Title: 2.1 Why talk about time management?
Course: RITA LEARNING MODULES > Section: 2. Time Management

Identify the value and principle of time management and define strategies that work for you.

Time Management Calculator from University of Connecticut

Effectively managing your time lowers stress levels and improves academic success. Time management is a key skill for students. Further, researchers consistently find that effective time management is one of the keys to academic success. You might be surprised to discover how much time you need to spend on coursework and studies. Your success--and thus your grade--depends on your ability to spend time and energy completing assignments in a given time frame. In many college courses the learning is cumulative: what is covered in each topic will help build a foundation for future topics. Therefore, to do well you'll need to keep up with assignments and discussion from week to week.

Time management...not a snazzy topic, but a practical one.

It's tempting to procrastinate in courses, especially those that are online. It's very easy to get behind - and very hard to get caught back up. It is recommended that you create a weekly schedule so you'll have a guide for incorporating study time in with your other activities. Successful students spend 2 to 3 hours regularly each week for each hour of credit for a class. For example, a 3-hour credit class requires a minimum of at least 6 to 9 hours of outside work each week of the semester to complete all requirements.

So, think about the impact of adding another more hours to your already busy life. Can you meet the challenge? Most definitely. But some careful planning will be required. To manage your time in college, you must first set priorities. The decision to attend college, whether in residence or online, is a commitment to being a professional student as long as you're enrolled. Any professional -- doctor, businessperson, athlete, or student -- pays attention to his or her professional responsibilities above most other things in life. Usually work comes before pleasure. Actively identifying and managing your priorities will help you develop a manageable system for the living each day accordingly.

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