way for them to gain this skill set.
Frequent Breaks:
Some students have a habit of constantly getting up to take breaks when studying. As a result, they are less productive since their attention is diverted. You won’t get any work done if you take a break every 30 minutes. It is preferable to sit with the intention of rewarding oneself with a break after completing such and such amount of work. This method would finish the work quickly and provide a sense of accomplishment when it is finished on time.
Perfectionist:
It has been observed that certain pupils make a great effort to achieve perfection in whatever they do. They are too busy perfecting their work to complete their coursework or assignments on time, wasting time in the process. They must realize that it’s okay to make errors and that it’s appropriate to only refine one’s work to a certain extent. Completing the project before the deadline is more crucial.
Multitasking:
The idea that multitasking will enable pupils to meet their deadlines is a common misunderstanding. One has the impression of having accomplished a lot in a short amount of time when working on two or three projects at once. On the other hand, it is true that we rarely concentrate on any one project, which results in late submission of tasks and subpar performance. Starting one project at a time, seeing it through to completion, and moving on are crucial for students.
Time for Revision:
Exams preparation is a crucial task. Many students are too busy to revise because they haven’t even completed their initial round of study, let alone revision. They don’t realize how much work revision and review takes, so they end up cramming the night before an exam and perform poorly. Establishing and strictly adhering to schedules is the best course of action. Early time management and timely completion of tasks will allow students to have ample time to adequately study for tests. Also, repetition techniques may progressively improve learning and improve retention.
Learning from mistakes:
Everyone makes mistakes but what’s important is that you learn what you did wrong and not repeat it again, that’s part of growth. But if you keep making the same mistake again and again, you are simply postponing your success. It is preferable that the teacher urges his students to persevere even if they do poorly on any of their tests. Analyse the situation and try to explain to them that, failure can lead to success.
Accountability:
Students typically find it challenging to maintain motivation and adhere to a set schedule in the absence of responsibility. Mentors and teachers are key in maintaining a check and balance on the students. Feeling accountable for their objectives may help students get back on track. If there was no responsibility, they would behave anyway they chose. On the other hand, if they know they have someone to answer to, they might work more. Students can be held accountable and on track with regular check-ins and progress reports.
These are the main problems and solving them early on will help the students maximize their time and get past any difficulties. Addressing these common time management issues and putting these helpful suggestions into practice can help students experience less stress and anxiety related issues, do better academically, and manage their time more efficiently.