8 Steps to Effective Time Management for Students

Time management is a key to academic success. Students around the world learn this sooner or later. The best students are not necessarily those who are smarter, but those who use their time effectively. When you plan your days and weeks in advance, time can be your friend rather than your enemy. And although time management can seem like a pain, once you have mastered this skill, it will enable you to get the most out of life. It can free you to live more effectively, calmly and enjoyably. It can help you get more done with less stress, disorganization and frustration. It can also give you higher marks throughout the school year, as well as on your quizzes, tests, and exams.

Think about it. Have you ever heard of an athlete, even one who is paid millions of dollars a year, playing in a game without showing up for practice? Have you heard of a musician delivering a concert without taking time daily to rehearse? Have you heard of a scientist proclaiming a grand discovery without hundreds of failed trials? All these professionals know that in order to succeed in their professional areas, they have to put in their time.

Unfortunately, millions of students around the world behave otherwise. They appear for exams expecting magic! Without making adequate time to study, they hope to get the highest grades and are then disappointed or ashamed when the results prove otherwise. Frankly, in today’s highly competitive world, if you are lucky enough to be in school, college, or university, you are holding a coveted spot, desired by many. You may have deprived another eager young person from getting admission, because your application appeared more promising, more likely to succeed. So after all the effort to get in, what are you doing about it? Are you making the time to study after working so hard and possibly paying so much to actually get into a particular school?

Once you make the decision, there are a number of excellent time management systems that you can follow. Although these are sometimes expensive or complex, you can achieve your goal by adopting a simple time management approach. The eight strategies below could make a huge impact on your academic career.

1. Organize your time

Life improves when you decide to do things differently. In this case, the goal is to gain control over time, rather than letting it control you. It is about taking ownership of time, which is the essence of your life. The main objective of time management is for you to have a clear picture of your upcoming days, weeks, and months. It is a way for you to discover what time you have available to devote to study, recreation, or other activities. Make the decision to be the master of your life, rather than its suffering slave!

2. Assess your time

Many students genuinely believe that they study a lot. Some even protest that they study all the time! In reality, this is far from the truth. The only way you will discover how many hours of your busy day you actually study is by completing a personal time assessment. The method requires you to keep track of everything you do for an entire week, from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep. That means recording every single detail.

At the end of the week, add up the totals. For example, count the number of hours spent on eating, traveling, studying, talking on the phone, shopping, exercising, smoking, watching TV, being online, etc, until you have a complete picture of where your time goes. If you find you are losing a lot of time to activities other than studying, try to balance your schedule. Start eliminating the time bandits by making small adjustments in your habits and behavior in order to get better control of your precious time.

3. Set your priorities

The objective of time management is to allocate time wisely, so you can achieve your goals. If you wanted to be an Olympic swimmer or ice skater, you would have to practice several hours a day for years. In the same way, to be a top student you must have a good idea of the study requirements. Even though each subject places different demands on you – reading, writing, research, experiments, assignments, essays, projects, papers, presentations, tests, and exams – by prioritizing, you will increase your chances of success. For each subject, decide how to complete all required tasks, over a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. This advance planning will increase your awareness, making it less likely for you to squander time away meaninglessly.

4. Make a schedule

After establishing your priorities, set up a schedule which respects your priorities. A wide variety of student organizers, diaries, planners, electronic tools and time management systems are available on the market. Choose or create whatever seems best for you. Many students select weekly planners that enable them to see the big picture more easily. Make sure your system is something you are very comfortable with as you will be referring to it often. Then, set up your schedule in this order:

• Mark in all your fixed commitments such as classes, seminars, tutorials, and part-time jobs. These are the givens, which you cannot change.
• Add in study time. Block off large sections of your day, reserved for studying alone, as well as shorter review periods. Organize your peak study times to coincide with the times of day when you are most awake and alert.
• Mark in other non-study activities. These are the important but lower priority items, such as exercise, recreational classes, or socializing, which you will fit in when possible.

5. Use a calendar

In addition to your weekly planner, invest in a large monthly wall calendar. Jot down all the important due dates, deadlines, exams, etc so they are in front of you as a visual reminder. This will make you more aware of important dates and allow you to adjust or rearrange plans if you are behind schedule.

