Samuel is a member of GSA, student council and the basketball team. He holds down a part-time job, but still gets his homework done and never forgets a test. He arrives to class on time while Ivan shows up late, forgets his homework and bombs his tests. Ivan can barely find time to be a member of one club.

What is the difference between students like Samuel and students like Ivan? TIME MANAGEMENT!

Developing good time management is the key to leading a full and balanced life. You will be less stressed and able to get more done, and it will be easier to reach your goals. Check out the 3 key habits that you can develop to have better time management:

Stick to a Schedule

Set up your schedule at least a week ahead of time. Be realistic about how much time you will need to complete the tasks in your schedule. Don't forget to include breaks, so you don't end up feeling burnt out.

Here are a few tricks to try to help you stick to a schedule:
  • ​Use a big wall calendar to help you visualize your whole month at-a-glance and spot busy periods ahead of time.
  • Colour-code your calendar and agenda to stay more organized.
  • Use a calendar app on your phone and program reminders to go off, so you don't forget important tasks and events.
  • Integrate your task lists into your agenda.

Prioritize Tasks

When you have a lot of tasks to accomplish, it is important to identify those that must be done immediately, those that should be done soon and those that can wait. Tackle tasks in order of priority.

Here are a few things you can try to help you prioritize your tasks:
  • Make a to do list for the day/week/month
  • Use colour-coded sticky notes to indicate tasks of high, medium and low priority
  • Use an app on your phone to create a list of tasks with reminders that go off, so you don't forget to do something
  • Keep your to do list in a visible place, like on your bedroom wall or in your agenda
  • Try the Pomodoro Technique to help you stay focused on your priorities

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps

Have a big task, like a project, to tackle? One big task with one big deadline feels overwhelming and is easily forgotten. Use your agenda or an organizer, like the one pictured above, to help break your task down into smaller parts, each with its own deadline.

​Here are a few tips to help you manage big tasks with ease:
  • Use the backward planning technique when recording a big task in your agenda
  • Make a to do list that breaks down the steps of the task and check steps off as they're completed
  • Integrate the steps of your big task into your weekly schedule

Integrate these three habits and you will manage your time with ease.