Time Management 101: How to get the most out of your time

Organize like a master 

Set yourself up for success by adding all upcoming events, meetings, lectures, exams, and deadlines to your agenda. This way, you’ll have a clear overview of your timeline. Make it a habit to check your agenda first thing in the morning so you know exactly what the next few days will bring. If you have exams coming up or an essay to write, make sure you block some extra time beforehand, but also plan time away from your assignments so you keep the energy and motivation flowing. 
Don’t forget to structure your notes. Whether digital or old-school with paper, clearly label them so you don’t waste your precious time looking for them. Another idea is revisiting and rewriting your notes right after the lecture. This is a shortcut to remembering more about the subject and reducing time understanding the matter next time you read it. 

Prioritize like a pro 

With deadlines coming up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. No worries, we’ve all been there! Before you deep-dive into the hard work, take a moment to prioritize. You’ll be happy that you’ve organized your notes and planning because it will give you an immediate overview of what needs to be done and when. 
If you need to reschedule an appointment at the hairdresser or a coffee date with a friend, it’s better to do it ahead of time. Having some flexibility is nice, and having extra hours to study is always better than not having enough. 

Teamwork makes the dream work 

Combining your studies and social life can be a challenge. The solution is easy: plan some study sessions with friends to get the benefit of both. Even if you’re studying different things, you and your study buddy can keep each other accountable for studying a certain number of hours, staying hydrated, and taking well-deserved breaks. 
Dreading those dark and early winter mornings when the deadlines start to creep in? Transform them into something to look forward to by sharing the study sessions with a friend. Make it a tradition to bring a tasty snack to your study session; this way, you might even start to like it. 

It’s all about balance 

If you’re prone to feel stress, imagine your life as a three-legged stool. This analogy, often mentioned in psychology, illustrates three aspects of planning our time to help us feel balanced, motivated, and energized. It emphasizes that if one leg of the three-legged stool is unsteady, it will wobble. So, it’s essential to tend to all three legs:
 
Rhythm and routine: Creating a structured daily rhythm. For example, regular mealtimes, a consistent sleeping pattern, keeping your studio organized, and doing things that bring fulfillment, such as working and studying.
 
Fun & distraction: Life’s not just about efficiency and working towards your goals. Plan some enjoyable moments, such as a workout with a friend, a night out, or one of the Student Experience events, to have something to look forward to. These fun activities infuse your weeks with a much-needed spark.
 
Rest and relaxation: To unwind from the things that challenge you and your social life, it’s important to schedule moments where you don’t need to achieve anything. Let these moments take you away from your digital world and free from distractions. Take a walk, enjoy a good book, or indulge in a long, warm shower followed by a fragrant body butter. 
Balance is personal to you and may change now and then. Take your time to figure out what works for you, and before you know it, you’re moving through the study year with ease. Good luck! 

Useful apps: 

Notion (A very handy tool you can personalize to your liking, including notes pages, a calendar, and to-do lists) 
Asana (A visual tool for planning multiple projects) 
Simple Habit (An amazing meditation and mindfulness app)