Table of contents
Introduction Time Management Health and Lifestyle Stress and Mental Health Effective Time Management Strategies for Students Identifying Priorities Make Checklists Time Blocking Use a Planner to Increase Productivity How to Use Your Planner as a Self-Care Tool Set Goals and Build Discipline Reflect on Personal Values Creative Outlet for Stress Relief Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle as a Student Sleep, diet and exercise Reducing Student Stress and Anxiety Staying Motivated in School Healthy Relationships Increasing Your Self-Worth As a Student Understanding Your Values and Strengths Neurodiversity and Accepting Your Limitations Practice Self-Compassion Celebrate Small Victories Seek Support When Needed References
Introduction
Student life can get busy, making it difficult to balance academics, extracurriculars, and personal relationships. We've put together a series of blog posts for students, with strategies to manage common obstacles and a Free Academic Planner Download to help you get organized.
To start off, here are 3 common challenges that students struggle with:
Time Management
Balancing academics with extracurricular activities, work, and personal life can create stress for students trying to get everything done, causing students to feel overwhelmed. This can lead to exhaustion, burnout and loss of motivation.
Health and Lifestyle
The living environment contributes greatly to a student's ability to study efficiently. Proper sleep, diet, and exercise are essential for student well-being, but emotional health is equally important. Many students struggle with loneliness and making friends, and this social isolation can negatively impact mental health.
Stress and Mental Health
Academic life comes with a lot of uncertainty, and students can sometimes feel inadequate or directionless. During stressful periods in the school year, essential self-care like sleep and exercise is often neglected; and feelings of low self-worth can escalate into more serious mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression.1
All of these challenges are interconnected, and overcoming them requires a balanced approach from a wide range of solutions. Implementing healthy practices through small changes can help address some of these problems, so here are our tips for a productive school year:
Effective Time Management Strategies for Students
Identifying Priorities
We are limited each day by the amount of time and energy we have, so it’s important to identify your priorities. Here are 3 ways to rank your tasks, with different questions to consider:
| Eisenhower Matrix |
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| ABC method |
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| Practical considerations |
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Make Checklists
The act of writing down tasks can help us remember and prioritize the things we need to do. A checklist can help you visualize and manage daily activities more efficiently. Try different colour groups to organize your tasks by importance, location, or time.
Time Blocking
For those who struggle to multitask, an alternative might be to focus on one specific task at a time. Try allocating specific time blocks of 1-2 hours for each task, and schedule breaks in-between to allow your brain to reset and switch gears.
Use a Planner to Increase Productivity
A planner is a great tool for students struggling with time management. By visualizing your schedule, you can strategically allocate time for studying, assignments, and other activities. Experiment with different layouts that best suit your needs with Free Planner Downloads that you can print at home to try out.
How to Use Your Planner as a Self-Care Tool
Planners are known to reduce stress for students by helping them manage their school timetable. But they are also great for reflecting on personal values, tracking goals and building habits! Here are some suggestions for how you can use a planner to support your well-being:
Set Goals and Build Discipline
Writing down short-term and long-term goals can be a good way to stay motivated. Review your goals and track your progress using a planner, while developing consistency for healthy habits. The regular use of planners can help build accountability and discipline.
Reflect on Personal Values
Planners can also be used as journals to align daily activities with values and gain clarity on personal direction. Using a planner or journal is a commitment to better manage time, reflect on personal growth, and navigate student life with a clear, organized mindset.
Creative Outlet for Stress Relief
Journaling can be a therapeutic activity, reducing mental clutter by providing a private space to express thoughts and emotions. Planners and journals are often used as an outlet for creative expression, whether through drawing, writing or other artistic mediums. Moreover, art therapy has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, making it a productive strategy for students seeking ways to relieve stress.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle as a Student
There's no doubt that keeping up with healthy practices can be difficult as a student; but good time management can be a game-changer for students balancing a healthy lifestyle with schoolwork. Here are some actionable tips to help students make the most of the limited time they have:
Sleep, diet and exercise
| Sleep |
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| Diet |
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| Exercise |
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Reducing Student Stress and Anxiety
| Organization and Time Management: |
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| Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques |
Meditation: Spend a few minutes each day practicing mindfulness meditation to reduce anxiety. Deep Breathing Exercises: Use deep breathing techniques during stressful moments to calm your mind. Go for a walk: Many studies have shown that exercise (even a 10 minute walk!) can significantly improve our mood and reduce stress.2 |
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Avoid Negative Self-Talk |
Practice Positive Affirmations: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations to boost self-worth. Reflect on Achievements: Keep a journal of your accomplishments to remind yourself of your strengths and progress. |
Staying Motivated in School
When there's too much on your plate, it can sometimes be tempting to throw it all away. This is usually a sign of burnout and overwhelm, and here are some ways to counter this:
Set Out Your Goals.
