TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS

Time management is important in a student's life in different areas which include;academic performance, stress levels, and personal growth. In academic  performance, effective time management allows students to allocate sufficient time to study, complete assignments, and prepare for exams, leading to better grades. Good time management also helps minimize procrastination, ensuring that students complete tasks in a timely manner. 

On stress levels,when students manage their time well, they feel more in control of their workload, which can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Proper time management also allows for breaks and leisure activities, promoting a healthier work-life balance and preventing burnout.Students can also develop better coping strategies when they can foresee and manage their responsibilities effectively. 

Time management also fosters essential skills such as organisation, prioritisation and self-discipline,which are valuable in both academics and professional settings.Succesfully managing time can also lead to a sense of achievement, boosting self esteem and confidence in one's abilities.They can also learn how to balance academic responsibilities with personal interests, hobbies, and relationships,contributing to overall personal development. 

"I always found myself studying late into the night before exams.Rushing in last minutes to exams.One day, after a particularly challenging test, l realised that my cramming method wasn't working. I decided to change my approach by creating a study schedule three weeks before the next exam, breaking the material into manageable chunks.As a result, l felt more confident and less stressed, ultimately achieving a much better grade until now,"Alex  Mugambi,Chuka University student said.

Prioritisation is another factor that should be seriously considered.It is the process of determining the order of importance or urgency of tasks and responsibilities. It involves evaluating which tasks that are most critical to achieve goals and addressing them accordingly.Prioritization helps individuals concentrate high impact tasks;hence increased productivity. By identifying what is most important, individuals can allocate their time,energy and resources more effectively, ensuring that critical tasks are completed first.Also knowing the priority of tasks aids in making informed decisions about where to direct efforts, reducing the risk of indecision or overwhelm.A clear understanding of priorities can also lead to stress reduction, goal achievements, flexibility and adaptability. 

"There are various techniques for effective prioritisation which can help  students in managing time properly.Eisenhower matrix is one of them which categorizes tasks in four quadrants based on urgency and importance, helping  to clarify what to do now, later, whether to delegate or eliminate.'ABC' is another method whereby letters are assigned to tasks based on priority (A for high priority, B for medium,C for low), guiding focus on what to tackle first. Lastly, a student can also use 1-3-5 Rule,where it encourages setting one big task,three medium tasks and five small tasks to accomplish each day, providing a balanced approach to daily planning."-(National Association of Student Personnel Administration. [NASPA])

Setting SMART(Specific,Measurable,Achievable, Relevant,Time-bound) goals can also lead to good performance of students and lead to special  stress relief. Creating study schedules of either weekly or monthly that allocates time for classes, studying and extracurricular activities is also important. Students must also ensure that the schedules made are flexible to accommodate unexpected events or changes in workload.

Lastly, students should recommend digital resources. Apps such as Google calendar or Trello that can assist in organising tasks and deadlines.The use of physical tools like planners or bullet journals is also important. Hence students should also check on the time management very carefully; for they can possibly save their plans and grades by managing their time well. Each and every student should experiment this by using different strategies to find what works best  for them.