Time management: a short guide

Use a to-do list and a calendar to organise and manage your tasks

Using a to-do list and calendar helps you break down your tasks and visualise the time slots needed to pursue them. Paper copy and electronic calendars have their own advantages and disadvantages. Which ones suit you best?

Reminders

Unless you have a brilliant memory, use reminders to prompt you about:

• Your goals for each day
• Meetings
• Deadlines
• Study sessions

You probably already use apps on your phone or tablet, and link notifications to your calendar, for instance through Google Calendar™ or Outlook.com®. Be creative and include musical reminders or pictures, if that helps you to do the right task at the right time!

Prioritising your tasks is a key skill

Prioritising your tasks over a period of time reduces feelings of stress, and helps you take a step-by-step approach to academic work. Identify your most important tasks and tackle them first. You could also try attempting more difficult, less enjoyable tasks early on, so you can cross them off your list and stop them from hanging over you.