With exams fast approaching (argh, dare I say it!), it is more important than ever to manage your time well and stay organised! There is nothing worse than feeling behind and getting extremely stressed a few days before the exams!
So, here are 5 tips on how to manage your time well and staying organised at university:
1) Make Lists
My number one tip is to WRITE THINGS DOWN!
It is so easy to forget things when you have a lot on your plate, and the best way to avoid forgetting assignments or deadlines springing upon you, is to have things written down.
Making lists with all the work you need to do in the next few days can be really helpful.
Simply make note of everything, whether it is to write up some lecture notes, finish a report, go food shopping or washing your clothes. Also, there is nothing more satisfying than scoring jobs of a to-do list!
Another extremely helpful thing, especially when it comes to writing down assignments, due dates, etc. is to use a homework diary or academic planner. I personally love using an academic wall planner, as I can easily see what is coming up in the next weeks and am reminded of them every time I walk past it.
You can even get a great one for free from Blackwell´s on campus, so I´d definitely recommend checking that out!
2) Make studying efficient
Make studying efficient in order to avoid sitting at your desk for hours and hours (leaving more time to do fun things!). I often feel like you can waste a lot of time on studying, which isn´t necessary with the right methods!
Start by getting rid of any distractions (I tend to hide my phone…) so that you focus on the task at hand.
Next, you should also determine the best place for you to study. Perhaps you can concentrate best when you are at home, or maybe you prefer studying in the library or at a café. Just find whatever works best for you! I get very easily distracted at home and I feel like it helps me to leave the house, which is why I tend to go to the library.
If you enjoy working and studying with other people, find a study group or study buddy and meet with them to do you work!
3) Don’t Give Up Fun Activities
You have to also get some time to relax and take a break from studying, so don´t forget to make time for fun activities! Meet your friends, go to your sport´s training or attend a social!
This is probably one of the most important points on this list and the more efficient you make your studying (see above) the more time you´ll have for the fun stuff!
4) Prioritise
Sometimes, you might find you just don´t have time to do everything. This is where it is important to prioritise. Make sure you determine what things on your to-do-list are most important and ensure you get those done first!
5) Think ahead!
Lastly, try to think and plan ahead. I mentioned above how you could stay on top of the academic stuff, for example, by writing down important dates in a planner.
But what about all that non-academic, boring “adult-life” stuff? Don´t forget things like having to go shopping or making food.
A good tip here is to batch cook. In order to avoid having to go and buy or cook food during busy periods, make large batches of freezer-friendly foods when you have the time for it! Freeze in individual portions and then all you need to do is defrost and reheat them when you need to! Perfect for during revision or exam week!
If you are looking for some student-friendly recipes that are good for freezing or can be made in no time at all, check out the recipes here. https://theunicook.com/category/cooking/studentrecipes/
I hope you find these five tips to improve time management and organisation helpful! Good luck for your upcoming exams!