6. Use review cards

Always keep some review cards with you to read over when you are waiting for something else to happen. This could include when you are traveling or waiting in line at the bus stop, bank, supermarket, cafeteria and so on. You could also place review cards in common locations which you pass frequently in your house, such as on the fridge door, bathroom mirror, etc. Frequent repetition and review is one of the keys to remembering information easily and effectively.

7. Plan activities logically

Get to know your bodily cycle; then, schedule activities around it as much as possible. If you always feel sleepy after lunch, for example, use the time to get in your daily walk, instead of fighting to keep your eyes open over a history book.

8. Plan some down time.

You are not a robot! Schedule some time to relax so you can rest and refresh your mind and body. This will enable you to study more effectively. Get enough sleep as well. A sleep-deprived student is not going to be able to perform at his or her best.

Source: Goodluckexams.com

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I once repeated a class, placed on probation – Perewari, first class graduate with perfect score, Lincoln University, US

 

Perewari Pere made the headlines few weeks ago when he made a perfect score of 4.0/4.0 CGPA at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, United States in the 2017 academic session. The 25-year-old was one of the 21 indigenes that won the Bayelsa State government scholarship to study abroad. In this interview with TUNDE AJAJA, he talks about his journey to the institution and how he emerged as the valedictorian

How was life growing up?

I still remember playing soccer every day and getting caned for it every single day. It was so funny. There was this day my elder sister was so mad at me for playing all day that she caned me really hard. And in that furiousness, she said to me “Since you so love football, make sure you play tomorrow again. Did you hear me? In fact, if you don’t go and play, I will show you.” In that naivety, I went the next day to play football. She couldn’t believe it and I’m sure I would have had it harder than the previous day, but thankfully her friend came to visit, and in tears I explained myself to her. It was so funny to both, but exciting for me because that was the only day I escaped beating. Funny, but cute memory.

ADMISSION INTO OUR SCHOOL IS STILL IN PROGRESS.

Before you won the scholarship by the Bayelsa State government, did you dream of travelling out of Nigeria for your tertiary education?

Yes, that was always a dream I was obsessed with since I was a kid. I strengthened my faith in God and He did it. When I got to JSS3, I started praying about it. I said, “Dear God, I know three years is enough for you to work it out for me.” That was in anticipation of my graduation from secondary school. I always dreamt of studying in the United States or China because I felt they possessed the best technology in the world. I’m grateful I made it to the US; I’ve learnt way more than expected.

Since it was a scholarship, the process must have been very competitive. How tough was it?

I’m glad to share this story. I was on the phone with a friend when he told me about the scholarship being offered by the Bayelsa State government, and the application was to close that day. I panicked but ensured I submitted before the end of that day. It rained on the day of the exam and we were drenched. Then it shone, and we got dried again. Funny! Right there, I prayed and said to God, “I’m sure you won’t take me through this if you have no plan for me to get this scholarship.” In the first test we wrote; English Language, I topped my local government and I couldn’t believe it because it had been a long time since I last topped anything. That was great news for my family. It was a long process and at a point, some professors from Lincoln University had flown in to be a part of the process and that raised the bar for us. After the exam, we were told our names would be called over the radio. I literally couldn’t sleep that night. I listened to the radio for that news. Something I rarely did. Well, my name was mentioned again and I was so excited.

How easy is the admission to universities there?

I don’t think it’s easier, but I think the difference in the system is what really matters. The standard for gaining admission is the same for every student. Just take a couple of exams and you’re into the university of your choice. We often have this mentality that for something to be appreciated and valuable to people, it should be very difficult and stressful to get. That mentality has held us back a lot. There, you don’t have to say what you want to study in school before getting in. I mean it is even irrelevant if you say so because you can decide to do something else. Ours, if you’re in science, then art is closed to you. That shouldn’t be. People are diverse and therefore should be allowed to explore different fields even when they are already in school.

Did you choose Computer Science because of the technological advancement there?

