We all have 24 hours each day, but why is it that some of us seem to have all the time in the world while others can't even catch a break? The answer lies in time management—the intentional use of your minutes, hours, days, weeks, months to achieve any goal.
To be a good manager of your own time means to be proficient at both planning and executing. You might find yourself to be great at managing your time within given tasks, but are you making the best use of your time doing these tasks to begin with, as opposed to others? For example, you could be efficient at gardening but should you even be spending most of your evening on that when your exams are around the corner?
Conversely, you might find that you tend to plan your time well but you get distracted easily in the middle of the tasks you've set out to do. If you feel like you are terrible at both planning and executing your use of time, then boy is this the article for you!
Why spend time worrying about how I spend my time?
Time management is life management. If you manage your time well, life becomes simpler.
For one, you will face less stressful situations (like constantly rushing around or realising you've accidentally double-booked your time) that can be avoided with a clearer picture of your days. You will also be able to be in the present and truly enjoy the moment.
With time management, you’ll be surprised to find just how much extra time you've been sitting on. Put differently, time management unlocks your potential and lets you do more.
Tips for better planning
I have found it helpful to approach time management on two levels. Firstly, on the macro level: Planning and dividing your day into blocks. This is also known as time blocking.
#1 Start by writing out your goals
The goals you write will act as your compass during your three years in polytechnic. Whenever you're feeling lost, review how you've been spending your hours and days and ask if your activities are leading you nearer to or further away from your goals.
A tip is to be specific in your goals. If your goal is to "do well in poly", think about what that looks like. If you are weaker in certain modules, that may mean allotting an hour more each day compared to your stronger modules. Set targets, allocate the necessary time, and stick to the program.
#2 Compartmentalise your life
Think of what matters to you, such as academics, CCA, social life, family time, and personal wellbeing. (Feel free to go beyond these!)
When you look at your life as a whole like a blob, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Worries from one part of your life seep into the next, and chances of burnout are high.
On the other hand, picturing your life in buckets helps you mentally separate them and set healthy boundaries. Compartmentalisation is an excellent way to manage stress as you pursue your goals. It also sets you up well for the next step.
#3 Visualise your time
Have you ever felt so done with the day when it's not even noon? Getting through the day can be tough at times. Instead, imagine getting through small, hour-long blocks one at a time. Life will feel more manageable.
Set up a calendar for each bucket of your life and populate them with important activities for the day. I recommend Google Calendar because it's free, user-friendly, and lets you filter activities by categories.
You can colour code activities based on which buckets they fall under. For example, you can have your academic activities (e.g., lectures, tutorials, and study sessions at the library) in red, CCA slots in blue, and social activities in green.
Having these coloured activities marked on your calendar gives you a bird's eye view of your life. It becomes a quick and easy way to tell if you are setting aside enough time for the right priorities. In general, having a healthy mix of activities on your calendar is a good sign that you're leading a colourful life—no pun intended.
An old friend once told me he's allergic to calendars. He doesn't want to live his life chained to a schedule. He wants freedom. It makes sense when you hear it but having tried it out, I find that reality hits differently. Interestingly, the same friend who mused about such freedom also tells me he is struggling to fill his day with worthwhile activities. Personally, I have found that managing my time carefully has given me a more nuanced kind of freedom—the kind that lets me do more important things with the limited time I have.
Tips for better execution
If you have done your due diligence in planning your time out, half the battle is won. Now, on a micro level, you simply need to follow through with your schedule and keep to task. The goal is to get the most out of each time block.
#1 Remove distractions
At your workspace, put away your mobile devices. If possible, keep them out of sight. If you have to use your devices to do research or type an essay, work around the distractions. You can turn on airplane mode, which disables cellular data, or set a daily time limit to the apps on your phone. You can also make it harder to access social media or mobile games. Place these "dangerous" apps in a folder and keep them off your home screen, in a location that's troublesome to navigate to.
Lastly, you can explore productivity apps that limit app usage on your devices. Forest is an iOS/Android app and Chrome browser extension that makes self-control fun; by resisting the urge to open your social media apps, you plant cute little virtual trees.
#2 Be in the moment
You have to accept this psychologically: you've already carved out this time for a purpose. Worry less about the outside world and focus on the here and now.
If you have an hour assigned to a lecture, make sure that you are paying attention. Turn on airplane mode and refrain from chattering with friends around you. This is so that you won't need to dedicate another slot after the lecture just to figure out what was taught.
If you've set aside two hours to have a meal with your friends, then do your best to take your mind off work and studies. Truly get to know your peers better and be fully present for them and yourself.
Once the time is up, you'll find yourself rejuvenated and often more ready to go for the next activity.
#3 Work in sprints
For particularly long tasks, like writing a 3500-word full essay, break them down into sub-tasks. You can work in short bursts to complete them one by one.
The Pomodoro technique, which incorporates planned breaks, is perfect for this. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on your task. When the timer goes off, take a break for 5 minutes. Repeat until your task is done.
The idea is to progressively chip away at the block of work with each work-rest interval. Planning for short breaks throughout your working session also keeps your energy high. There are many variations of this technique so have fun experimenting and see what timing intervals work best for you!
I hope that these tips will help you get the most out of your time in Poly!
