Time management tips: How to get organised

Juggling readings, assignments and revision can be one of the most challenging parts of university. Here’s how to get organised and make the most out of your time! By Clinton Bell


You probably already know procrastination is a bad idea. If you put off doing assignments or don’t revise regularly, it’s easy to fall behind and end up with way too much stuff to catch up on. Unfortunately, even if you know you should study, it can be difficult to make yourself do it - especially if you’re busy with other things.

If you find yourself struggling to make time for study, or you feel like you just have way too much going on, try planning your time with a study schedule! There’s an example of how to make one on the library website.

Making a schedule has several benefits:

• It helps you work out how much time you have, and plan your study around your work, social life, and other commitments
• It’s easier to keep track of tasks and due dates if you have them all written down in one place
• You’re less likely to procrastinate if study is a regular part of your routine. Scheduling study in advance can also make you feel more committed to actually doing it
• Having a plan can help you feel less stressed and more in control of your study.

When making your schedule it’s important to prioritise. Consider how important things are as well as when they’re due - if an assignment is worth a lot of marks you’ll probably need to spend more time on it. If you need to do something which requires other people, special facilities or equipment, you may also need to work around when those things are available.

For large assignments, it can be helpful to split the task into smaller goals. For example, you might aim to write one paragraph of an essay each night. Splitting the task into chunks can make it less intimidating to get started, and can also help you stress less - if you’re meeting your goals you know you’re on track to get the assignment done.

As well as planning your time, it’s important to use it effectively. Using good study methods and improving your skills can give you better results in less time:

• Listen carefully in lectures, and take good notes. This will reduce the time you need to spend revising later
• Read assignment instructions carefully, and if you’re not clear on something ask your lecturer or tutor. If you don’t understand the task, you can waste time and lose marks by doing the wrong thing
• Learn strategies that help you read more efficiently.
• Keep track of what you’ve read. You’ll need to reference your sources later, and if you didn’t make a note of the information you need for referencing, you’ll have to go back and find it
• Get advice from the library. We can help you improve your study skills, and learn how to find the resources you need for your assignments more quickly. If you can’t see us in person, we also have a lot of helpful information online!
• Get help from English Connect if you have difficulty with English language skills.
• Get some sleep! You don’t work or learn as efficiently if you don’t get enough sleep, so staying up too late to study can be counterproductive.

Time management can be challenging, but with good planning and study skills you can get everything done on time. So best of luck with your study this semester - and remember, come see us at a drop-in session if you need help!

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