I had always wanted to study Computer Science. I had always liked robots. My first gift was a remote-controlled toy car. I always wondered why it worked. That curiosity was a thing I held closely. And when I got a little acquainted with programming in Nigeria, I loved it so much. So, I always dreamt of schooling in the US because I believed I would have a better opportunity of exploring this. I initially wanted to go for robotics, but programming stole my heart, so I got into Computer Science. I don’t program as often as I used to because I’m more into product visionary, but the fact that I know a lot about it is still very much exciting. As a child, I had so many dreams, and one of them was to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I know that’s a very tall dream. As I got older, I saw more things I could do to impact my society. So, while not giving up or chasing it, I am working on being a better person for myself, family and my society. Right now, my dream is to own the best technology company in Africa.

At the initial stage, did you target having perfect CGPA?

Before leaving Nigeria, I had the plan to make first class and graduate with a perfect score. I planned to have a GPA no other student could beat. I knew it would be very challenging, but I promised to go through it and God favoured me. There were times that dream almost didn’t seem real, thinking one course could bring down my CGPA. It was very difficult, but thank God I made it. Even if being a valedictorian was not consciously planned for, it inevitably came with having a perfect score.

Have you always had this kind of performance in your previous schools?

Not at all. At a time, I suffered inferiority complex and it drastically affected my education. I only started picking up from JSS2 after already repeating a class once. I was in a probation class and my class consisted of the worst academic students who were on mercy seats. Any slip and I would have left school. I always loved maths, but, like I said, I was suffering emotionally and it was breaking me. I was called a social misfit and that was always my struggle. I started studying hard and getting this scholarship showed me a personality I always knew existed but just couldn’t show forth. In Nigeria, I felt like a fish racing on land. Here (in the US), I feel like I’m in water, and it’s so easy to swim. I like this environment.

Did you experience any form of discrimination?

No I didn’t. On the contrary, I experienced different forms of preference. But I did witness some persons being discriminated against. However, most professors here love to teach international students. After our first semester here, professors literally pleaded to have us in their classes because we were extremely serious with our studies. We always did more than required.

You must have read a lot to have that score. What was your reading schedule like?

That’s the ideology when your GPA is that high. It’s always the general idea. A lot of people say I don’t sleep. True, sometimes, but I didn’t study that hard as well. When I first came, I studied for hours. I did 18 hours twice and it was awesome. In my second year, I literally lived in the library. But over time, I got closer to some persons and we worked more on our projects together, so I studied less. For me, reading books is not my strength. I’m better on projects. Also, my major was not about reading books all the time. It’s more about understanding a concept and thinking critically.

You must have done certain things differently from others to have such a result. What were those things?

I am very intense with my work. I am a perfectionist even to a fault. I worked on the fault part, but kept the intensity. My work was used countless times as a standard for how other students should have theirs. It became a burden as I felt others might dislike me for it. I helped a lot and received a lot of help, but this perfectionist part of me never let me do something half heartedly. Irrespective of how great or small, I like my work looking serious and professional. It always stood out.

Did you attend parties or were you always reading?

(Laughs…) Nice question. Well, I’m not a so-much-of-a-social guy. I like being indoors. I’m scared of chaos, so I always stayed away. I attended only a few birthday parties and those were of my close friends, and I left early. I could use my leisure for studying or playing the piano or sleeping or doing something else, but the reason wasn’t because I was studying. It’s just my personality.

How would you have felt if you didn’t make first class?

I already decided in my heart that I would be fine. The anxiety wasn’t worth it the moment I discovered what I wanted to do after school. It had nothing to do with my GPA, and even if I didn’t graduate with a perfect GPA, I would still have one of the best results out there. I worked hard and more importantly, God was there for me, even when I had doubts. And so delivering the valedictory speech was my happiest moment.

Given all you’ve learnt, what is the next step for you or would you consider staying back in the US to work?

