Time Management and
Study Habits

Overview

In this section, you will explore how to successfully manage your time and develop strong study habits as you prepare for college. Starting college comes with more freedom and responsibility, which can make staying on track a challenge. You’ll learn practical tools, take self-assessments, and discover real-life strategies to help you stay organized, build a routine, and lower stress—so you can do your best academically.

By the end of this section, you will be equipped to learn how to balance academics, social, leisure, and personal commitments, as well as your overall well-being.

Learn [Part 1]

In this activity, you will be introduced to the Eastern Kentucky University Student Success Center, which is designed to serve as a one-stop-shop where students can get assistance with an array of areas like course work, financial aid, study skills, choosing a major, course registration, stress management, and much more. In the video below, the EKU Student Success Center provides you with some time management tips in this video.

You will watch EKU Student Success Center's Time Management for College Students | 5 min video linked here and embedded below:

Apply [Part 1]

(Optional) Use the information you learned to complete the activity outlined below.

After watching EKU Student Success Center's Time Management for College Students video above, please reflect on the following questions:

• What were the two most helpful tips about time management that you learned from the video?

• Do you currently use a planner of any kind to manage your time? This can include paper-based and digital, such as daily/weekly calendars, Google/Apple/Microsoft, and various apps? 

• When you reflect on your past week, how much was planned (proactive) versus doing things as they came up (reactive)?

Learn [Part 2]

Successfully navigating your first year of college starts with managing your time wisely. Research* shows that first-year college students who develop time management and self-regulation strategies are more likely to reach their academic goals and maintain higher GPAs. In these activities, you explore practical strategies for building a balanced weekly schedule that supports your academic goals, wellness, and social life.

You will review the following resources:

1. Building Your Balance College Schedule: A Time Management Guide slide deck linked here and embedded below.

2. Sample Weekly Schedule of a First Year College Student resource linked here and embedded below.

*Thibodeaux, J., Deutsch, A., Kitsantas, A., & Winsler, A. (2017). First-year college students’ time use: Relations with self-regulation and GPA. Journal of Advanced Academics, 28(1), 5–27. First-Year College Students’ Time Use - Jordan Thibodeaux, Aaron Deutsch, Anastasia Kitsantas, Adam Winsler, 2017.

Apply [Part 2]

(Optional) Use the information you learned to complete the activity outlined below.

After reviewing the Building Your Balance College Schedule: A Time Management Guide slide deck and the Sample Weekly Schedule of a First Year College Student resources above, please develop your own weekly, balanced schedule for the week. This schedule should account for classes, study, work, social, sleep, meals, etc.

Click the link to access Module 5 Section 04 - College Student and Graduate Panel.