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Learning Guide: Time Management
Time management helps you balance work, school, family, and friends. It’s a skill needed to prioritize demands and keep track of obligations and due dates.
Students need to manage their time on 3 levels: by semester, weekly, and daily.
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Schedule by Semester
Look at the big picture and plan ahead by scheduling your whole semester. Write down or draw what your semester looks like on one page. Fill it in using different colours for each class. Include dates for tests and assignments along with how much they count towards your final grade. Here is an Example Semester Schedule for you to review.
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Weekly Schedule
Build a weekly schedule to bring balance and routine into your life. Make space for obligations and time for relaxing and having fun. Firstly, put in all your “non-negotiables” (classes, tutorials, labs, academic appointments, sleeping, eating, exercise, self-care, and chores). Next, schedule in your study time.
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Daily Schedule
Stay motivated and prevent becoming overwhelmed by using a daily schedule and to-do lists. You can break your to-do list down into two categories: an ongoing to-do list and a daily to-do list.
- Your ongoing to-do list keeps track of everything you have to get done. It grows as you add to it throughout the semester.
- A daily to-do list includes what you plan to get done today. Create it by prioritizing your top 3-4 tasks from your ongoing list.
Read our tips on Making an effective to do list(ʶٹ).
Following these daily, weekly, and semester schedules will help keep you motivated and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.
Apps & Resources
Calendars & Schedules
- How to Manage Your Time (PDF postcard)*
- Create a Weekly Schedule (PDF)
- Create a Weekly Schedule (Excel)
- Semester Schedule (PDF)
- Semester schedule (Fillable excel)
- (University of Waterloo)
- ($)
To-Do Lists
- Making an effective to do list (PDF)
- How to Manage your to-do list (PDF postcard)*
- ($)
- ($)
Goal Setting
- Goal setting: S.M.A.R.T goals(PDF postcard)*
- Goal setting practice sheet(ʶٹ)
- Goal completion plan(ʶٹ)
Time Trackers
Avoid Distractions on Your Phone
- Studying 101: Managing Distractions(PDF postcard)*
Habit Trackers
Site Blockers
- - Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
* Access the screen-reader compatible version of our postcards' content.
Learning Capsule: Create Your Semester Schedule
Check out our video on to learn more about:
- Setting yourself up to stay organized and on top of your work
- Examples of semester schedules
► Access all our videos on