With Midterms and Graduation on the Way, How to Improve Time Management
Most experts will tell you that to stay healthy (and sane), getting eight hours of sleep is a must. But last week, Christina Arnold, a City College graduating senior, was able to squeeze in less than five hours a night. "With school full time, work full time and my internship 24 hours a week I rarely have time to sleep," says Arnold, 23, who's majoring in MCA. "I knew senior year would be a little difficult but not like this. I find myself sleeping on the train every day."Arnold is not the only one.Senior year in college can be very hectic especially if it's your last semester. According to a recent study 68 percent of college students, age 17 to 24, are strapped for time. They struggle with time management, trying to get everything done before graduation--internships, work, school, and getting those few more points to bust that GPA.Now, as the spring semester progresses and seniors are busy trying to balance it all, the City College Wellness and Counseling Center has found a way to help by offering time management strategies. "We at the Wellness Center realize that your last semester can be very crucial when trying to getting everything perfect before graduation," says Jenev Caddell, a counselor from the Wellness Center. "Perfectionism and procrastination can be a problem while trying to manage time, especially when the time is not a lot."For seniors graduating in June, this is the crunch time and waiting until last minute can a will get in the way of success. Says Caddell: "Time management is a skill that everyone should try to master. When setting goals that have a deadline you have to be able to manage your time."Upper senior Lori-Ann Chung says she learned her lesson last semester. Now she's more focused. "This semester isn't that bad," says Chung, 22. "Last semester was the killer, so now I'm just focused on enjoying my last semester as an undergrad."For making and meeting goals, Caddell recommends the SMART system: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time frame."Always try to follow our SMART goal statement," says Caddell. "Always ask yourself is it specific? How will it be measured? Is it achievable? Is it realistic? And what is the timeframe to complete it? If you follow these few simple steps you can never go wrong with time management."
