Time Management

My time is valuable, as is everybody else’s and so it is important to find a way to manage your time properly. When I started college I found myself with so much to do and not much time to do it in. There was a stage where I had 3 assignments due in close together and the time pressure was mounting up. I soon realised I had to manage my time effectively in order to get everything I needed to do, done.

Here are a few tips I found helpful for me;

1. Write a list of all tasks to be complete
2. Prioritise tasks
3. Break down tasks into smaller parts. If something is broken down it can be easier to complete
4.  Use technology to help you if you need to.
5. Ask for help if you need it, the less time you spend confused about your tasks the better!
6. Check tasks off your list as you complete them, visualising what you have finished can really help see how much you have completed.

These tips worked for me but as everybody does things differently it is important for you to find your own way of managing your time properly.

The internet is a great source of information about time management. YouTube in particular has a number of useful videos on the subject, here is the one I found to be most useful. 

Effective Note Taking

When you are sitting in a lecture trying to concentrate on what your lecturer is saying at the same time as trying to make legible notes you can use for study later, how do you go about doing this? Whether you are the kind to spend the lecture taking notes or if you prefer to just listen and make notes after the lecture it is important to find the way that suits you best.  Everybody remembers things different so using a style that compliments your way of learning i.e., if you are a visual learner a mind map may be best suited to you.

Speaking from my own experience, if like me, you take notes after the lecture it is still always a good idea to have pen and paper out in front of you because you never know what pieces of important information the lecturer might tell you that aren’t in their slide notes. That way you can add the extra pieces of information to your own notes later on.

If you take notes in class there are a few things you should do to be prepared;

Be on time – being there at the start of the class means you will have a full set of notes when leaving

Be prepared – bring everything you need with you to the class, whether that’s note books and pens or a laptop, be prepared!

Choose who you sit beside carefully! – Sitting with friends in class is great if they distract you from the lectures it could be doing more damage than good.

Styles of note taking