In the month of September, college freshmen everywhere have the unique challenge of getting acclimated to a new environment. Administrators, faculty, staff and upperclassmen try to lend a helping hand whenever possible, but it seems inevitable that on the first day of class someone gets lost and winds up in the wrong room. Especially during the first few weeks of school, there is a tendency for some to be late for class or for an appointment. Perhaps someone will fail to turn in an assignment or even forget to study for a test. These kinds of things happen, and while they are not necessarily the end of the world, we want to avoid them whenever possible.
"A schedule can literally save the day, not only for a college student, but also for an office worker, a salesman, or even a housewife."
One of a new student’s best friends is his schedule. A good schedule can turn a disastrous week into a successful one. A schedule can literally save the day, not only for a college student, but also for an office worker, a salesman, or even a housewife. Those of us who are finished with our years of schooling have our own challenges. Have you ever had a day when it seemed that you accomplished absolutely nothing? Perhaps you were very busy and never got a minute’s rest, but you looked back over the day and could not think of one worthwhile thing you accomplished.
All of us have had this kind of experience from time to time, but it is certainly something that we would not like to repeat. It is a frustrating feeling to know that you worked hard, but had little to show for your efforts. Some days are just going to turn out that way no matter what we do, but there are some things we can do to help manage most of those “out-of-the-ordinary” days. Here are a few simple thoughts that I have found helpful in creating a good schedule.
- Sketch out the big picture. What do you need to accomplish this year, this semester, this month, this week? Mark important due dates on your calendar. Toward the end of the week, plan the major events of your next week.
- At the end of the day, make a list of what you need to accomplish for the next day. This simple step can help you to avoid leaving out something that you really wanted to get done. It can also reveal whether you are being realistic. I often have a tendency to believe that I can get three days’ worth of work done in one day. This kind of planning always leads to frustration and a feeling of defeat.
- Do the most important tasks first. This way, you are sure to get them done. Your devotional time belongs to this “important” category. Most people tend to be more consistent with their Bible reading and prayer time if they do it first thing each morning. For a college student, study time is also very important. As a student, you cannot afford to wait until the night before to study for a test or write a paper. You must plan your study time so that you will be prepared for the assignments that are coming due.
- Try to accomplish several small tasks near the beginning of your day. Little victories have a way of making you feel successful, and sometimes success breeds success.
- Group similar or related tasks together to increase your efficiency.
- Use your schedule to help you fine tune your routine. There are some things that you do every day or every week. Make sure that you place them in the right order and at the right time of day so that you can get the most out of your time.
Time is a gift from God. It is our most valuable commodity. The psalmist prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). A schedule can “save the day” and allow us to get the most out of this incredibly valuable gift from the Lord.
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