You use time management skills every day. As a college student, you especially need to draw on them to achieve your goals!

One of the best methods of using time effectively and controlling procrastination is to plan when you will do specific tasks. Planning does not mean following a rigid schedule, it means making good decisions about when it is easiest and most efficient to get your work done. Time management means working smarter, not necessarily harder. It’s not about how much time you have, but how well you can manage it. Below we have outlined a few simple things you can do to manage your time efficiently:

Everyone procrastinates to some extent. It is probably the most common time management problem students face when studying online.

The strategies to help you with procrastination are the same that will help you master your time management skills. By doing a few simple things, you can control your procrastination.

Plan out your time.

• A good time plan is probably the single most effective way to control procrastination.

Set a realistic goal.

• Too much of the same thing at once can be pretty daunting. Try splitting up your reading and studying over the course of the week. If you do each activity for 30 minutes to an hour each day instead of leaving it all to one day, you’ll be far less likely to put it off.
• For more tips on setting goals, continue on to the next section in this module!

Break down your work into smaller tasks.

• Procrastination often results when the task seems difficult, unpleasant or overpowering. Bring the task down to size and make it less intimidating by using this method. As soon as you receive a big assignment, set aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to work on it. By the end of the week, it won’t seem so challenging and you'll have a better understanding of what needs to be done. Manageable, daily periods of work are the key while starting early helps to ensure that due dates will be met.

Also, did you know that procrastination is a habit? According to Mel Robbins, all habits can be conquered and have three parts:

1. The trigger (and in the case of procrastination, the trigger is always stress)
2. Then there is a pattern to repeat (and in the case of procrastination, it is to avoid doing something)
3. And there is a reward (you get some stress relief)

And to fix the habit of procrastination, you need to look at changing step 2: the pattern. And you can do that by following the simple time management strategies we have given you above.

You've heard about SMART goals before, and there are thousands of resources on the internet that explain what SMART goals are. But we are going to break it down a bit more into tangible George Brown student specific examples to help you set your own SMART goals.

To set a SMART goal you need to be:

Specific: Goals should be written in the most simplistic manner possible, focusing in on one specific outcome. Without this core principle, you might find it hard to focus and, in the end, feel unmotivated.

• GBC Student: I'm going to focus this semester and boost my grade from C to B in Accounting 3007!

Measurable: Goals need to be measurable in such a way that tangible evidence can be presented along the way. It's fun to track your milestones! This can be as simple as setting a specific date for your achievement.

• GBC Student: I'm going to do my work based on my schedule and calendar and meet with my tutor on Wednesdays to prepare for the Accounting 3007 mid-term on July 7th.

Achievable: Goals should be designed like a good workout. They should stretch you slightly, so you feel challenged, but not cause stress or injury.

• GBC Student: I’m going to do two virtual workouts a week from GBC Recreation’s On-Demand Fitness Classes to keep my body moving and boost my energy while I study for the Accounting 3007 mid-term.

Relevant: It's important to examine your goal. Make sure it's relevant and realistic.

• GBC Student: I will finish all the readings and assignments required to do the Accounting 3007 mid-term.

Time-bound: Goals should be linked to a timeframe that creates a practical sense of urgency, creating a healthy tension that will propel you forward.

• GBC Student: I’m going to do two virtual workouts a week from GBC Recreation’s video library to keep my body moving and boost my energy while I study for my Accounting 3007 mid-term.

Students: Accounting 3007 is not a real course, it was used as an example for this exercise!

Stress is a given in our lives and there is no easy way to avoid it. But there are many ways that you can manage it so stress doesn't negatively impact your personal and academic life.

Below we also have a few tips to help you manage some of your stress while you navigate your online semester:

Setting up a dedicated study space doesn't mean that you have to go spend a lot of money and get brand new things to do it. It means that you carve out a space in your home where you go to study. This is the spot where you will be able to focus and get your work done. Here are a few ways you can do this:

Set the scene.

• If you like to study in absolute quiet, set up a space in a bedroom or in an out-of-the-way spot. If you thrive in a busier atmosphere, carve out a permanent corner of the kitchen or family room for your studying. Whichever one it is, keep it consistent every day.

Make the space comfortable.

• But not too comfortable! Pick a spot that makes you comfortable, relaxed and allows you to focus. So if you tend to fall asleep when you read in bed, don't set it up as your study spot!

