 Did you move from the other side of the world to go to school?
Are you living in your family home while attending University? Maybe you moved from another city or town? It does not matter where you come from or if you have moved, you are susceptible to feelings of loneliness. When we are lonely we are prone to do things we might not normally do. We want to turn that into a positive and move our mental and emotional health forward. There’s lots to say about the “why” behind loneliness but rather than focus in on that we would like to give you a few pointers on how to fight it.
We gravitate to what is familiar and known, especially when we are lonely. But this can be a great time to step outside of what we know and try something new. Consider picking up a new hobby, joininga study group with peers from your class or creating your own study group. Building new relationships takes time and effort but we have a deep longing to be known. It is worth being vulnerable in order to be known. “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves  I cannot profess to be a top notch student or manager of my time. I get distracted, I waste time and I procrastinate. I have told myself “TODAY will be the day I get it done” and the day has come and gone.
I’ve tried and failed BUT I have also gotten back up to try again and again. Although self-awareness has been a big key in my growing success with time management there have also been a few things I have learned to value over time (pun intended). THREE PROCESSES that have helped me grow in time management skills.
PLANNING Benjamin Franklin is attributed with the saying: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” I have goals for my week, my term, my year and I have found it extremely helpful to map out my “Ideal Week” in accordance with these goals. The ideal week is a concept I learned from time management specialist Michael Hyatt. Mapping out my ideal week helps me to put my main priorities in first and learn to say no to what isn’t a priority. Check out this article for more information on mapping out your ideal week - https://michaelhyatt.com/ideal-week/ (If you’re a Segue UofM student let’s get together and talk about getting started on your “ideal week”) TRACKING Goals and a plan are great but if you are not tracking then you don’t know if your goals are being reached. You can do this simply by writing out a daily or weekly to do list for your goals and ticking the boxes as you get them done in the time you’ve set aside to reach your goals. EVALUATING Learning how to evaluate is an ongoing process. When you’re setting your goals it is a good idea to decide what you would consider a “win” and what is a loss. Remember that it is okay to say “that plan did not work.” It is also okay to keep something going if it IS working. Maybe it needs a small adjustment. I know from personal experience that some goal setting, planning and tracking styles work better for me during the school year than in the spring and summer. CELEBRATE YOUR WINS, even if that win is just that you learned something new about what works for your style of time management. Don’t give up. Keep trying. Maybe you want to consider getting a life coach or friend to help you get started and keep you on track. You can do this! For more pro tips on how to manage your time, especially for students, check out this time management article put together by the University of Waterloo. https://uwaterloo.ca/beyond-ideas/stories/tips-advice/5-time-management-tips-busy-students Remember, time management is a skill. Keep trying. Keep learning. Ask questions. Dig deep to discover what keeps you from succeeding and what is truly life giving. Do you struggle with time management? What have you tried? Has it worked? Written by Tammy Junghans |
AuthorYour authors are Segue Student Leaders who want you to grow and succeed as you transition into and out of student life! ArchivesCategories |
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