Yep, I guess you could say I’ve been experiencing a bit of a time management crisis.

I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, since I’m pretty compulsive when it comes to my work and I have a hard time saying no to an extra-curricular opportunity. But, then again, it seems counter-intuitive that I, a devout non-procrastinator, should have trouble budgeting my time. Aren’t procrastinators the ones who usually feel the crunch when 500 pages of reading come crashing down on them at 3 in the morning? Since when does actually completing all the work assigned to me do more harm than good?

On the verge of a meltdown and a stress-induced chocolate binge, I turned to my college-grad-turned-medical-student brother for advice. I told him what my weekly schedule was like and asked what – if anything – I’m doing wrong. Much to my surprise, he told me that I’m actually doing much more than is necessary to do well in my classes.

Huh??

According to his – erm – medical advice, skimming readings here and there doesn’t hurt, nor does skipping some readings altogether when I just don’t have time – prioritizing, basically. It turned out that I was also studying far more than necessary for my exams, starting my review two weeks in advance in some cases; although I was getting good results, I could’ve cut my study time in half and still have done as well, as long as I had a structured and effective study plan. He also suggested that I cut back on my dozen or so extra-curricular commitments, at least until I get my bearings in college and can balance my schedule better. It was difficult for me to do so, since I have an interest in pretty much everything my school has to offer, but I trimmed down my schedule until I was sure I could handle the load in addition to my classes.

I’m also discovering ways to maximize my working time and minimize time wasted. To keep myself from getting distracted while I work, I’ve been hitting the library without my laptop, since I tend to fall prey to the allure of e-mail/Facebook/Twitter even when I’m in my most intense work mode. Also, instead of going on the Internet multiple times throughout the day, I’ve started setting aside time in the morning and the evening for that business so that I’m not breaking my focus every twenty or so minutes. That’s been the hardest habit to kick, given my love for being wired every second of the day, but it’s been paying off in efficient studying.

Still, there are certain weeks when I find that everything seems to be converging at once. An English paper due here, a history research paper there, an article for the paper and an exam to study for and a club meeting – all going on in the same weekend, usually a weekend that is also hosting the opening of a student play or a concert that I’m dying to go to. That just seems to be the nature of college, though, and one of the many reasons I just love being here. At least now, thanks to a little help from my bro, I’m better equipped to handle these tougher times.

What are some of your own time management tips for the busy college girl?

Every college library is similar – always too hot or too cold, smells kind of bad but you aren’t sure why, phrases etched into the tables, and a mixed population of students either writing on each others’ Facebook walls or writing 20 page term papers in a single night.

Good times!

I used to be very anti-library (who isn’t), but this semester I have found ways to make it more comfortable, enjoyable and conducive to a productive day/evening/month of work-doing. It’s all about being prepared (for anything) and as long as you have these essentials in that backpack of yours, you can be successful too.

Water bottle: This seems obvious but you’d be surprised. I once pulled an all-nighter without bringing a water bottle and because I was so into the work I was doing, I never felt like going to get water. Stupid mistake! I got tired and sick, and spent my night drooling on my laptop instead of researching on it. The next time I filled that sucker up a few times per hour, got everything done, and felt great the next day. Also, drinking only coffee, tea or Red Bull (or Bawls...) will almost definitely dehydrate you, cause you to crash sooner than without caffeine and probably give you a terrible stomachache (which may explain that weird smell in the libs….).

Personal hygiene products: I’ll admit that I’m a little weird when it comes to hygiene – I carry toothbrushes with me wherever I go – but I highly suggest anyone going to the library for an extended period of time should have at least a toothbrush thrown in their backpack. Some other products that always come in handy for me are hand sanitizer, lotion, tissues, chapstick, and deodorant. Trust me, it’s better for everyone if you smell like a “Satin Pear” (whatever that is) than whatever 10 hours in a dirty library smells like for a 9:35 Italian class!

Oh and don’t forget the gum! Studies show that chewing gum helps jog memory and you are much better off bringing your own than being forced to bum it off someone you may or may not of (you just aren’t sure…) hooked up with freshman year (FML).

