By Gabriel Ruiz — When it comes to our academic journeys, it is not uncommon for phrases such as, “time management,” “consistency,” and “study habits” to proliferate across campus. However, what does it mean to embody these traits, and more importantly, how can one cultivate them effectively in our daily lives? These qualities are often the key to academic success, yet many (including myself) have trouble determining where to start. Today, we will break down each concept and explore practical ways to cultivate them.
Time Management: The Art of Prioritization
The first thing to understand about time management is that it is not merely about getting tasks done, but about doing them efficiently and effectively. Good time management involves setting clear priorities, minimizing distractions, and allocating time to each task. It is not simply writing a to-do list, but recognizing what tasks require our attention and energy most, as well as when in the day you perform best. To develop time-management skills, we must first evaluate our current schedules. The best place to start is to identify our time wastage.
The easiest culprit is social media such as TikTok and YouTube which are especially good at pulling me away from whatever I should be doing. However, it is important to note that our time-wasters can truly be anything that we go to when we are procrastinating. This could look like working out, reading, video games, etc. There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying these things, but as with anything, it is important to strike a balance. Once one knows where time is slipping away, one can eliminate these distractions. This is where time-blocking comes into play. Time-blocking techniques can help us set aside a ‘block of time’ for each task. For instance, if you know you are most focused in the morning, allocate that time for your most challenging work.
A practice I learned while researching for this blog post is the “Pomodoro Technique,” which involves working in focused intervals (typically 25 minutes) followed by short breaks. This method has helped us remain fresh and focused. I have begun incorporating the practice into my daily routine the past four days and I can already feel an improvement in my sense of burnout and productivity. (I’ve left a link to an article on the Pomodoro Technique at the bottom of this post)
Consistency: Building Momentum
Consistency is taking small, deliberate actions and doing them regularly, rather than overwhelming ourselves with big and sporadic efforts. In academics, this means showing up to study each day, even if the session is short. The cumulative effect of consistent effort is powerful. To embody consistency, we should commit to showing up, regardless of motivation levels. Motivation can be fleeting; however, consistency is a result of habit. To build positive habits, we should set achievable goals and start small. If you are trying to begin a study routine, even just 10 minutes a day of consistent work is enough. You gradually increase the time you spend as your habit solidifies. The goal here is to slowly integrate academic work into our daily routine until studying has become just another part of our day, such as brushing our teeth. I have used this method myself for years and have found remarkable success with it in my own life.
One helpful way to stay consistent is to track progress. Whether through a physical calendar, a study app, or simply crossing off each day on a planner. Whatever you need to visualize your progress. It can be very empowering and rewarding to look back at accumulative successes to help reinforce these positive habits as part of who you are.
Study Habits: Creating an Effective Learning Routine
Study habits refer to strategies and routines that support academic learning. Good study habits do not just happen overnight. They are cultivated through trial and error. One of the most important study habits we can develop is active learning, which involves engaging with the material beyond passive reading or listening. Techniques such as summarizing what we have read and testing ourselves on key concepts help deepen our understanding. A fantastic trick to use is to relay information to others. Roman philosopher Seneca said “While we teach, we learn,” According to research, learners will retain a whopping 90% of what they learn when explaining a concept to someone else. So to sum up, the deeper you engage with the information you learn, the more of that information you’ll retain.
If you have made it this far, thank you for reading! I hope that at least one of the concepts explored here resonates with you and helps to make your workload this semester just a little more manageable. (link to Pomodoro technique)
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