No, I won’t. The next step is to come back to Nigeria and start up a software company with my friends (five of them). It’s called Afridash, taken from Africa and Dashboard. I have a dream to start a tech company in Nigeria and I have been working on that dream for close to two years now with some of my friends here. We know it’s the biggest thing we have ever come up with and we are ready to impact a sector in Nigeria with this dream. It’s not limited to Nigeria as we hope to spread to other countries in Africa and hopefully the rest of the world. Interesting enough, it will be tried here in Lincoln University for a year. It’s a massive product. As you can imagine, it’s challenging to leave the United States and head back to Nigeria, especially with nothing more after school. Some of us got job offers, which we decided to skip because we believe in this technology. I had the opportunity to visit Google, Adobe, Visa, Facebook, and so many other tech companies, and all I think in my head is Afridash. We want to be the face of tech in Africa and we want to build the best and most powerful software out there. The good news is that we just incorporated the company here in the United States and we are set to continue development in Nigeria while collaborating with different institutions to deploy this software. A lot of folks have shared their concern especially with the economic crisis in the country, but that’s fine. High tides not only cause flooding, they also generate electricity. We believe we can make this work. Facebook, Google, Apple, and all these top firms understand that Africa is the next phase of tech boom and they are strategically investing massively. Lagos is leading Nigeria in technology and the government is doing a fine job in supporting tech startups. We believe in this dream and we hope to get the supports required to get Afridash up and running. It’s a risk and we recognise that, but that’s how greatness starts sometimes. We are done with school now, GPA has been set aside, because now is the time to show what we can do for and in our country. It’s a journey that has already begun.

SOURCE: PUNCHONLINE

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I almost gave up but for my mum –Faidat, UNILORIN best graduate who won 19 prizes

Yusuf Faidat, 24, a graduate of Medicine and Surgery, was the cynosure of all eyes at the last convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, when she won 19 prizes. Apart from being the best in the Faculty of Medicine, she was the overall best graduate of the institution in the 2015/2016 session. In this interview, she tells TUNDE AJAJA how she made it.
 

You have a very small stature, were there times people addressed you like a fresher?

That happened many times. I remember vividly when I was doing my final year clearance and a second year student addressed me as a fresher. It was amusing and I found it funny. That was something I got used to over time. It wasn’t a big deal.

 

You won 19 prizes during your convocation, could you describe how you felt, or did you see it coming?

I was overjoyed, not only for the achievement, but also because I knew my parents would be very proud of me. I knew l was going to win some prizes but I didn’t know it would be up to that. I was shocked in the early hours of the convocation day when I learnt I was going to receive that number of prizes. So, I was surprised but happy, and I believe all I was able to achieve were a product of divine providence because I didn’t plan to have first class when I got to school.

What were the awards you won?

In summary, I received the prizes for being the Best student in surgery, medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, community health, COBES, pathology, ophthalmology, psychiatry and overall best graduate of the school.

Have you always had such remarkable performance in your previous schools?

I was an average student in primary school. I did better in secondary school; I was one of the best graduating students and I represented my school in a few competitions. But, certainly, things got better when I got to the higher institution. And when I got to school, I decided to do my best and make my parents proud. So, I worked harder. Meanwhile, I won’t forget to mention that I had one year delay before I got admission. I passed my West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination at the first sitting, but I had to take another UTME because I didn’t get admission that first year. When I first applied for medicine at UNILORIN, I wasn’t offered admission, so I went to School of Remedial Studies in Katsina State, just to get busy. The following year, l re-applied for Medicine in UNILORIN and I was admitted. I really wanted Ilorin because I was sure there would be no strike action.

Since you waited for one year when you didn’t get Medicine, does it mean that was the only course that appealed to you?

I found it difficult to make a choice between becoming a doctor or an architect as I was interested in both. For Architecture, I love the idea of creating something, being able to translate people’s ideas for their homes and buildings into reality. But when I prayed about making a choice, I settled for medicine. So, I believe it’s God’s doing. When I was growing up, it was prestigious to be a doctor; they were respected and were well loved by members of the community. I read Ben Carson’s books and I saw that medicine is a platform through which a single person could have a positive influence on the lives of so many persons. This made me think of medicine when I had to decide on a career, and I’m happy I got it. My parents were also very supportive. I mean very helpful. They allowed all of us to decide on our career and they helped us to stick to it. For example, after my first UTME when I didn’t get medicine, I was very disappointed and I was considering other courses, but my mum encouraged me to stay put and put in for the same course the next time. She had confidence that Almighty Allah would grant me success, and that was exactly what happened.

Do you think people exaggerate when they say medicine is voluminous and difficult?

