Liquid Library“Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever.” -Samuel Smiles
Most likely, you are one of many college students who averages four hours of sleep per night. In the past week, you’ve probably complained to someone about how busy you are or how much stress you are under, and you have a hard time focusing with so much going on in your life.
But have you stopped to think about what you’re really doing throughout the day?
Jim Rohn, a world-renowned motivational speaker said, “Try breaking your day down into 15-minute intervals, and for one whole day, write down everything you do within those 15 minutes.”
For anyone who embarks upon this experiment, chances are you will be surprised at just how much time you waste throughout the day.
Most likely, you will find that you engaged in unproductive activities or that you were not fully engaged when you actually were doing things.
In order to gain more control over your life and get the most out of your time, start by making a list of the top priorities in your life. Whether it’s family, school, work or a socializing setting, your priorities will help you make a decision about which activity you should focus on.
Once your priorities are set, break it down even further. For example, if school is your first priority, decide which classes rank highest in importance. Something this simple will give you piece of mind when conflicting appointments arise.
When you have a better understanding of what’s most important to you, start planning how you will accomplish these tasks. Most students have a day planner, but few actually use it effectively. Another option is to begin using a Web-based program, such as Microsoft Outlook.
Schedule all of your upcoming appointments, tests and goals for the next week, month and year. Then make a commitment to constantly read and review what you wrote and hold yourself accountable for being unable to meet deadlines and goals that you set. Don’t forget to schedule in vacations and time for yourself – and stay committed to the time slots that you allotted.
Once you have laid out your long-term plan, begin writing down a daily “To Do” list at the same time each day. Rank each item with an “A,” “B” or “C,” and don’t move on to the “Bs” until you’ve accomplished all your “A” priorities. If you take this seriously, you will begin to feel a sense of euphoria when you are able to cross things off your list, but you’ll also feel guilt when things are left. This simple exercise will encourage you to do things when you might otherwise put them off.
Most importantly, begin to focus on just getting started rather than trying to do things perfectly. The main cause of procrastination is perfection. Don’t become so focused on understanding every concept in a chapter that you decide to not even read it at all. Making a commitment to start – and finish – projects will often become easier than it seems.
Having control over your schedule and your life is one of the greatest characteristics of successful people. Engaging in a serious time-management regiment doesn’t mean that you have to live a life of productivity – it means that you strive to live a life of balance.
Many people think about family when they are at work, think about work when they are at school and think about school when they are with family. They end up not being fully engaged in anything they do, and every area of one’s life is dragged down.
Imagine staring at yourself in a mirror five years from now. You are overweight, underpaid, unhappy and unorganized.
Now imagine yourself 10 years from now. The only thing that has changed is that things have become worse. You have talked about, dreamed about and strived to accomplish many things in your life, but nothing is going right.
Now repeat the same exercise, but envision yourself as the person you desire to become. Imagine yourself again five years from now with your dream occupation, a good body, a happy persona and a successful lifestyle. Everything you sought to accomplish has been achieved.
The only difference between these two realities is what you are able to accomplish on a daily basis. Know what you want to achieve in the future, but focus on what you can get done today.