Electronic accessories: Bring them all. There is nothing worse than having your computer die halfway (or 90%) through a paper, or your cell phone dying and not being able to text your friend about which book you were supposed to have read for Competitive Authoritarianism in the Middle East (Oops?). You are also going to want to throw in a pair of (noise canceling) earphones to block out the loud whispers, Swine Flu sneezing fits and vibrating cell phones of those (RUDE) people around you. If listening to your favorite jams distracts you, set up a Pandora station with Ludwig Van Beethoven or any other classical music that will give you some relaxing surround sound.

Fruit*: The natural sugar in fruit will pep you up a little bit and not make you too full when you are working diligently in the library. Sometimes when I don’t feel like eating anything (which rarely ever occurs) fruit is less daunting than say, a sandwich, and makes you feel healthier than devouring a bag of peach rings. The asterisk next to fruit stands for whatever the hell Starbucks sells in the middle of the night when the last fruit cup is sold. If they don’t have fruit, go for something that has fiber or protein. Scones, bagels and other carby snacks will give you a quick fix, but aren’t what you need for the long haul on that paper (or your FB Scrabble game).

Protection: A very sophisticated study was done (aka a group of my friends chatting last week) and turns out, many students have fantasized about/have had/would be willing to have sex in a library. Put these curious students together with a desperate need for procrastination and a relatively isolated spot in the stacks, and well, all I can say is throw some of these guys in your bag too…

Parka/Bathing Suit/Etc.: I am quite certain that they put the temperature on random numbers each day just to keep the students on their toes. If you cannot personally adapt to arctic or tropical studying conditions at the drop of a hat, I’d say prepare. Just yesterday my library was pumping heat into the study rooms and it was 92 degrees outside. Trust me, I wish I had that bathing suit… and one of those ghetto sprinklers to play in while I did my Italian homework.

“Going out clothes”/supplies: Many a time, I or people I know, will spend obscene amounts of time working on a very important assignment, all the while fighting the urge to party. My post-assignment celebrations are kind of like the carrot that keeps me going and my GPA where it is supposed to be. Best to be prepared. Throw a few evening essentials (accessories, shoes, makeup, flask?) into your bag for a quick change in the bathroom. Just please do not wear your leopard stilettos and “club wear” to the library; even my earphones can’t cancel out the sound of bangles running across a desktop.

I hope I helped you pack your backpack for the library. While I (attempt to) joke a lot, seriously take care of yourself during finals. Keep eating, sleeping and getting fresh air – humans need those things! If you have major procrastination problems, consider deactivating your Facebook account during this time, or, better yet, try not to bring your computer at all if you can help it! Happy studying.

Time for me to fill up my water bottle and get to the ‘brary.

I’m happy to share – after all, that is what this column is all about – so check them out!

1. Make a schedule for yourself.

This is really the most basic time-management tool. I use a daily planner and I write a new to-do list for each day. Then I cross things out as I finish them. For longer-term projects, I write down the due date and then I write down what I need to accomplish on the project on a daily or weekly basis. You can do whatever works for you—color-code your schedule, write it on a white board, use an electronic calendar, etc.

2. Consolidate activities.

I used to go to the bank every time I got a new check, which sometimes meant I’d be going several times per week. I wasn’t using that money immediately after depositing it, so there was no reason for me to go so often. Now, I only go to the bank once every two weeks. It saves me tons of time, and I just keep all my checks together until I go on my biweekly trip.

Think about the things you do often—run errands, cook, do homework—and then think about whether you can consolidate any of them. Maybe it would help you to cook several huge batches of food on weekends and then freeze them in meal-sized portions to use throughout the week. Can you do a quick math assignment while you’re riding the subway or waiting on the phone for a customer-service rep? If so, you’ll have more free time later.

