Student life can get challenging if you fail to develop proper time-management skills. Professors often assign double homework, not to mention that many students also have part-time jobs while in college. Trying to keep up can get exhausting unless you learn how to navigate all the schoolwork. Follow these time-management tips, and you’ll soon grow into a productivity guru.

#1 Plan ahead but stay flexible

One of the main time-management strategies is planning your day (week, month) ahead and trying to maintain your schedule. Get a planner or use productivity apps akin to Notion, and it will be much easier to keep track of your progress. 

At the same time, don’t put yourself under too much pressure. It’s perfectly fine to take an unplanned break every once in a while or use help from paper writing services when you are stuck with a particularly complicated college assignment.

#2 Find out what your time wasters are and work on them

Every student has their time-wasters. These are the things that you keep getting distracted by every time you are in the middle of a study session. They are the opposite of constructive breaks and do nothing to help you relax. 

Quite the opposite, actually. Time-wasters make you feel guilty and drain your energy. So observe and take notes to identify what your biggest time-wasters are. Then focus on eliminating them or at least minimizing their presence in your life.

#3 Create routines that work for you and stick to them

It’s not uncommon for students to drown in school assignments, especially when midterm or finals are coming. There’s hardly a single student out there who hasn’t found themselves with double homework on a Sunday night. When this happens, it can be hard to overcome anxiety and get anything done. 

But creating your own routines helps. For example, choose a particular spot in the library or a nice coffee shop nearby and use it for studying regularly. You’ll come to associate this place with schoolwork, and it will put you in the right mood every time you get there.

#4 Make your breaks matter

Taking meaningful breaks is essential for staying productive. They give you a chance to relax and recharge so that you can get back to studying with renewed vigor. But they have to be well-spent. Scrolling through Instagram won’t work. 

Instead, opt for something physically active. If you have a dog, walking it during your break is an awesome way to unwind. If you don’t, a quick workout or 15 minutes of yoga is great too. Alternatively, meditation can do wonders for your productivity and focus. 

#5 Reward yourself

Finally, never underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. Instead of shaming yourself for procrastinating when you have double homework, reward yourself for every productive study session.

For example, watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show once you’re done with a complicated essay. Or call a friend to chat after you’ve spent two hours reading a textbook. But don’t cheat. If you want to develop the right habits and get better at time management, only reward yourself when you deserve it.