The Iglu Guide | Blog
5 ways to own your time
Managing the demands of home, work and university living can be tricky, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Squeezing more hours out of the day is something we all crave – but what if the answer could be as simple as reclaiming your balance? If you’re battling the clock and struggling to stay on top of your schedule, here’s what you need to know.
1. Understand your current schedule
What does your average day look like? Think about how you currently manage your time and make a note of all those daily habits, the good and the bad. This will help you understand where the gaps are – and help identify strategies that can maximise your moments. Make a list of all your commitments including any paid jobs, and rate them in order of importance and value. For example, if you have an assessment due that’s worth 50% of your mark, it’s probably more important than heading to the movies with your Film Club. You can even try keeping a journal and map your day out. Don’t forget to note down when you’re using your devices as well, as this can be a major time suck.
2. Set goals
Students can often find it difficult to get started on assignments if the goals feel insurmountable, and you can’t find a way in. Be an effective time manager by breaking them down into smaller tasks. Then, set yourself a timetable and aim for regular but intensive study sessions such as the Pomodoro method. This technique of shorter study bursts will help keep up your levels of concentration over a longer period. If it’s a topic you find less interesting, have an army of strategies on hand that help you find a way in, such as connecting with a study group, or varying your study method. Mindmaps and planning tools are useful alternatives that break up the routine and switch your thinking. Try out a range of techniques and see what works best for you. Your levels of efficiency and productivity will improve dramatically.
3. Prioritise your workload
Procrastination is a common affliction, because it’s all too easy to pick up that device and get lost scrolling. Try to evaluate your workload on a daily basis and split the load out into different buckets: ‘today, ‘this week’ and ‘later’. Revamp and adjust your list every day. Simply writing down the tasks is a great stress-reliever as you won’t worry about forgetting anything – and it’s surprisingly rewarding to tick them off as you go. If you prefer a digital approach, check out Todoist or Asana for task organisation and work management strategies.
4. Slow down
Our instinct around saving time is always to speed up, to get even more done, even more quickly. But this approach never works and can actually lead to even greater stress. Use exercise or meditation apps to regulate your stress levels so that when you are working you are a calmer more relaxed version of yourself. Block out any distractions while studying and avoid social media. Taking a break is a really important part of your study schedule and exercise is a great way to refocus your mind. Even a short walk in between sessions will help boost your brainpower and make your learning more effective.
5. Be flexible
Life has a nasty habit of not always going to plan – but demonstrating flexibility and resilience are key attributes that will serve you well throughout your life. Some weeks your workload might seem insurmountable, other weeks you might feel like your sleep patterns are out of whack. The benefit of organising your time is that you can react and accommodate accordingly. The schedule can adjust, the to-do list can wait – but most importantly, you’re owning your time.
