College students must learn to balance newfound freedom with scores of events, organizations, new friends, new responsibilities, and, of course, assignments, reading, studying, tests, projects, homework, labs. That means time management is crucial to student success. This 50-minute presentation  will help students optimize their time management skills. The lesson includes strategies for balancing the time required to excel academically with time for extracurricular activities and meeting other daily commitments. Students will learn the basics for creating an effective and efficient study schedule.

Objectives

• Understand the importance of structure in college success
• Recognize the importance of balance between academics, rest, and social life
• Contrast the perils of chaos with the benefits of order
• Utilize a schedule and/or calendar to help get and stay organized
• Distinguish between different calendar/schedule options and identify which is right for you
• Learn about the STUDY CYCLE
• Understand underlying causes of procrastination

Instructor resources

Van Blerkom, Dianna L. College Study Skills: Becoming a Strategic Learner. Cengage Learning, 2011.

Lieberman, Charlotte. “Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control).” NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/smarter-living/why-you-procrastinate-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-self-control.html?module=inline

Pauk, W., and Owens, RJQ. (2008). How to study in college (pp. 23-49). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. http://college.cengage.com/psychology/bernstein/essentials/4e/assets/students/succeed/ch_01.pdf

Summary of Actions

• (Slides explain the basic concepts covered in this lesson.)
• Show this video to introduce time management. 
• Provide an overview of the different aspects of college life students will have to juggle to be successful.
• Explain how important it is for students to get organized and implement a time management system. With no time management system in place, student life can become chaotic fast.
• Other time management pitfalls result from procrastination. Students often confuse procrastination and laziness. Distinguish between the two.
• Have students complete the Procrastination Quotient worksheet and discuss results.
• Show "Stop Procrastinating"  (4:15).
• Discuss why we procrastinate and offer some tips for minimizing/overcoming it.
• Reiterate the importance of finding balance as the key to success.
• Introduce time management options, stressing that students have to find what works best for them.
• Go over general guidelines for creating a time-management system, emphasizing the study cycle, spacing review sessions, and interleaving study blocks, as described in the slides.
• Do the in-class activity to create a Fixed Commitment Calendar. Instructions for students: Fill in a Fixed-Commitment Calendar and at least one other time management tool (weekly or monthly assignment calendar, syllabus matrix, Outlook or Google calendar). In your fixed commitment calendar, find time to preview and review each class and time to study for each class. Give each class equal time unless you know that certain classes will require more time than others. Don’t shortchange any classes, however. For each course, make sure you schedule at least two hours outside of class for every hour you’re in class. After that, choose whichever time management tool you think will work best for you.
• Wrap up with final tips.