Have Strategic Goals - Making realistic and specific goals allows you to keep up with them. Try breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable steps.
Track Progress - Use a journal or app to monitor your progress and celebrate small wins. Regularly review and adjust your plans to stay motivated and on track.
Use Time Management Strategies.
Pomodoro Technique - Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle four times, then take a longer break.
Time Blocking - Allocate specific times for different activities throughout your day to ensure a balanced schedule.
Prioritize your activities - Organize your tasks into what needs to get done first, and what can realistically be completed in your day.
Use a Planner or Digital Calendar - Visualize your schedule and deadlines by using effective time management tools.
Try to avoid Burnout.
Take Regular Breaks - Ensure you have time for relaxation and hobbies.
Seek Help When Needed - Don't hesitate to ask for help from teachers, friends, or counselors if you're feeling overwhelmed.
Healthy Relationships
As a student, maintaining supportive relationships is important for your mental health; and connecting with people who care about you helps foster positive environments that contribute to your wellbeing. Here are some ways that can help you nurture healthy relationships:
Communicate Openly.
Share Your Feelings - Be honest with friends and family about how you're feeling.
Listen Actively - Pay attention to others' feelings and offer support when needed.
Build Support Networks.
Join Clubs or Groups - Participate in student organizations or clubs that interest you to meet like-minded people.
Stay Connected - Regularly check in with friends and family, even if it's just a quick text or call.
Set Boundaries.
Protect Your Time - Learn to say no to activities or people that drain your energy or take time away from important tasks.
Respect Others' Boundaries - Be mindful of others' needs and boundaries in your interactions.
Increasing Your Self-Worth As a Student
Embracing your strengths, weaknesses, and unique traits is fundamental to effective planning. Here are some ways to encourage a healthy mindset:
Understanding Your Values and Strengths
Knowing what matters most to you—whether it’s academic achievement, creativity or relationships—can guide your planning and decision-making process. By aligning your daily tasks and long-term goals with your core values, you'll find more purpose and motivation in your activities. Recognizing your strengths allows you to leverage these abilities to maximize your efficiency and success.
Neurodiversity and Accepting Your Limitations
Each mind works differently, a concept known as neurodiversity. Understanding your cognitive and learning style can help you find strategies that complement your way of processing information. This might mean scheduling more breaks if you have a shorter attention span, or allocating extra time for challenging subjects. Effective planning is rooted in setting realistic expectations based on your personal capabilities and circumstances.
Practice Self-Compassion
It can be easy to fall into the trap of perfectionism, so it's important to practice self-compassion. When things don't go as planned, remind yourself that mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process. Our achievements don't define our worth, and self-care isn't something to be withheld when we encounter failure. Acknowledge your efforts, learn from your missteps, and move forward with a better understanding of yourself.
Celebrate Small Victories
Recognizing and rewarding yourself for your successes can boost your confidence, maintain your motivation, and strengthen your commitment to your goals. If you are struggling to find things to celebrate, try making a list of small tasks you completed in the past week, and check them off as achievements you accomplished. Sometimes we don't realize how much work it can take to just get through the week!
Seek Support When Needed
Finally, knowing yourself also means knowing when to ask for help. Whether it’s seeking advice from a counselor, reaching out to friends and family, joining a support group, or using campus resources, don’t hesitate to reach out. Everyone needs help sometimes, and it’s a sign of strength to recognize when you need it and to take action.
References
1. March-Amengual, Jaume-Miquel, et al. “Psychological distress, Burnout, and academic performance in first year college students.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12 Mar. 2022, p. 3356, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063356.
2. Edwards, Meghan K, and Paul D Loprinzi. “Experimental Effects of Brief, Single Bouts of Walking and Meditation on Mood Profile in Young Adults.” Health Promotion Perspectives, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 July 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6064756/.
