Do you struggle with time management? You are not the only one. Many students find it difficult to get through everything they plan to do throughout the day. While classes are usually of the utmost importance, many students are managing multiple jobs and extracurriculars at the same time. Here are some tips on how to take control of your own schedule and still enjoy your college experience.
It is helpful to keep in mind the best hours to work, complete assignments, and attend club events and meetings in order to successfully manage your time. Chemistry student Julian Rebelo said, “I created my school schedule intentionally to leave room open on certain days where I can fit in my work hours.” Rebelo is currently taking five classes, worked two internships, and is active in a fraternity on campus.
Using your schedule as a basis for other aspects of your day is a great way to look at how you manage your time. Managing your classes is as important as ensuring that your schedule fits together. Ensuring that you set aside time for studying and attending classes is essential to your college career. It is imperative that as a full-time college student, you take advantage of the available resources such as Writing Services, Tutoring Services, and Academic Advising. These resources are all helpful in maintaining a good aptitude for completing your curriculum.
If you have a job, either on campus or outside the university, it can often be difficult to keep on top of schoolwork, manage the hours of your job, and still take care of yourself. Don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s essential that you prioritize yourself and understand what is most important to you. While a lot of students on campus hold a position outside of campus, many also have family obligations or even personal issues that they take care of on a daily basis.
Jenna Lee, a senior health studies student, said, “As a senior here at Monmouth, I look back on my time and feel an immense amount of pride. I have been heavily involved on campus all four years and it certainly became a challenge while balancing my academic, extracurricular, work, and family obligations. I was able to work hard and prioritize everything, resulting in success.” Lee is also the vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and has worked with Student Life throughout the pandemic to ensure that students felt safe and comfortable on campus.
She continued, “Succeeding in my role, as well as my academics, all depended on my time management and communication. No matter how many responsibilities you have or how much you are involved with, you will accomplish your goals all while having fun too.”
Monmouth has an exciting catalogue of extracurriculars. Many students on campus are usually involved with some sort of club, sport, or Greek life. Joining clubs and getting involved is a great way for students to escape from schoolwork, make friends, and have fun on campus. While this can be very rewarding, it can also be something else that piles onto your plate.
There is certainly a club for everyone that is accommodating to schedules and has events for students to quickly stop by. For instance, commuter students are one population that face additional challenges when it comes to managing their time, since they are not on campus as often as residential students. For many commuters, it is difficult to attend events later in the evening or on weekends.
Vaughn Clay, Ed.D., Director of Commuter Services, said, “If you happen to speak to any commuter student, they will tell you that finding enough time in their lives is often a primary concern.” He said that this concern especially exists among first-year commuter students.
However, there are plenty of resources offered by Commuter Services, such as the Commuter Student Mentor, or CSM, that are intended to help any first-year commuter students with navigating the many departments and resources available at Monmouth. The mentors provide guidance and support to these students in a variety of ways.
Vaughn explained, “They will help students find on-campus resources, help them get involved, share a meal, help them manage their schedules, go to campus events, and they often wind up being friends.” Having these tools on campus available is all the more helpful in being able to manage all classes, work, and extracurriculars you choose to enjoy.
