Success BLUEprint: Stories to Inspire You

In high school, I was the king of winging it. I saw that I could get away with missing the occasional homework assignment and with studying for a test 10-15 minutes beforehand. Was it the most responsible approach? Maybe not. Did my teachers think of me as a slacker? Oh yeah, 100%. Did any of that stop me? Not in the slightest. But it all worked out! Until it didn’t. You know why? Because college is a different beast.

My first year wasn’t too bad, but sophomore year had me sweating. I knew my literature classes would require me to read, and I did read. Just not everything. And not always with enough time left to study. After nearly failing two courses, I knew I had to change. So, I overcompensated and began prioritizing schoolwork over everything else.

I made better grades, BUT I also missed out on once-in-a-lifetime events and neglected my social life. I missed out on so much because I knew that I had to do this work, but I didn’t always know when to do it. By the end of junior year, I was anxious and burnt-out. Then, my therapist put me onto something life-changing: Planning ahead. She taught me to take control of my time so it doesn’t take control of me.

College may be a different beast, but time management is one of the best ways to tame it. Time management is more than a tool for keeping up with schoolwork. It can help you feel more confident, make more progress on your goals, and ensure that you’re using your time to do more of the things you want to do. But how do you manage time?

As someone with ADHD, I could never remember to use paper planners. Instead, I let electronic calendars like Microsoft Outlook (which is free for IC students) do the remembering for me! Sounds great, huh? Here’s my advice on how to manage time in college and beyond:

First, start with the things you know that you have to do. I recommend that students put their classes on their calendar first. Yes, that even includes classes where “attendance is not mandatory.” Once you have your classes down, you can see how much “free time” you have. Don’t stop there though! Add club meetings, your work shifts, therapy/doctor’s appointments, and anything else that happens regularly. Make sure to set them to repeat as often as necessary (i.e., repeat weekly, monthly, etc.).

Next, make time to take care of yourself! How can you expect to keep yourself going if you’re running on an empty tank? Chances are, you’ll have gaps in your schedule at nearly the same time every day. Go ahead and block off lunch times (and dinner times if possible). While you’re at it, I suggest that you add some time for exercise: Give your brain a break and go for a walk, lift something heavy, or hit up the climbing wall.

Now, you’re ready to carve out time for studying! I have two main pieces of advice for students looking to plan homework blocks.

1. Set aside two- to four-hour blocks
2. DON’T wait until nighttime to start on your homework if you don’t have to.

These two tips come from the same place: Being honest with yourself. Students often underestimate how long it will take them to complete their work. Giving yourself an adequate amount of time can reduce time-pressure and anxiety, which allows you to think more creatively. Plus, if you finish with one assignment earlier than you expected, you can start to chip away at other assignments too!