Time is currency and very valuable. Most people require effective time management skills to get the most out of their personal and professional lives. It can mean the difference between a college student’s performance being average and being exceptional. It would be best if you had control over time to handle it well. When you don’t intentionally manage your time, your old habits will do it for you and limit what you can accomplish.
Time Management as an MBA Student
In order to schedule your coursework around other responsibilities, time management skills need to be quickly developed when pursuing an Online MBA. A majority of students work and study at the same time, making time management even more crucial. Making sure you’re as productive and effective as you can throughout your MBA program is vital. We know that time is currency, and it seems to slip away quickly. Adding more to your schedule, like an online MBA, can feel overwhelming, but with a proper plan, you will fly through your day with success and less stress. Here are a few things we believe can help you on your road to success.
Organization
Although frequently underestimated, excellent organization is a crucial skill for MBA success. This goes beyond time management and involves ensuring you have enough reading material, a clean workspace, and organized study schedules. If you’re unsure where to start, list everything you believe you need to accomplish to be organized. This can involve setting aside time to become comfortable with study assistance systems, preparing a shopping list for supplies, and marking important dates. These actions will help you become more organized and stay on course to finish your MBA.
On a calendar with a month at a glance, note all significant dates. Keep track of the due dates for assignments, themes, reports, and research papers. Dates should be noted for assessments, tests, midterms, final exams, and presentations. These times are your goals, and checking your calendar frequently can help you stay focused on them.
Make Lists
Make a weekly priority list that includes short-term and long-term assignments before each school week. Prepare a list of the tasks you need to complete this week and the ones you want to do. Determine what reading, reviewing, or writing is required for each subject first—mention particular chapters and pages. Review the long-term tasks and test dates after that, and allot time for preparation. Suppose a semester paper is required; for instance, factor in time for research. Make long-term responsibilities into small chunks and track your progress toward your objectives using your weekly priority list.
Study Like a Boss
One of the finest pieces of time management advice working professionals have found is to be intentional about studying. Meaning, schedule that time in your week! Students have to commit to attend, be on time, and remain present while studying if you want to succeed.
There are advantageous results to this kind of intentionality. This planning can affect other plans in your day and week. The vast majority of Online MBA students are juggling school, work, and personal obligations. Intentional study planning can permeate all through your life. Students can plan additional obligations and keep moving toward effective time management techniques. Google Calendar has many tools and features that you can use to set reminders for your study meetings. By implementing this into your schedule, you are making it your business to be present, on time, and show up like a boss.
Semester Planning
It would help if you created a strategy for accomplishing your semester objectives that are adaptable enough to consider your weekly priorities. You can properly schedule your time by planning how to use every 24 hours each day of the week.
A semester plan is a helpful strategy for achieving your objectives. It is a thorough weekly list of events. The timetable allows time for learning, eating, sleeping, and having fun. A semester plan will help you create solid time management skills and set yourself up for success. Follow it religiously.
- Identify the time that is reserved. Make a list of the activities you must or will do, along with the associated times. Include the times you have classes, work, spend time with family, exercise, commute, etc.
- Determine your private time. Keep track of how much time you require for sleeping, eating, grooming, and home duties.
- Calculate your study time. Calculate how much time you’ll need to spend studying for each course. Start by adhering to the two-for-one principle. Every week, allocate two hours of study time outside the classroom for each hour of class. Give challenging classes more time and more accessible classes less of it. You will eventually learn how much study time is necessary for each lesson to do well.
Study Plan
Create a study plan. Decide on specific times to study. Include the following time-management ideas wherever you can:
- Study challenging material first. Your focus is better when you start studying since your mind is awake and alert. Do not initially succumb to the urge to complete simple tasks and small jobs.
- Distributed learning exercises. It happens more successfully when learning is spread out over numerous study sessions. Instead of studying for three hours in one evening, do so for three nights. If you use this strategy, you can master the content more quickly.
- Utilize daylight hours wisely. According to studies, studying for an hour during the day is equivalent to studying for an hour and a half at night.
Take Action
For someone with a business mindset, approaching your time management plan as a business is a terrific scenario. If your plan doesn’t work out, don’t be hard on yourself; failure is only a lesson you learn along the way to being great.
It would be best if you were realistic about the amount of time you can devote to your education as a student who is also working. Students can add to the strain and stress on themselves if their study journey is started with unreasonable time expectations. Excessive stress and pressure lends itself to burnout. Burnout is something every student needs to be aware of and should unquestionably avoid throughout an MBA.
Use the time management advice stated above to sit down and estimate how much free time you have before committing. Early mornings and late evenings will be necessary for the journey, but you must ensure that your time management strategy includes a work-life balance.
Be courageous and tenacious. Recognize that if you concentrate on your goals, you will succeed. Be aware that it requires fortitude to stick to a timetable and dedicate yourself to your education.
Related Resources
Guide to Online MBA
How can I succeed in an online mba?
Guide to Business School
