“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” – Michael Altshuler.
We are all aware that now time is going faster than ever before, and as students we all have been in that situation where we are going through hundreds of articles and youtube videos about time management. This article is specifically for students who are applying to big number of scholarships and especially when it’s during times like school days. It’ll help guide them on how to juggle between tasks without having to sacrifice anything, and to summarize all that excessive and unrealistic information about time management which just leads students to feeling more overwhelmed.
The Benefits of Time Management
Let’s begin with seeing what time management can do for you. Dedicating time to organize yourself and your time will bring you many advantages, like having a higher chance of winning a scholarship because you’ve finished everything on time. Outside of scholarship applications it’ll also help you reach goals faster and to have a good reputation with your colleagues/classmates because you’ll always keep up with your tasks which inturn makes you a more reliable person. Additionally it will help improve your focus and decision making skills. One of the best parts is that it will allow you to have more room for hobbies, loved ones, and it greatly helps in decreasing stress levels and clearing your mind.
Now that we have gone over the benefits of time management, let’s see how we can actually accomplish it by learning some strategies. Below are the three key tools that can help you manage your time effectively
Number One: Breaking Down Work
Let’s start with taking things step by step, piece by piece because it is actually scientifically proven that one reason for procrastinating tasks is because of how large, complex and overwhelming they seem. This is called task aversion. Basically when tasks seem large or complex, they can provoke feelings of anxiety and stress, and so the brain will trigger a stress response similar to encountering a threat. This response activates the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center, which can lead to avoidance behavior as a coping mechanism. Studies have shown that the anterior cingulate cortex, responsible for error detection and anticipation of outcomes, becomes overburdened by large, unstructured tasks, leading to increased anxiety and a tendency to delay the task. So breaking down the scholarship application process into sections to complete at different intervals of time is of the utmost importance to boost your productivity and avoid procrastinating. For example, instead of dreading the mentally draining long process of applying to several scholarships, break it down into the search process first then write down all the potential scholarships you will apply for. On another day or time check the eligibility and materials needed and gather everything. Lastly, free a set amount of time for filling out a set amount of applications and continue until you are done. It seems much more doable now, right?
As you would have noticed, breaking down the time is also essential. There is actually a famous technique called The Pomodoro Technique. It involves working or studying for a certain amount of time and then taking a few minutes of break, then you repeat that whole process over until you’ve reached your set time goal. The Pomodoro technique was developed in the late 1980s by, at the time university student, Francesco Cirillo. The 25-minute work sprints and 5 minute breaks are the core of the method, but of course other time ratios can be adapted to fit your own goals. Like 30/10 or 40/20. As you can see this technique is emphasizing the fact that humans tend to be more productive when their tasks are spaced out rather than when it is tackled in a continuous time block. Fun fact: Pomodoro is Italian for tomato, inspired by the tomato shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used.
Number Two: Prioritize
Next, understanding how to prioritize your work is another crucial part of time management. You aren’t an artificial intelligence machine so you can not be doing multiple things at once in a short period of time. You have to choose wisely what to prioritize according to its importance; For instance focus on scholarships that are offering higher funding or those whose deadline is approaching fast (Sometimes a task isn’t at the top of importance but its deadline is approaching soon which makes it urgent). Those are the kind of factors you should put into mind when prioritizing your tasks. This method of careful planning and consideration ensures that you always complete the most relevant and important work. Also, by starting early you can ensure that you give enough attention and time for each task. For example, work on a certain part of applying to multiple scholarships for 5 hours daily, with breaks in between, 4 times a week. Then another 2 hours daily and 6 or 5 times a week. It’s all about strategic planning.
Number Three: Writing Things Out
To create a good strategic plan, it’s a good idea to have a notebook or simply a notes app, that maps out everything for you. Like mentioned earlier, when tasks feel overwhelming you’ll be more likely to procrastinate and achieve less, so map out each and every step of applications in an organized way. Having them out somewhere other than your mind gives you a clear headspace and allows you to do each step properly. Make a checklist with deadlines for every task and write down a suitable routine for yourself. Use productivity apps too and hold yourself accountable. Moreover you can ask friends or family to help keep you accountable by either watching you or even joining you.
Do not overlook the impact of your schedule, because the way we view and experience time is influenced by our activities and mental state. When people follow a structured schedule, they become more mindful of how they spend their time and are better at managing their attention and focus. Putting our thoughts on paper is part of decluttering, and when we declutter, whether it’s our brains, computer or desks, we become productive. Making a habit of doing this trains our brains to be automatically more clearer, disciplined and logical.
As the saying goes, “a goal that is not written down is nothing more than a wish”. When we take the time to write down our goals (the more detailed the better), we are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to achieve them. The benefits of this improved mental flow will carry over to all other areas of our lives. It improves focus and decision making skills and helps students combat procrastination.
Final Advice
- Burnout: Avoiding burnout is also important because no matter how badly you think you can push through you’ll eventually burn out and that reduces your work efficiency, and if it stretches out for too long you’ll not be able to work altogether.
- Include friends and family: A way to avoid burning out quickly is to seek the help of your family, friends and teachers. Not only does asking for help from others help in managing your time even better, but it also helps make things less overwhelming because they can take certain tasks off your back and that’ll help you stay on track. For example, reaching out to parents or teachers will give you practical insights you would not have known on your own. They can also give you advice on how they tackled scholarships similar to yours in the past, which saves you the time of having to go through hours of possibly long research. Classmates and friends can support you by collaborating on projects, sharing useful resources and giving you a fresh perspective. So don’t view the need for help as you lacking in something, but an essential component in managing your time, and applying to scholarships on time without being stressed.
- Managing distractions: Dealing and eliminating distractions is a must for the sake of your productivity levels. First identify what distracts you the most and set boundaries. Whether that’s turning off all notifications during writing your scholarship essay sessions, finding a quiet space, or using noise-canceling headphones. Follow all the above mentioned points like organizing tasks into manageable chunks, setting your priorities straight and sticking to your schedule to stay on track and make progress in your applications each day. Take breaks too, but in a planned way to refresh your focus every now and then.
- Finally, the role of discipline: Remember to work on your discipline, because while it’s important that you are inspired and motivated by achieving your dream educational and career goals, it’s discipline that will carry you till the very end of all the scholarship applications. After going through a few scholarships and you feel that you are starting to get lazy, remind yourself of the consequences of failing to attain a scholarship and also the rewards of attaining one. Motivate and visualize yourself winning a scholarship, and with luck and dedication you’ll get there. Keep pushing through while keeping your body and mind healthy. Do not stop for little distractions like fake scholarship advertisements or attractive student loans that’ll put you into trouble later on, and guess what? Managing your time correctly automatically increases your discipline.
