Time Management: How to Manage Life’s Most Valuable Asset
Welcome to your crash course in using your college experience to make meaningful change in your life.
The Transformational College Experience Part 2
The Transformational College Experience is a three-part series of tips and tools based on lectures given by alum Dante DiBattista ’17. In part two, we’ll explore how to hack your psychology to create your own time management techniques.
How Much Is Your Time Worth?
Do you know where your time goes and how much it costs? There’s a reason why we say to “pay” attention. Your time is valuable, and companies understand this. That’s why companies drop so much money on digital ads to draw your attention their way. Be sure to “spend” your time wisely. DiBattista says, “What you give your attention to should give you something valuable in return.”
Get Into a Flow
Flow state (aka. runner’s high or “the zone”) happens when you lose track of time while absorbed in a task. Getting into flow state isn’t as easy as flipping a switch, but you can minimize distractions that keep you from flow. Try turning off all notifications except the ones you actually want to be bothered by, like calendar alerts and calls from important contacts. When you aren’t interrupted by alerts that unfairly steal your attention, you’re more likely to drop into your flow state.
Cut Down on Decision Making
Don’t turn off your brain completely, just give it a break! By automating easy decisions, you can focus on what’s really important. Meal prepping and picking outfits in advance can save you from daily decision fatigue. DiBattista also suggests creating a schedule that fills all your time—nights and weekends included—so you know exactly where your energy is going. Blocking out time for everything from classes and studying to self-care, workouts, and time with friends, makes the most of your days.
Be Your Own Psychology Experiment
There’s no need to go to the lab for this. When you study your own routines and habits with an impartial, scientific eye, you can use that information to build a better schedule. Try journaling about your days consistently for one week, then go back and read your notes. What do you notice? Are you always exhausted around noon but get a second burst of energy around 4pm? Do you study for longer periods of time while in a certain spot on campus? You can then adjust your schedule and habits to support your findings.
Sleep More, Study Less
Sleep is essential for synthesizing the knowledge you learned in class. The fewer all-nighters you can pull, the more you’ll actually remember. Then, you can take advantage of serial position effect to study more efficiently during the day. People tend to remember the first and last pieces of information on a list more than what’s in the middle, so the more beginnings and endings you can create in your study routine, the more you’ll remember. Studying in smaller chunks and getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night is a great way to use your biology to your advantage.
“Don’t Ride the Waves—Build Your Own Wave Pool.”
DiBattista’s quote rings especially true for college students. While we’re all riding through the semester together, each student encounters different waves at different times. Just because your schedule looks different from your roommate’s doesn’t mean that either of you are doing it wrong (as long as you’re not keeping each other up all night!). Try one or all of these tips and see how smooth the surf becomes.
Dante DiBattista ’17 is an award-winning leadership coach, consultant, and public speaker who has worked with clients across the globe to empower executives and employees alike to be their best. He is an active Widener alum and has appeared on the Far & Widener podcast. His book, The Transformational College Experience: How to Make the Most of It, is available now. Visit DiBattista’s website to learn more about him, and watch the full video from this masterclass.