Ever wonder how Cedarville students juggle work, classes, assignments, friends, intramurals, organizations, and discipleship groups?
Honestly, coming to Cedarville as a freshman, I did not have a clue about time management. Though at the time, I thought I had mastered it. I soon found out, as you will, too, that college offers an entirely different student experience than high school. No matter what grade you are currently in, what kind of schooling, or how many extracurriculars you are involved in, your time management will definitely look different when you get to Cedarville. If you build good time management habits now, your future self will thank you!
Time management as a Cedarville student is all about finding your groove and what works for you. Odds are, you will need to learn a whole new way of studying when you enter college. While there are many components that go into building good habits of time management, there are two key things we can focus on to improve our skills: scheduling and balance!
Make a Schedule: Get Organized and Plan Ahead
When at Cedarville, you will find that scheduling classes, responsibilities, and assignments is super necessary. Find a planning tool that works for you and stick with it! Whether that be your paperback planner that you carry with you everywhere or your Google calendar (my favorite!!), make a schedule of what needs to be done and when you are going to accomplish it so that you have a better idea of what time you have to complete your assignments.
Some people prefer making handwritten notes of their “to-do’s” to stick to their laptops, create phone reminders, or simply relying on memory (I have personally experienced this not going well)! I have used all of these tricks, so find the one you like best! Being able to visualize each day will allow you to create both time to work and to set aside free time.
Tip: Before the start of the week, make a google calendar and plan out your week, your class schedule, work schedule, meals, intramurals, and anything else. Then look at your assignments for the week and create tasks for each of them. Place each assignment on the day and time that you have time to work on them, NOT on the day that it is due. If you schedule it on the day that you plan to complete it, you will have a more accurate idea of how much time you truly have!
Balance: Take breaks
I have experienced burnout and feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted, and I am sure you have, too. While organizing and planning ahead is good, don’t schedule your life away! There are so many good things to get involved in at Cedarville outside of your normal schedule of classes and homework.
Don’t fill all of your time with responsibilities. I am speaking to myself here! You want to look back on your days and your time in high school and at Cedarville and feel full because of the relationships, hobbies, intramurals, organizations, or volunteering that filled your time, i.e., things you enjoy! Know the things in life that you value, and schedule them in, too :).
Don’t forget to rest! In the midst of a busy semester, the first thing that an average college student will sacrifice is sleep. A few borderline all-nighters in a row and they have officially become a walking zombie, and the cycle continues. My freshman year at Cedarville, I fell quickly into this lifestyle and stayed up until 3 a.m. every night catching up on the work I had somehow failed to complete during the day. Yes, you heard me right: 3 o’clock in the morning. I am sure that Dr. Jones from my 8 a.m. biology class did not appreciate my sleep schedule at the time. My exhaustion from freshman year has given me a new appreciation for sleep and was a reminder that God created us to have balance.
At any stage of life, it can be overwhelming to feel as though you are always running from one thing to the next, juggling different relationships, classes, or extracurriculars. During those busy times, take control of your schedule, but also don’t neglect time in the Word! God is ultimately the One who gives us comfort, not our schedules.
Psalm 61:2 “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”
Majoring in Strategic Communication, Class of 2022
Where I’m from: Harleysville, PA
Favorite Class: Old Testament with Dr. Miller
Go to Rinnova Order: Hot Chocolate with whipped cream!
Tags: #management, #prioritize, #time
Posted in: Organization