Being a college student can be very stressful and time consuming. It can sometimes feel like there is not enough time in the world to do everything you need to for class. Many college students also have jobs, filling up the time they don't have class, which can drain a lot of free time. As such, managing your time effectively is one of the most important skills to have while at school.
The best way to spend your free time, is to first handle your homework for class. All college students know that their work load can build up to the point where they're not sure if they can finish all of the work they've been assigned.
"I have a job right after my classes, so the only free time I have is late at night and I spend that doing homework," said freshman Nick Klevinsky.
During college, many students lose site of what they should be doing with their time out of class. Students tend to hangout with their friends before doing any of the homework assigned to them. It is important in college to have fun, but doing your homework before going out to a social event is a more effective way to manage your time.
"When I have free time, I put my homework before any social activity," said freshman Stephen Williams.
Everyone needs to eat, and it's no surprise that many students use their free time in between classes to get some food. If possible, multitasking while eating is not a bad idea. For example, if you have an assigned reading, try getting that done while you're breaking for food.
"When I have a break in between my classes, I'll usually eat and just do my homework while I eat to save time," said sophomore Mark Norbury.
Trying to get two things done at once is definitely possible; however, managing two things at once may not be very effective. Students who multitask too much can end up getting nothing really accomplished, so be wary.
Another way to manage your free time effectively, would be to plan out a schedule. For instance, taking the gaps you have in between classes, it would be wise to plan what homework you'll do during those time periods. Planning a schedule is probably the fastest, and most effective, way to get your homework done. It is also helpful to start with your most difficult homework first to get that out of the way before getting to your easier assignments.
Once all of these things are planned out and accomplished, it will be easier to schedule in social events and time to relax.
Managing your free time in college is one the most important things to learn how to do while attending school. Some students tend not to learn how to manage their free time effectively until it's too late.
Being social at college is also very important, but if free time is rare in your daily routine it's important to get your schoolwork done before participating in social activities. There is no better stress reliever for a college student than finishing up all your work for class.
mseyler@ramapo.edu