Make it ergonomic (as much as you can).

• Ideally, your study surface should be about waist height. When you sit down, make sure you can set your elbows on the table without hunching up your shoulders.
• You should be able to put your feet flat on the floor. If your chair isn't the right height for that, get resourceful and sit on a pillow or tuck a shoebox under your feet to help them reach the floor. You can even add a rolled-up blanket behind your back to keep it from getting sore.
• Don't forget that your monitor needs to be about 18-30" away and if you have one, an anti-glare screen will help keep your eyes from getting tired.

Don't forget about lighting.

• If you don't have natural light coming into your home, that's okay. Try a combination of overhead lights and a reading or desk lamp that you can aim at your books or computer screen.

Stay organized.

• This tip is both for your study space and your devices. Use boxes, drawers, organizers — whatever you prefer — to keep your space organized. Hang a bulletin board and/or wall calendar to help you keep track of due dates and handy reminders. Get your computer organized too. Files and folders with the right naming conventions will help you find everything you need quickly!

Decorate your space.

• You don't have to buy new things to decorate your space. Grab a few of your favourite items from around your home and add them to your space. Bring a plant, your favourite mug or a clock if you have one. By personalizing your space in a way that brings you joy it will help keep you energized and focused.

Source: 9 Tips for Creating the Perfect Study Space from Scholastic.

Online classes have their own set of challenges, and when you add to those balancing careers and families, it can feel very daunting.

But it doesn't have to be that way. There are a few things you can do to create a healthy balance between all the things you need to do while studying online.

Lean on your personal support team.

• Before you start your studies, talk to your friends and family. Share your calendar with them and let them know how they can support you to achieve your goals.

Ask for help.

• You are NOT alone. Talk to your instructors, coordinators and counsellors to see how they can support you. If you are working let your employer know that you are taking online classes. If you have a partner or children at home, delegate some work to them to help you free up your time to study.

Look at your priorities.

• Look at your schedule and map out what needs to be done first and prioritize. Your well-organized calendar will help you stay focused and tackle all of what you are responsible for (personally and academically) in order of importance.

Give yourself a break.

• Even though you may be under stress, you need to focus on your well-being, too. Make sure to manage your time to get the seven to eight hours of sleep each night and time to move your body daily. Make sure you reward yourself for a job well done. Online classes demand a lot of your time and energy, but it shouldn’t deplete your health, your professional life or your family life. Make sure you take breaks and recharge so you can come back to your studies refreshed and energized!

There are also many students who are taking online classes while they have kids at home. Managing childcare and studies is not an easy thing to do. George Brown College’s School of Early Childhood has put together a list of online resources for families looking for new ways to keep children engaged, active and learning at home as well.

Being self-motivated is a skill, and like any other skill, it requires practice to master. To start, you need to work on your mindset. You need to believe that you are in charge of your own education. To get your mindset where it needs to be you have to:

• Practice positive self-talk
• Avoid procrastination
• Keep a consistent schedule
• Give yourself breaks when needed

To continue to be motivated, you need to work and experience the successes of your work. This means you must regularly log in to Brightspace and keep up with the assigned work. Stay in constant communication with your instructors and classmates and ask for help when you need it.

_{Graphic Source: Delaney Jaye - A New Perspective.}

Below is a fun self-assessment from MindTools.com that you can do to get a better understanding of your motivation.

Grab a piece of paper, and for each of the statements below give yourself a score between 1 and 5 (1 being Not at All, and 5 being Very Often). Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry, there are no wrong answers. This activity will just help you better understand how self-motivated you are, and what you can do to improve.

SCORING:

44-60 high - Wonderful! You get things done, and you don't let anything stand in your way. You make a conscious effort to stay self-motivated, and you spend significant time and effort on setting goals and acting to achieve those goals. You attract and inspire others with your success. Treasure this — and be aware that not everyone is as self-motivated as you are!

28-43 moderate - You're doing OK on self-motivation. You're certainly not failing — however, you could achieve much more. To achieve what you want, try to increase the motivation factors in all areas of your life.

12-27 low - You allow your personal doubts and fears to keep you from succeeding. You've probably had a few incomplete goals in the past, so you may have convinced yourself that you aren't self-motivated — and then you've made that come true. Break this harmful pattern now, and start believing in yourself again!