Time Strategies for the Always Busy College Student

Being a college student means you are constantly doing something. Even your "free time" is usually running around with friends, working out, or whatever one enjoys. This is why professionals really push having a set schedule that one follows in order to get everything down. Me being a perfectionist truly conflicts with this despite what one would think. Most people would think oh a perfectionist has everything thing planned out to make sure it is all done. That isn't how my mind works and I'll be honest it has caused me some problems but not anything severe.

I'm the type of guy who can't move on from an assignment or won't stop until I feel comfortable in what I am doing. I personally think that if I set myself a strict schedule it would make my work worse. I like how I won't quit until I know it is the best work imaginable. This is why I don't set schedules to be precise but rather I know when I need things to be done and I make sure I do them when I am going to perform them best. I like due dates and the pressure that comes before them because it makes me think outside the box. That being said after reading these articles there is a good chance I could possibly forget less things and maximize more time.

In the article 3 Steps to Recapture Time by Joynicole Martinez it mentioned that the first 15 minutes of each day should be spent categorizing what needs to be done that day. I think this would help me out a lot with school work and working out, however I think every day is unnecessary. Part of life in my opinion is learning from mistakes that are made in times we are just living free. It is important to live free sometimes and not have any plans. However I think Monday-Friday this would help me each day to at least get my top three priorities out of the way.

I think some of what I'm saying can be said in the article Why time management is ruining our lives by Pete Gamlen. He mentions how sometimes setting these precise schedules just build anxiety. I couldn't agree more in the fact that these do make me more stressed especially since I'm a very anxious person.

This semester I do need to manage my time better because I have more free time than usual due to wanting to study for the DAT for dental school. This is why I plan on waking up every morning at 7 to study until my first class. After class I will take care of what ever school work needs to be done and from there on I will judge my work schedule based off of my mood. If I'm tired I'll sleep, if I have energy I'll study, if I just need to be with friends then I'll hang out. I don't believe one must have a schedule even if I'm missing the point of these different articles. I believe one needs to have goals and dreams and that is what they should rely on to be productive. The craving to succeed rather than the craving to sustain a schedule.

That being said I will probably stick to the schedule my teacher sent me for this class because I know Monday and Tuesday are my most free days but that doesn't mean I will only abide by it which she said was alright as well.

Commons Wikamedia Alarm Clock