Being able to properly manage time when in college is one of the hardest things to do. Students tend to feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get things done, and even when they may have a moment free, they may use it to socialize, relax or simply waste time. This then causes them to fall behind in classes and chores since they’d rather be sleeping, relaxing, playing video games or hanging out with friends, and instead of creating time to get their least fun things done, they just push it off. They will consistently say they will get it done later, but when things begin to pile up and become too much, they find that they don’t have enough time to get everything done, that should be done. This habit can be especially common amongst those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” and Learning Disabilities, anxiety disorders, etc., especially when expected to rise to adult-level independence in a place like college.
Procrastination is something most college students face because of their poor time management skills. They feel like they have more fun things to do and pushing off an assignment until tomorrow won’t hurt when, in actuality, it only causes more stress and problems for the future. This stress can then cause students to become too anxious and discouraged to try and continue in college, and as it gets too much, they may end up dropping out. A source explains “Psychologist William Knause estimated that 90% of college students procrastinate. Twenty-five percent of these become chronic procrastinators, many who end up dropping out of college.” (ptc, n.d.). Having poor time management skills not only pertains to schoolwork but can also prevent students from being social. If they are too preoccupied with school or other things such as chores, they may forget to make time in their week or days to spend time with peers. This can then lead to intense isolation, and even other problems such as depression and anxiety, which may also cause them to drop out because they are unhappy in their new environment. Being able to manage time can be more challenging for those in college than in high school because they may not have the daily micromanagement of their parents, so they must plan their days on their own. Since they do not have anyone to tell them they are wasting time, they are more likely to do it and have a more challenging time preventing it, which is common among college students. A source states “53% of college students claim to struggle more with time management in college than in high schools, and 78% of students claim to struggle with time management throughout their college experience…” (collegesucccessplan, 2021). With so many college students struggling with time management, it’s not uncommon for many of them to continue to deal with it after college or even drop out, but there are techniques and ways to help them manage.
When speaking to a client they told me that they would keep a color-coded planner to help them manage their time. They’d write the date things are due and then go back in the weeks and plan when they would put time aside to complete assignments and study for tests, and then with the left-over time would set days and times to socialize, go grocery shopping, clean, and partake in hobbies including sports and exercise, etc. This helped prevent them from procrastinating and leaving everything to the last minute, also preventing stress and the feeling that they have no options other than to drop out.
At the CollegeLSP, we professionally coach those who are college bound, in college, and after college develop the skills needed to excel in independent life. We can help develop the skills independent adults need in their lives by meeting from once to a few times a week to ensure they are continually practicing the skills needed to manage time properly and effectively on their own. Our team of Doctoral and Master level professionals uses our individualized, proprietary, evidence-based approaches developed with the real-life experience of thousands of students over three decades to aid young adults in their journey to independence. So, if you’re worried that poor time management skills may cause your young adult to fall behind, the CollegeLSP is more than qualified to help.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Time Management. Piedmont Technical College. (n.d.). Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://www.ptc.edu/college-resources/academic-resources/college-skills/time-management#:~:text=As%20a%20college%20student%2C%20your,up%20dropping%20out%20of%20college.
Studio, I. D. D. (2021, November 12). Where has the time gone? College Success Plan. Retrieved January 8, 2023, from https://collegesuccessplan.com/blog/where-has-the-time-gone#:~:text=53%25%20of%20college%20students%20claim,%E2%80%9Calways%E2%80%9D%20struggle%20with%20this.
