Managing Your Time Managing your time is a lot like managing your money. Once you spend it, it’s gone, so you have to make it all count. With 24 hours a day multiplied by seven days a week, your weekly Time Budget is 168 hours per week. Step No. 1 : Figure out how you use your time each week. Estimate the amount of time per week you spend on each activity. ----Class time(number o hours in class each week) ----Studying (most college suggest three hours for every hour you’re in class) ----Job / work ----Commuting / transportation time ----Athletics / physical fitness (team sports, working out, etc.) ----Co-curricular activities (clubs, student government, community activities, etc.) ----“Family” responsibilities (cleaning, cooking, shopping, communication, time with relatives) ----Socializing with friends and other hobby time ----Sleeping ---- Eating ----Personal hygiene (bathing, hair, make-up, etc.) Step No. 2 : Assess your use of time. a) Add together the totals from the above lines for your week: SUBTOTAL=_____ b) Now subtract your subtotal from 168 hours per week: TOTAL=______ If the number is your TOTAL like is negative, you have committed more time than there is in a week. YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. It’s time to cut back in certain areas. If you have time left over, ask yourself what choices can be made. Do you have time for more sleep? Volunteering? Friends? Relaxation? If your time used equals 168, great! This is a good start. Now take a look at any hours you many be spending in some areas that you want to start using in other ways. This is how you manage your time to be most effective. Step No. 3 : Determine a goal and action plan for better time management / use. What would you most like to do to better manage your time? You should also consider buying (and USING) a planner, which can help you keep track of time, projects, assignments and be more efficient. Some tips: Color-code your calendar / planner by the activities listed above, and once you make a schedule, do your best to stick with it. Step No. 4 :Repeat, when necessary. You’ll want to take a look at this again at the start of each term, if you get a job, or if you notice any changes in your physical or emotional wellbeing. Besides, it is advisable to make a long-term goal in the first year and work towards it in the very beginning. Goa 1: Studying abroad Freshman year: Learn all the subjects well and get good grades. Sophomore year : Continue to boost your grades. Take part in extracurricular activities. Start preparing for GRE and TOEFL exams. Junior year: Take GRE and TOEFL exams. Start writing up application material, such as essays and letters of recommendation. Senior year: Send all your application materials to graduate schools abroad. Goa 2: Getting a job Freshman year: Build up a good knowledge foundation in your field. Join student clubs. Begin to set career goal. Sophomore year : Do an internship. Further explore your career interests. Junior year: Prepare for resumes and interviews. Senior year: Attend job fairs and interviews. Goa 3: Studying abroad Freshman year: Do all the basic subjects well. Explore the academic directions you might like to follow. Sophomore year : Consolidate what you have learned. Junior year: Prepare for all the tests. Sign up for courses provided by training agencies. Senior year: Sit in at the national postgraduate entrance examinations. You may find that four years pass in the blink of an eye. Managing your time is one of the most challenging and difficult tasks you might face at college, or you are likely to idle away your time.