Managing Your Time as a College Student

Written by Greta Jones

It’s Tuesday night, and you have two papers, a lab report, three discussion posts, and a 30-page reading due by Friday. Don’t worry; here are some tips for time management. With a little discipline, caffeine, and some sacrifice, you’ll do just fine.

Maintain an Updated Calendar

In order to manage your time well, you need to know how your time is being used! It may seem old-fashioned to some, but by keeping your paper planner up to date, there is little chance of having an assignment or quiz slip your mind. Another easy and modern option is keeping a Google calendar. Not only will it alert you when assignments are due, but it also allows for one less item in your already overflowing backpack.

Prioritize Your Commitments

Overcommitting yourself can be easy to do, and consequential when trying to stay on top of homework. When attending The Source at the beginning of the school year, it’s important not to overcommit yourself to the incredible opportunities the College offers. You will thank yourself in two months when you have only two club meetings to attend each week. When planning your week, make time for things you enjoy! Your life does not have to consist solely of school work. Choose to spend your lunch hour finishing that amazing book or practicing your guitar. Paint that picture or go on that run. Balance is everything, so prioritize your work, but don’t neglect what makes you happy and brings you peace.

Find Support

Sometimes preparation and organization can only take you so far. Luckily, you have plenty of people who are in your corner. Keeping yourself and your classmates accountable is an easy and effective way to stay on top of your work. Organizing study groups or homework sessions with friends is another great option. Make sure to take advantage of your professors’ office hours. They didn’t choose this career in academia just to torture you with homework. They want you to succeed. If you work with them, they’ll work with you. Another great tool for students is Academic Services and the resources they provide, such as the Writing Center, and academic counseling. With all this in mind, you can be assured that you are taking steps to finish this semester successfully!

Stay Healthy and Balanced

To perform well in your classes, choose to eat well, drink plenty of water, and prioritize your rest. Mental health is just as important. Health Services has an incredible counseling team that is ready and willing to help you with any anxiety or mental health issues that may arise. For those of us who prioritize our faith, take time to pray and attend a worship or prayer session with fellow Hillsdale students each week.

Be Willing to Sacrifice

We all have weeks that are busier than others, and that means you may need to say no to that late-night ice cream run to grind at that paper due tomorrow or spend one of your weekends reviewing for a test instead of hanging out with friends. Your days won’t always look like this, but it’ll be worth it when you feel good about that essay you turned in or you ace that chemistry exam.

Practicing good time management will help you succeed at Hillsdale College. As time goes on, you will learn how to best manage your time as a college student. Be patient with yourself, and hopefully, these five tips gave you some encouraging and helpful ideas that you can apply to your life. You are one step closer to scaling the mountain that is college!

Greta Jones , ’26, hails from Wisconsin. Growing up in Montreal, QC, she found her love for the French language, as well as the founding era of America, and is now pursuing a double major in French and American studies. When she’s not playing tennis or reading Jane Austen, Greta loves to create art for her small business, study her Bible, and enjoys conversation with friends on the quad!

Published in October 2023