Time management is the art of choosing how to spend your energy so that you can reach your goals without feeling like you are not making progress. It is the bridge between “I have so much to do” and “I know exactly what to do next.”
Time management is not about doing more faster. It is about knowing what needs time, how much time it needs, and when to begin. In simpler words, it is knowing how to prioritize.
Eisenhower Matrix of Urgency & Importance
You might have heard of the Eisenhower Matrix. The Eisenhower Matrix has four grids: vertically you assign important or not important and laterally you assign urgent or not urgent. Tasks that are important and urgent, like a 4000 word essay for your IB Programme that is due in two weeks, are given higher priority than not important, not urgent tasks like watching Bridgerton (we can talk about this later).
Many students struggle with time management. A common theme everyone might know is procrastination. This is waiting to the last moment because things appear to be under control, and then working under pressure and stress. With harder and advanced classes, procrastination is not an option for success.
Why Taking a Break Is Not Bad Time Management
Another effective method to improve academic performance is to take breaks. It seems counterintuitive that not studying helps you learn, but scientific research is clear on the benefits. Imagine holding your school bag away from your chest. The longer you do it for, the more fatigue you will feel in your arms. Your brain works the same way but instead of a bag, you are carrying a cognitive load. Taking breaks in between to rest will give you energy to keep going for longer, allowing you to learn more.
Doing something that does not involve studying allows your attention span to reset so you can focus on studying and not on Bridgerton theories. Tip: study for 30 – 45 minutes and then take a 5 – 10 minute break (see pomodoro and other study tips).
Break-Time Strategies
Breaks should refresh you, not swallow half an hour. Some activities you can do include:
- Reset Walk: Walk to the end of the hall and back. Calm pace. No phone.
- Water Ritual: Fill a glass. Drink slowly. Hydrate and breathe.
- Stretch Circuit: Neck rolls, shoulder circles, reach high, fold forward.
- Clean Up: Quick tidy. Clear visual clutter. Reset focus.
- Look outside: Long-distance focus relaxes the eyes and brain.
- Box Breathing: Four seconds in. Four hold. Four out. Four hold. Repeat.
- Random Task: Fold a shirt, rinse a dish, make thr bed, toss a ball at the ground, practice juggling.
- Re-Alignment: Review your study plan and see what’s next. Don’t study.
- Lighting Change: Brighten the workspace by having the blinds open or lights on. If possible, sit outside in the sun and cool air.
- Posture Change: Stand, sit differently, adjust your angle, stretch, do pushups or squats, or dance.
The ultimate technique includes all of the above. If you do tomorrow’s work today, you wont need to think about it on the same day. This also means giving yourself more time to do an assignment that you think will take a short time. For example, your 4000 word essay that will take 4 hours to complete, might end up taking 8 hours because your thesis statement needs revision.
The Weekly Time Audit
To stay ahead always. Schedule a time before the week starts to go over these things:
- Check upcoming deadlines.
- Identify high-load tasks.
- Block out soft deadlines.
- Plan your busiest day.
- Clear your workspace.
- Decide your top three priorities for the week.
This is the maintenance that makes high performance possible.
Partner With Circle To Sphere
Circle To Sphere educators know that it takes good planning and practice to stay ahead of school work and learning. You will learn how to assign importance, gain good habits, and set impactful goals. but it doesn’t just take time management to come out on top. Check back into the skills library to learn more.
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