Managing your Time at University

Starting university means stepping into the unknown. A new home in new city, a bigger workload, lots of people and an abundance of exciting opportunities.

Finding a work-life balance is difficult, and it can be tricky to know where to focus your time and energy. For many, it will be the first time that no one will be checking up on you, ensuring that your work’s been completed, you’re awake on time or if you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

To make the most of your time at university, it’s essential to manage your time effectively. 

Plan out the day. Make to-do lists. Set timers. Break your day down into a timetable. 

Be realistic with your expectations, but by completing tasks and chipping away at your workload you’ll feel productive. Include a mixture of things in your checklists: 250 words of your coursework, washing your bedsheets, doing your weekly shop, etc. Get used to managing your time efficiently.

Learning how to prioritise tasks is an important aspect of university life and will benefit you greatly as you enter the professional world. Your future self will thank you for getting ahead on your work, especially when exam season arrives and deadlines are flying at you left, right and centre! You won’t want your work to pile up and become unmanageable.

Here’s an example of two different approaches to a busy Monday at university:

Student 1 is on campus nice and early for a 09:00 lecture, they then attend each subsequent in-person seminar, tutorial and lecture. They also supplement their workday with two hour-long sessions in the library. They’re treating their studies like a full-time job, inevitably chipping away at academic tasks in the library.

Student 2 skips their first lecture because “it will be recorded” and plans to catch up later. They also do the same at the end of the day by leaving after the final in-person tutorial at 15:00.

Student 1’s schedule shows how efficient and hardworking they are.

It’s better than Student 2’s … right?

What the table doesn’t account for is individual circumstances. Although Student 1 is treating their studies like a full-time job, Student 2 may have been working their part-time job at the local pub the night before, or they may just be the type of person who works better later in the day.

There’s no right or wrong way to approach your work; it’s important to adhere to a schedule that works for you. Just make sure you’re efficient and disciplined enough to avoid pulling all-nighters when deadlines come round…

Here’s a vlog exemplifying a well-structured, busy day for a student. Take a look!

Don’t neglect your social life! 

Having a good support system around you is great for your mental health. Making new friends and memories that will last a lifetime is what university is all about and Strathclyde Students' Union summarise this idea perfectly in their video. Be sure to allocate time to meet up with friends, relax and have fun!

Similarly, it’s integral to implement some variety into your schedules. Exercise can make you feel happy, energised and it’s brilliant for your mind. To manage the stress of studying, go for a walk in the sun, join a run club, or sign up to one of the campus 5-a-side teams.

Another great way to vary your timetable is to join a society. Your university will have an abundance of clubs that you don’t need experience to join – cheerleading, film, handball, surf and even Karaoke! They’re all about having fun, making friends and making the most of your time as an undergraduate. Balance is key to a great student experience. So, work hard, play hard!

It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed with all of the changes that come with starting university, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes you may need a more relaxed day, which is okay, too; it’s important to realise that not every day will be ultra productive.

Being a student is all about learning what works and what doesn’t. Hopefully this blog has given you some insight into good time management practices for an undergraduate student.