Better time management is the bottom line to successfully balancing your education with the rest of your life. Below are several techniques that students have used to help make time for their educational pursuits:

• Make use of tools like a PDA, Outlook Calendar, or a Day Planner to better utilize your time.
• Develop a schedule for the week, month, and/or quarter for all of your activities.
• Inevitably, work or family will have some unexpected emergency, which could set you back, so stay ahead of your reading and assignments.
• Bring your notes with you to work so you can study on breaks.
• If you commute, consider taking public transportation so you can maximize your travel time for studying.
• When class is dismissed early, use the extra time to study or work on an assignment.
• Eliminate or reduce time distractions like television, Internet surfing and telephone calls.
• Get efficient. Schedule one block of time each week to complete all of your errands.
• Study outside of your home. Reduce your study time by eliminating regular distractions.
• Reduce your commitments outside of work, family, health and school if possible.
• Learn to say “no.” You cannot be all things to all people, and while academics is a priority you will have to say “no” to some, if not many requests.
• Make time management a game and look for innovative ways to save time.
• A savings of just ten minutes a day can give you that extra hour you need to do something for yourself.

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