Time Management: How to Balance College, Work, and Life

Mollie Franklin
Feb 13, 2024
4 min read

One of the most difficult aspects of adjusting to college life is time management. Whether you’re a full-time student, or working multiple jobs to make ends meet, having control over your schedule is crucial. I’m sure that we have all had moments where we have felt overwhelmed or like we just simply couldn’t do it.

Poor time management can lead to a decline in mental and even physical health. There is no proven science to balance your schedule since everyone has different things on their plate, but here are some tried and true pieces of advice to help you on your journey.

Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself

Have you ever heard the phrase “setting yourself up for failure”? Unfortunately, that is often the biggest issue when it comes to time management. It is important to realize that there are only 24 hours in a day (even fewer when you factor in sleep, meals, etc.). If you know that you only have two hours after class and before work, don’t expect that you will be able to complete all of the weekly homework for multiple classes. It’s okay to have goals but make them realistic and attainable so that every chunk of time feels like a victory instead of a defeat.

Give Yourself The Gift of “No”

This goes hand in hand with setting realistic expectations. Over-committing crowds your schedule and splits your attention. This means that you are usually giving less effort to multiple things instead of your full effort to fewer things. It’s important to take some time to evaluate your life and commitments to see which things you are passionate about and want to keep participating in. Sometimes, this means dropping one of the clubs that you are a part of because time there feels draining, and attending feels like a chore. Saying “No” can be difficult, but it’s an important skill to master.

Small “No’s” now can make a large difference in the long run, think of them as an investment back into yourself.

Establish Your Constants First

At the beginning of each semester, I sit down and map out my recurring items on a weekly schedule. So I block out time that I will be in class, attending a group, participating in religious activities, spending time with family, working, etc. I also add blocks for my morning routine and evening routine. Having all of this laid on beforehand helps you to know when your free time will be and helps you plan accordingly. Make sure to block out time for exercise, meal prepping, meditating, walking, journaling, or whatever helps you maintain your physical and mental health.

Make A Gameplan

I would strongly recommend setting up weekly/monthly/yearly meetings to help make a plan for the upcoming days/weeks/months. These can be done by yourself, your significant other, family, roommates, friends, whoever! These do a lot to help make sure that everyone is on the same page and it also provides a chance for those close to you to keep you accountable when it comes to pursuing your goals. Personally, I set out a vague plan for the year and make sure to schedule any big trips or important events, then at the beginning of each month, I set out a loose plan for all that I have to accomplish.

Where it really gets interesting is the weekly meetings. Every week, take some time to organize your planner, it doesn’t matter if it’s paper, digital, whiteboard, or whatever, just make sure that you have somewhere to write things down. This may seem laborious, but it will simplify the rest of your week greatly and keep you from missing important deadlines.

“Swallow The Big Frog First”

I learned this phrase from a leadership development conference in high school and it completely shifted my mindset when it comes to completing tasks. Essentially, to “swallow the big frog first” means to tackle the largest/scariest/most intimidating/dreaded task first. This way, once you finish it, things only get easier/more fun! If you hate math, do your math homework first. If you dread cleaning your toilet, make that the first thing you do on clean-up day. Defeating these tasks first allows you to sail smoothly through the rest of them without the impending doom of having to complete them.

Stick To Your Game Plan, But Leave Yourself Room For The “In-Betweens”

My mom always told me that having a plan allows you to have fun without guilt.

When you know what you need to accomplish, and you’ve set aside time to complete those things, then you know exactly when you have time for fun activities. It’s important to balance structure and spontaneity, too much of either one is harmful. Don’t be so bogged down by your to-do list that you miss living these special years, but don’t be so un-structured that you miss out on accomplishing your goals.