4 Time Management Tips That Can Help Online Students

We all have 24 hours in a day, and most of us try to get as much as we can out of every minute. These days, there’s no time for slowing down, and some can’t even make time to appreciate the small things in life. In short, a lot of us are always running from one deadline to the next. But, if you ask those who always manage to beat the clock how they’re so good, they often say it’s all about time-management. Read on if you’re a chronic procrastinator who’s looking for ways to become good at managing time:

1. Try Reverse Scheduling:

When making plans, it’s common to estimate how long it takes to do something by picking an arbitrary start and end time. The problem with this is that looking into the future can often lead to misguided results; you may also end up underestimating how much time is available.

Instead, try planning backwards. If you have a couple of things to do, start with the last thing that must be done and calculate how much time you will need to complete this task. Work your way to the first task, subtracting rather than adding time so you know when to start. Researchers have found that those who adopt reverse-planning strategies are more likely to stay on schedule when compared to those who use traditional forward planning. Also, reverse-planners focus on positive outcomes and are largely better at anticipating obstacles that could arise.

2. Delegate:

Indra Nooyi once explained how she managed to maintain a good work-life balance. You cannot be a successful CEO for 12 years by doing everything on your own. For instance, when her children wanted to ask her permission to play games, they rang her irrespective of where or how she was. When she couldn’t answer, she told her receptionist to ask a set of questions that her daughters had to answer in the positive. If all the boxes were ticked, she gave them the go-ahead!

If you’re an online student who’s working full-time or managing other commitments, know that there’s no harm in hiring online class takers. All you have to do is call one and ask: "Can you take my class for me?" A class taker can complete your homework on time and even take tests for you. Just make sure you only hire tutors who assure good-quality work.

3. Prioritize:

The secret to getting any work done on time is to understand what task needs to be done first. The Covey Time Management Matrix divides tasks into four quadrants: one being urgent and important; two being not urgent but important; three being urgent but not important; and four being not urgent and not important. This matrix will help you understand where to put your energy when you need to get things done.

4. Be Mindful Of Time:

Delays are often caused when one loses track of time. Without an alarm, you could end up spending hours on Facebook and not even realize it. If you have an appointment, set an alarm for ten minutes before, and use this time before the appointment to prepare.

The author manages Take My Online Class, a website that offers to help students manage their online course assignments.