Time Management in College by Laken

Time Management in College by Laken - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Time management is an essential skill for college students. Making deliberate choices about how much time to spend on certain activities, such as studying, means that students are working smarter, not harder. Students who manage their time well suffer less stress and enjoy more productivity. Wise time management leads to an improved quality of life and better college experience for students.
The practice of time management starts with small adjustments to daily routines. Using planners or calendars to mark due dates or events is the first step. This allows for more specific day-by-day planning to occur. Small habits such as making daily to-do lists can help students to stay focused on the tasks at hand. Since some classes require an excess of work to be done each day, a prioritized daily list makes the work load less overwhelming and can prevent students from forgetting assignments and due dates. It also allows for large projects to be broken down into daily chunks.
After the daily goals have been identified, it is important to decide how much time should realistically be spent on each activity. Setting timers or alarms on smart phones is a good method for ensuring that time is used wisely on the daily priorities. Auditory alerts or reminders can serve as the motivation needed to begin a task and to remove other distractions. However, when working on assignments or studying, It is important to remember to build in time for mental breaks. Alarms can be set for brain breaks as well. This will allow for more mental clarity and less burn out. Study sessions that are spaced out with built-in breaks also lead to more long-term retention of information. In addition, working a short time in each class everyday is more effective than cramming a large amount of study material right before a test.
Time for social engagements should also be part of daily planning. All work and no play can cause a person to shut down. Participation in fun activities is linked with good mental health and feelings of renewed energy. High-performing students are able to balance class work and pleasure. They do so by allotting time slots for daily tasks. When tasks are completed within a timely manner, more time is leftover for fun activities.
The importance of time management skills extends way beyond college to the workforce and parenthood. Employees who are responsible and organized because they use their time wisely are very valuable to employers. Therefore, the acquisition of effective time management skills is crucial in obtaining and maintaining successful careers. Parents who can effectively juggle work and family while avoiding scheduling conflicts are generally more satisfied with their lives. In this sense, time management is correlated with happiness.
College students and other young adults have the perfect opportunity to learn and perfect their time management skills. For the first time, they are in charge of their own lives and setting their own schedules. The use of planners, to-do lists, and alarms can help them to easily adjust to new routines and busy schedules. Success in adulthood depends on effective time management. People who use planning tools are better prepared to achieve at high levels.