Time Management in College
College life can feel overwhelming. Classes, assignments, social events, and maybe even work are all competing for your attention. It’s easy to feel like there’s never enough time. The good news is that research shows that the way you manage your time has a big impact on how engaged you feel in your studies and how successful you are academically (Fu et al., 2025).
Here’s what that means for you: building strong time management habits doesn’t just help you “get more done.” It boosts your focus, strengthens your self-control, and makes it easier to resist distractions, especially your phone. Below are some strategies supported by research that you can start implementing in your life.
1. Plan Your Week, Not Just Your Day
How to do it:
Each week, set aside 15–20 minutes to map out your schedule. Include class times, study sessions, assignments, and deadlines.
Break larger projects into smaller, manageable steps and assign each step to a specific time.
Use calendars, planners, or digital tools to make your schedule visible and trackable.
Why it works: Planning gives your self-control a “head start” because you know exactly what to do and when, which reduces the temptation to procrastinate or get distracted.
2. Create “If–Then” Habits
Research shows that time management strengthens self-control, which supports engagement. One way to build self-control is by creating clear if–then plans.
How to do it:
Link a specific cue to an action. For example: “If it’s 7 pm, then I will read one chapter of my textbook.”
Pair potential distractions with an action that keeps you on track: “If I sit down to study, then I’ll put my phone on silent.”
Why it works: By deciding ahead of time what you’ll do in response to cues, you reduce reliance on willpower in the moment and make staying focused automatic.
3. Limit Phone Distractions
Research has found that high phone dependence reduces study engagement. Managing your phone use is key to staying focused.
How to do it:
Turn off notifications during study sessions.
Keep your phone in another room or in a drawer when working.
Use apps that temporarily block social media or messaging.
Designate short, planned phone-checking times rather than constantly checking throughout your study period.
4. Build Self-Control with Small Wins
How to do it:
Start with short, focused study sessions (like 25–30 minutes) and gradually increase them.
Celebrate completing tasks, even small ones, to reinforce positive habits.
Practice delaying minor impulses to gradually build self-regulation. For example, wait a few minutes before checking your phone.
Why it works: Each small success trains your brain to stay on task, making larger or more challenging study sessions easier over time.
5. Add Buffers and Breaks
Even with the best time management plan, things don’t always go as expected. Research suggest that planning time realistically helps engagement. Flexible schedules reduce stress and prevent small setbacks from derailing your entire day, keeping you more consistently engaged.
How to do it:
Include short breaks between study sessions to rest and reset.
Leave “catch-up” periods in your schedule for tasks that take longer than expected.
Balance challenging tasks with lighter ones to prevent burnout.
6. Reflect and Adjust
How to do it:
At the end of each day or week, ask: Which study sessions went well? Where did I lose focus?
Adjust your schedule based on what you learn about your energy levels, focus patterns, and distractions.
Experiment with different time blocks or strategies and track what improves engagement.
Why it works: Reflection allows you to fine-tune your time management and self-control strategies, making them more effective over time.
Time management isn’t about filling every minute of your calendar, it’s about setting yourself up to focus on what matters most and creating habits that stick. When you plan your time well, you’re not only keeping up with schoolwork, but you’re building skills that make college less stressful and more rewarding.
Reference
Fu, Y., Wang, Q., Wang, X. et al. Unlocking academic success: the impact of time management on college students’ study engagement. BMC Psychol 13, 323 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02619-x