Medicine is voluminous and a bit difficult but the difficulty is a bit exaggerated. It’s a course that requires a lot of sacrifice, in terms of time, energy and emotion, and one needs a lot of perseverance to prevail. Medical school generally is not easy. My aim was always to do my best and be the best I could be. That was what I strove for. I don’t think I put in more effort than most of my colleagues, and that is why I attribute my success to Almighty Allah. No human being can achieve anything except by his help. My parents, siblings, friends, cousins, teachers in primary school, secondary school and university, coupled with Allah’s blessing, support from my loved ones and perseverance are all instrumental to making me what I am today.

What part of medicine did you find most interesting?

I can’t pick a favourite but physiology, pathology, pediatrics and surgery were particularly interesting. And what amazes me most is the ability of humans to adapt and strive in the midst of adversity. The organ I find most amazing is the brain. It’s responsible for our actions, behaviour, emotions, etc. It is the centre of our being. Medicine is very interesting.

When did you start leading your class?

We have numerous exams in medical school and most results when released just indicate pass or fail. Your actual scores are on the transcript so it is difficult to tell who is actually leading the class in a particular course. But in my first year, I knew I did well. My CGPA in my first year was about 4.8, more so that most of the courses involved building on what was learned in secondary school.

Maintaining a good result can be as taxing as having one. Were there times you were discouraged or you almost gave up on sustaining your efforts?

There were times when I was discouraged but with prayer and support, especially from my mother, I was able to move on. Most of those obstacles that I faced made me determined to do better subsequently.

To achieve such, some people would imagine that you were always reading. Was that the case?

No, there was nothing like that. I wasn’t always reading. In fact, sometimes, I could go for few days without reading much. I didn’t even have a fixed reading schedule. I slept well, because I know sleep is good for the body. On the average, I was sleeping for about six hours daily. However, I usually read for several hours when it was close to exam.

It’s possible to think you are a genius, since you weren’t even reading much. Do you see yourself as one?

I’m definitely not a genius, and I don’t believe I did anything different from what my colleagues did or what we were expected to do. I attended lectures, went for clinical activities and read materials. I believe those were what anybody would do. I was never coerced into doing anything, like reading my books. However, being amongst hardworking friends also motivates one to do the same. So, that helped too.

It is common for medical students to be scared the first time they are to work on a cadaver. What was it like in your case?

I had enough time to psych myself up for the experience, even though it was still unpleasant, especially the smell. I was able to manage the situation, and for me, there were no fainting spells or symptoms of Post traumatic Stress Disorder.

From your own experience, what are the basic rules of excellence in school?

The most important thing is for students to put their trust in God and be prayerful. Focus, determination and perseverance are also very important. It is important to know yourself, your reading pattern, what works for you and, more importantly, stick to it.

Some students feel using the library is the key to success. How often did you use it?

I used the library a few times while in medical school. I preferred reading in my room or my hostel’s study room, maybe because I don’t really need a quiet or secluded environment to read. I could read anywhere.

Were there times your parents rewarded you for your performance?

I remember my parents taking me and my siblings for outings after every exam in primary and secondary school. The way they praised me and how much they felt proud of me were enough reward for me.

Did you have a social life?

I wasn’t always reading, but I’m an introvert. So, my own way of catching fun didn’t necessarily involve going out. At my leisure, I read magazines, novels, saw movies and played games.

Are there things you would have loved to do as a student that you could not do, perhaps because of the time you dedicated to your academics?

I would have loved to learn jewellery making, tailoring, etc. I would still love to learn those things, if I have the free time to do it. It’s always good to have a skill in at least one thing.

What are your immediate plans and aspirations?

To finish my internship programme at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, go for service, hopefully start my residency programme and of course get married soon.

If you are to go for residency training, what part of medicine would you like to specialise in?

The jury is still on that. I haven’t made a decision yet.

SOURCE:PUNCH.               

FRIDAY INSPIRATION - I vowed to be best physiology graduate in my set – Falayi, UI first class graduate

Falayi Oluwatosin, 21, was the best in the Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan in the 2014/2015 academic session, having had 6.0 CGPA. She tells TUNDE AJAJA in this interview how she was able to lead others

We learnt you were the only one who had first class in your department. Did you see it coming or it came as a surprise?

