By Emma Ciancio
Time management. An integral part of the track to success in college. For some students, time management may look like to-do lists, time blocking, planning a week in advance and much more. For others, time management may look like cramming for exams and doing work at the last second. No matter what your style, time management can be the ultimate key to success in college.
Let’s start off with my favorite time management method, big and little rocks. Author Stephen Covey discussed this time management method in 1993 with his book “First Things First.” He also discusses the topic in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” in 1989.
This method ultimately conveys the message that if you do not schedule your big tasks first, you will not have room for your smaller ones. By using this method, you are getting the more important tasks out of the way so the “little ones” can get done as well.
To think about this in the sense of college, if you have a huge project due at 11:59 pm and a dinner date with your friend, it will be more advantageous for you and your grade if you get your project done before going to other plans. This method has not only gotten me through my past and present education but it has also helped me balance my social life with clubs, organizations and my sport.
Besides Big and Little rocks, I turn to time blocking. While time blocking seems annoying, it is truly something that not only forces me to get my work done but helps me feel productive.
Say I have a huge test on a Friday, I make sure to time block in advance to get the majority of studying done. This could range from me blocking out three to five hours just for studying. While it seems frustrating that so many hours are gone out of your day, it ultimately leads to the hardest part of your day being over. As someone who does not like to study, this method leaves me feeling productive as I get my least favorite part of the day over.
Lastly, one widely used time management strategy is the Pomodoro Technique, a method that breaks work into short, focused intervals followed by brief breaks. This method was developed in the late 1980s by Italian entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo. The technique typically involves 25 minutes of uninterrupted work followed by a five-minute pause. After completing four cycles, users take a longer break to reset.
Students typically say the structure helps burn out and improves concentration by making large tasks feel more manageable. For students juggling classes, extracurriculars and part-time jobs, the Pomodoro Technique offers a practical way to stay productive without feeling overwhelmed, turning time into a series of intentional, achievable segments rather than an endless stretch of obligations. While this is a method that I have not had a chance to try, I do feel as if it would benefit me as someone involved in many clubs, organizations and a sport.
While clubs, sports, organizations, school and so many other things compete for students’ attention, time management is truly the way to avoid burnout. Without the presence of time management, I would not feel as if I were able to participate in the multitude of things I am involved in across campus.