Time management can be a difficult skill to master as a busy student with constantly changing responsibilities, tasks, commitments, and time constraints. At Cornell, many students are heavily involved in activities outside of class, including clubs, sports, volunteering, research, and more. As a current junior, I’m hoping that some of these tips will be helpful for you as you navigate managing your time wisely in order to avoid feeling unnecessarily overwhelmed or stressed!

Make a list of commitments and priorities

At the beginning of each semester, I recommend writing down all your anticipated commitments and making note of which are the most important for you. Having everything you are responsible for all in one place helps you to track where you will be spending your time, and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks when the semester picks up speed. I personally like knowing which activities I prioritize the most so that I make sure I am dedicating enough time to the commitments that are most important!

Google Calendar and Notion

As most students know, Google Calendar and Notion are your best friends in college. Some people like to plan and organize their schedules on paper using a planner/journal, but if you prefer digital tools, I think it’s absolutely essential to input all of your regularly scheduled commitments in Google Calendar, and keep track of all your assignments, exams, projects, etc. in Notion (especially for long term assignments that span multiple weeks or months!) These don’t have to be super fancy or complicated, as long as you’re able to keep track of everything you need to do and everywhere you need to be, so that you can plan and manage your time accordingly.

Hold yourself accountable – in all ways!

Probably the most important part of managing your time well is holding yourself accountable. If you’re planning out your commitments well, you already know when you should be doing what, and you might have an idea of when you have free time. When you know you have assignments or exams coming up, hold yourself accountable and dedicate the time needed to study, and when you are more free, hold yourself accountable and allow yourself to have fun and take necessary breaks! Spontaneity is important to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, but knowing what’s coming up and what you have time for ensures you never miss anything important.