Keeping a calendar prevents procrastination

By: Nicole Alvarado

Posted: 8/20/08

Tick. Tock. Tick, tock. Ticktockticktockticktock. In college, it seems like every second counts. Exams, papers, homework, projects, dates, study groups, work, internship applications-everything has a deadline and time has never had a more ominous presence in our young lives.

College may be the busiest and most comprehensive time of our lives. We are trying to juggle more responsibilities than we've ever had before, on top of discovering who we are as people and undergoing changes to our intellect and belief systems based on an ever-expanding lexicon of knowledge and acquaintances.

Merna Jacobson, the interim director of the women's center and coordinator for organizational and staff development in the Division of Student Affairs, offers some advice to incoming freshmen on how to keep their lives organized.

"Have a plan," she said. "Build time into your calendar to take care of yourself and understand that everything is going to take three times longer than you think it's going to…It's also really important to not get isolated. Remember to stay connected to groups and things you enjoy."

Jacobson said that while joining groups and staying connected is a good idea, it's important to remember not to overdo it. It's very easy to lose control of priorities when you get too involved. Studies have shown that while there is no direct correlation between the number of groups a student is involved in and academic performance, it has been noted that students who do well in school are usually involved in extracurricular activities.

Charlotte Stockard, a senior environmental studies major, had an enjoyable first year at college, but wishes she would have spent more time on her grades.

"My first year was really fun and I made new friends from all over, but if I could go back, I probably would have studied more," she said. "My advice for incoming freshmen would be to budget time so that you have enough for both schoolwork and friends."

"The Department of Student Activities publishes the All-University Calendar [which can be found at http://www.studentactivities.tamu.edu/events], which lists all the different activities that go on for students," she said. "It helps a lot with planning and how they can spend their time."

The SCS has a number of workshops designed specifically for freshmen struggling with the transition from high school to college. Time Management and Procrastination is a two-part workshop that lasts for one hour each day and covers strategies for improving time management skills and managing procrastination. The first session will be held on September 3 and 10 at 1:50 p.m. in Cain Hall B103.

Another workshop freshmen might find useful is Insider's Guide: Navigating Your First-Year Aggie Experience, which will be held from September 15 through November 10 on Mondays from 3:00-4:30 p.m., also in Cain Hall B103.

A completed list of workshops and other services provided by the SCS can be found by calling (979) 845-4427 or visiting their office in Cain Hall.

"When you're at a university, you will never again be in a place where you are surrounded by so many people who care about you," Jacobson said. "It's important for freshmen to know that there are a lot of people that care about them here-all they need to do is reach out. There will always be someone there to help them."

Now, you can use some fancy software like the Apple Dashboard or Google Calendar, arrange your time by the hour in a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel or you can even go old-school and buy a calendar to pencil in your priorities. However, I think it's safe to say that in college, one can never underestimate the power of the planner.