I would say yes and no. I didn’t see it coming at first. Just like most people in my class, I applied to study Medicine and Surgery. So, when the admission list came out with my name in Physiology, I was depressed. Getting a first class then was the last thing on my mind. All I was concerned with was getting a good Cumulative Grade Point Average to cross to Medicine. After the first year, I still couldn’t cross. Gradually, the reality that I was stuck in Physiology dawned on me.  The usual saying when you don’t get the course you applied for is “The university gave me the course”. So UI ‘gave’ me Physiology. I remember I had to start browsing about Physiology the day the admission list came out. I didn’t know much about the course before then. I then decided that if I was going to be stuck in Physiology, I would make sure I emerge as the best Physiology graduate in my class and that must be a first class. Even then, I still wasn’t certain. My result in 100 and 200 level were far from encouraging. I guess the moment I started to believe was when I had a CGPA of 6.9 out of 7.0 in my third year. Afterwards, I knew it was definitely possible because this was a major improvement from my second year. The way my CGPA spiked was so high and I was convinced then that a supernatural being (God), was on my side. Even though it was Medicine at first, now, Physiology has brought out the scientist in me. When I was young, I thought being a doctor was the only way to impact lives positively but being a physiologist would help me to still achieve that dream and I don’t think I could have asked for a better course.

Since your course enabled you to know how the human system works, did that knowledge in any way help you in your studies?

We learnt that the more familiar the brain is with something, the easier it is for the person to recall that thing any other time. And that helps. I always say that crash reading is okay only if you just want to pass the exam. But for someone who wants to learn, you need to study, not read. I’ve found out that it is very hard for me to forget things I write down. Besides, our brain stores things as images so you can literarily ‘see’ your book on examination day. But that’s only if your brain has been made familiar with it by frequent study. And I would suggest that students should know themselves. What works for someone else might not work for you. The key is not to study 20 hours every day. You might only need to study religiously for two hours every day and you are good to go. Most students just copy their friends and that is where they miss it. However, one important tip that also worked for me was to study what had been taught in class that same day it was taught because I noticed that our brains thrive more on repetitions.

Given the volume of what you had to read, did you have time for other things?

I didn’t socialise much, compared with my other peers. This has nothing to do with the volume of books I had to read; I’m a reserved person, so my nature didn’t allow me to do much of that. I did hang out with my friends a couple of times. About reading, I didn’t really have a fixed schedule. On a typical day, in-between classes, I could look for a quiet place to study with my friend, Yota, and after class, which usually ends most times around 1 to 2pm, I would go back to the hostel to rest. Usually, I read for four to six hours and it could be longer than that sometimes but I never deprived myself of sleep; I slept when I needed to sleep. Yes, there were times I studied late into the night, like 2 – 3am, but I also had days I slept very well. I know the importance of sleep so I didn’t joke with mine. I understand how my body works. I rested during the day so I could study better at night. I used the library quite often and I did make use of the reading room in my hostel very well. Overall, I think students should identify what works for them and maximise it.

Did you win any award or scholarship as an undergraduate?

I didn’t win any scholarship but I won the most outstanding student award in my department in my third year and the ‘Brainbox’ of Physiology in my fourth year. Thank God I was able to combine my academics with being the editor-in-chief of my departmental press since my second year till I graduated. I was also an executive in my fellowship. I really had to find a way to balance all these or I ran the risk of destroying all my hard work.

Were there times people saw you as too serious with academics?

That happened many times. Some of my mates called me ‘book worm’ but only my close friends and family got to see that I could be very playful. Even though I love reading, singing, watching movies and sleeping were also part of my hobbies. When I’m upset, the first thing I do is sleep, which some may find funny. Beyond reading, I went for a few social gatherings, including my departmental dinner in my final year. I was even a part of the dinner committee. I went to see movies a few times with my friends, and I must say I love movies so much.

Were you in a relationship or was it a no-no?

I was in a relationship in my fourth year and it wasn’t a distraction in any way. On the contrary, it actually contributed to my having a first class because he supported me.

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPERS

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