We cannot anticipate every challenge one will face while at university. But increasingly, with global conditions and workloads, we do need to be more attentive to and vocal about how much we can take on and how we can manage without sacrificing ourselves. Here are some practical tips for students

Everyone gets overwhelmed while at university, at least once in a while. This is not an unusual experience and, if you do feel this way, you are not alone! You’re likely taking multiple courses, which require you to read, prepare, research, write, and can sometimes throw in that horrendous surprise of a clashing deadline or two. (Faculty members have those too, and we hate them, just like you!) And then of course, there is life. Eating, sleeping, having that little time for your friends, or hobbies, or just to waste is essential. It can even be done, but it takes a little organization and even a little help.

Let me begin with a disclaimer: If you’re overwhelmed consistently or are struggling to manage your workload and your mental health, talk to people. In addition to friends and family, there are people on every university campus who are dedicated to ensuring that students do well in all aspects of life. This includes faculty advisors, higher education counsellors, mental health counsellors, infirmary doctors, wellbeing groups and so on. Each of these people will provide you with support and confidentiality as needed. If you find that your campus lacks this support or you’re facing systemic impediments, look outside to the wider community, where you will find care and support, but talk to people!

But for the simple, straightforward tips, here is a list of things I do that has helped me both as a student, and now as a faculty member

• Have a calendar. I swear by Google Calendar and every aspect of my work (classes, meetings, consultation hours, leave days and so on) is mapped out, and just because I like a good visual, colour-coded too. Once you know your class schedule, you can factor in other things around it and personalize it. Remember to leave some empty time too. That blank space is where we recharge our personal batteries.
• Get the basics down. Some things are not worth forgetting: alarms for lunchtime, or reminders to hydrate if you tend to forget.
• Digital Wellbeing/ Screen Time widgets are my lifesavers. They’re timely reminders not to lose days on end doom-scrolling. I tend to lose track of time, so my phone is set to Greyscale on a timer each day.
• In addition to my digital calendar, I have an old-school wall calendar where I only put down the non-regular events: deadlines, flights and so on. It’s my way of prioritizing.
• Set aside dedicated writing or study time for yourself. Figure out when your “golden hour” is. I write best late into the night, but I leave reading and editing for the beginning of the day when I can. Finding a quiet place to work can help.
• If you tend to struggle with focus, as so many people seem to these days, try the Pomodoro Technique. You can even use this Timer. [It didn’t work for me personally, but it was a good starting point to figure out what routine allowed me to focus best on a variety of tasks]
• Break up your workload into manageable tasks. If you’re writing an essay, for example, put down drafting, editing, referencing, proofreading and so on as different tasks. They take less time individually and seem like less of a mountain to climb. This is also true for exam preparation or postgraduate/PhD applications and so on.
• If you struggle to read for prolonged periods, which, at university, is an essential practice, talk to your instructors. Ask them for techniques that worked for them, try an audiobook instead, or find a group of friends taking the same course and read to each other. Pausing to make notes or annotate as you read can help too. [Here is a post on reading effectively at university.] Whether it is reading, writing, or other aspects of life, find the tools that work for you.
• Remember, it is okay to say no, or to admit that you’re doing enough! In an age where everything seems to be output driven, we can often try to do too much because we want the experience, or to add to our CVs or any other reason you can think of! If you’re a keen-bean or struggle to say no to projects, one look at that calendar can tell you not to take on something you can’t fit into your schedule.
• If you need a mental health hour, or a mental health day, or a nap, or a walk, take one! Doing your best also doesn’t mean giving 100% all the time. Sometimes, I’m operating at 60% and that’s all I can give because, that day, that is my best. I still showed up and that counts for something. That’s okay too. I’ll do better tomorrow.
• Finally, remember that university is supposed to be valuable training for life, not just for a future career. Have fun. Step off campus, especially if you have on-campus accommodation. Explore the culture of the place you live in; talk to people from different backgrounds. Not all productivity is output and not all productivity needs to be measured.
• Sometimes things don’t go to plan. That is going to happen, and it teaches us to be flexible. Make your plans, but don’t be ruled by them.

Additional Resources:

Here is an article called Time Management Tips for Busy College Students from Purdue Global

Read 22 Productivity Tips for College Students from Johnson & Wales University

Listen to The Academic Imperfectionist Podcast