3. Eliminate activities.

There are probably a few hobbies you have that you really enjoy doing, and a few things you do that you may consider a slight waste of time. I spend way too much time surfing the Internet, so if I’m going to write a big article or work on a portion of my book, I’ll disable my wireless connection. If you feel like you watch too much TV, you might want to drop a couple of shows from your repertoire and catch up on episodes online later (but only if you have extra time). Consider your biggest time-wasters (Bromance, anyone?), and get rid of them! You’ll be amazed at how your week opens up if you downgrade this way.

I know many of you guys are multitasking mavens, so please feel free to share more tips in the comments!

[Image courtesy of blogs.theage.com.]

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Tips for studying for finals without losing your head.

I know, I know. It sucks. Because not only do you have to attend so many classes per week (some which may be held at the dreadful hour of 8:00 a.m.), but you also have to do a little thing called studying for those classes.

OK, so maybe this doesn’t scare you. Maybe you were an all-star student in high school and had no problem coming home in the evenings and studying. Well, welcome to college.

Studying is a bit more difficult in college. Why? Well, first of all, you’re surrounded by friends 24/7; friends who want to go out drinking and partying at all times. Not to mention, there’s just always something going on, whether it’s activities your college has planned, 3-hour trips to the dining hall, walks around campus, or just hanging out in the hallway of your dorm getting to know your fellow freshmen.

Unfortunately, in order to stay at college having fun, you need to pass your classes, which means you’re probably going to need to study at one point or the other. Ugh. So, here are a few study tips to that will help you keep those grades up so you can return to college to party some more next semester (we have our priorities here):

Go to the library. Let’s face it, you’re not really going to get much work done sitting in your dorm room surrounded by your friends, the TV, the mini-fridge, etc. etc. Plus, even if you can successfully avoid all these distractions, you’ll probably end up just falling asleep on your bed. Your school’s library is most likely going to be boringly quiet and somewhat depressing, but the bottom line is that you’ll actually get work done. So, make a bargain with yourself. If you go the library for 3 hours one evening, you’ll allow yourself to go back to your dorm and spend the rest of the evening watching trashy TV with your new friends.

Form a study group. Get together with a couple other students in your class and form a study group. Studying with other people generally helps you retain the information and learn things you otherwise might not on your own. However, it also leaves room for just sitting around chatting and not getting any work done, so try to find other people in your classes you seem like they really care about their grades too. Befriend the kid who sits next to you who gets all A’s on his tests and papers. So maybe he annoys the heck out of you when he raises his hand at every question the teacher asks, but the point is, he knows the answers. And he can tell you them. Score!

Turn studying into a drinking game. OK, so maybe this isn’t the best way to learn, but if it’s the only way to get you to crack your books, then I say go for it. There are various ways you could turn studying into a drinking game. If you’re trying to learn vocab words, allow yourself a sip for every 10 words you get right. If you’re studying math, take a drink every time a certain number shows up in the answer. However, I highly recommend you only play study drinking games with other people. And try not to drink too much or you might not remember anything you learned. Not to mention, you’ll be ridiculously hung over when you try to take your test the next day. (Editor’s Note: Maybe you should swap drinking with cookies…it may work a bit better.)

Use your school’s resources. Lots of schools have writing centers and offer free tutors. If you’re having trouble in a class, or even if you just need some extra direction, use these resources. They say they’re free but since you’re probably paying for them with your tuition anyway, you may as well take advantage of them. And they help! Many of the tutors are upperclassmen or graduate students who have taken the classes before, so they know exactly what you’re going through and are there to help you.

Get your work done and enjoy your free time. Studying is extremely important, but you shouldn’t be spending all your time at college with a book cracked open. Learn how to get you homework and studying done so you can go out with your friends and have some down time. You don’t want to look back and regret the fact that all you did in college is study. Because, trust me, college can teach you so much more than any book is going to. In fact, you’ll probably learn more than you ever thought possible at Friday night’s fraternity party. Including some things your parents would prefer you never learned. And some things they don’t even know themselves.

And always remember, cute boys might not make the best study partners, but that doesn’t mean you should ever turn down a study date with one.