Behind every successful individual lies effective time management skills. We live in a society where there are deadlines for essentially everything. Naturally, I have always been an organized individual who enjoyed routine. Now that I am in my 5th year at Drexel, I can confidently say that one of the most valuable skills that I have strengthened during my time here is time management. I quickly learned that there is no time for mistakes or to mess around at a quarter system institution. Within a quick ten weeks, it is expected that you will balance a full course load of academics, a social life, incorporate time for physical activity, and be involved in clubs or organizations. So how do you balance all of this? 

Let’s discuss it with the “expert” …

My top 5 requirements for time management success: 

• Create realistic goals

A set of tasks that you aim to create for the day, week, or month is crucial. Whatever you feel will overwhelm you the least is the option to go with. Be honest and realistic with yourself when creating your goals. If you overload yourself with tasks, it will become stressful when they are not completed. Only create goals that you are absolutely certain can be achieved. 

Personally, I like to create daily tasks. This helps me break up the day as well as ensure I’m doing what I have to do. After completing each goal, it is motivating to be able to check it off my list as the day goes on. Without goals it is impossible for any individual to manage their time successfully. I know if I did not have goals, I would be trying to do a multitude of things at once.

• Prioritize

You must prioritize the goals that you have created for yourself. When thinking about the day as a whole, there are several hours in the span of the day depending on what time you choose to wake up and go to bed to complete tasks. It is  healthy to have a balanced day with different tasks. Three main aspects that should be incorporated into the day are academic/work, social interactions, and physical activity. Get the most important tasks out of the way first so that they are not lingering the entire day. 

• “Work hard, so you can play hard”

This is by far my favorite requirement for success. The rule of thumb that I live by is that having fun always feels better when you have worked hard throughout the week. I always told myself that if my work was not completed that doing anything for fun was off the table. In my opinion, this always gave me an incentive to get my work done on time. 

• Organized space=Organized mind

Create a space where you feel organized and inclined to work hard. Whenever any space is messy or unorganized it is not motivating to do anything. I have found that my most successful work periods occur in spaces where I feel comfortable. If this is achievable in your own space, go to a location where you are isolated from a space that is distracting. 

• Make the most out of your time 

When completing work, it is important that you are fully present in the moment. The most valuable work is achieved when you are focused. There are so many distractions daily and we are always trying to multitask in the world we live in.  Block out time and devote it to one task that you can give your undivided attention to. An effective tactic I utilize is putting my phone away for a period of set time to avoid any distractions.