How Graduate Students Can Better Manage Their Time

During the first months in the graduate school,Everyday make it a point to check your calendar,
you feel so excited about the level of yourtake note of your future assignments, and your
studies.  But later on, you seem to belists must be updated.
discouraged and very much stressed. Graduate3.  Divide the tasks and assignments into smaller
Students will always complain that they haveparts.  It will be manageable and easier to
plenty of things to do but very little time toaccomplish.
accomplish them.  How are you going to keep4.  You should be able to identify your set of
your sanity if you are full of course requirements,goals and the deadlines to achieve them.  An
teaching, researches and the demands of yourexample for this is when you set deadlines which
life?are realistic for every phase of finishing a large
In order to be free from being burned out  andassignment like the term paper.
drained from your energies, you  should do5.  You must classify your tasks and lists
something in managing your time, that is, you willaccording to priority.  The total picture must be
have to note down your days and make ataken into account.  You decide which is the
progress report of your goals.    It has beenmost important among your tasks and lists. 
said that time is gold.  Time is one of the mostWhich assignment will be due this week?  Which
valuable resources of man.  You are supposed toassignment is not easy?
use it wisely.  When you lose it, it will never6.  You must be flexible all the time.  Be aware
come back again.  Make the most of it. This isthat there will always be distractions and
where time management will apply.interruptions which will hinder your daily schedule.
Time management will have a key role for yourMake room for necessary adjustments of your
success in the graduate school.  When you usetime.
time management, it does not mean you will be7.  You should be able to know the time wherein
able to slow down or speed up the time.  Theyou are very productive.  Identify your biological
success of time management lies on you.  It ishighs and lows.  Are you at your best in the
actually how you manage yourself.morning?  Or are you an afternoon person? 
Moreover, you will be using techniques of timePlan your whole day properly.  You must reserve
management in order to be organized.  If youthe most difficult task during the time when you
are not organized, then everything will be inare at your best to do something.
disarray.  It is then necessary to put things in8.  Do not be ashamed to say no to a person if
order so as to achieve efficient and effectiveyou unable to do it.  It is something that you are
performance.  And this will encourage you to behonest with him.  There are occasions wherein
more productive and contented.  Timeyou will be given additional courses, responsibilities
management simply pertains to yourof job, activities which outside your schedule. 
responsibilities and the choices you have made inTry to examine carefully how relevant they are
using your time.to you, before you decide to accept them.
We have the following time management tips for9.  The time wasted must be used properly for
graduate students.productive purposes.  Are you aware that you
1.  You will have to make use of a calendar andspend so much time while commuting, standing in
school planner.  Put some space where you willlines waiting for your turn, and waiting  for your
record your appointments, lists to do anddoctor, adviser or a friend.  
assignments. Make use of a yearly, monthly, andAlways bring a pocketbook so as to utilize the
weekly calendar.time which will be wasted.  Take with you a
You are required by the graduate school on longminor assignment which could be done easily.  
term perspective of time.  Formulate a plan atYou could use the time to make some changes in
least two years ahead with a yearly calendaryour planner and for self organization.  With the
which will be divided into months.additional number of minutes, you will be able to
2.  Take your time in planning and organizing. achieve more.