Manage your time

Effective time management relies on a variety of techniques, some of which you probably practise already. As a university student, you (rather than your parents or teachers) will need to take charge of how you spend your time on study and other activities, so that you can achieve the best possible outcomes.

University study is normally considered the equivalent of a full-time job (1 unit of study = approx. 10 hours of study per week), and you may need to re-prioritise your other commitments and develop new time management strategies. If you are struggling to manage your time commitments, book a consultation with a learning adviser.

Planning principles View

Adjusting and managing your expectations

For some students, life is already full to the brim, and study is just one extra responsibility to add to an already burgeoning list of commitments. If that sounds like you, perhaps it’s not actually time management skills that you need! Rather, you might need to step back, and objectively assess your current life situation. Ask yourself: how much can I realistically fit into my life right now? If I want to prioritise study, do I need to set aside, either temporarily or permanently, some of my other commitments? Is it realistic to aim for perfection in my studies, when I’m also trying to do 100% in everything else? Is my chosen study load really feasible? If the answer is no, see Prioritise competing demands for ways to decide what to set aside.

Recognising and living with your limitations and constraints is not a sign of weakness or failure. You might like to explore these questions in the company of an objective outsider, like a learning adviser, or with someone in your support network. An objective assessment of your capabilities at a particular point in time might save you from the unnecessary stress and overwhelm of trying to do too much. You’re not a superhero, you’re a human being.

Good time management turns your goals, from passing a unit to graduating, into time in your calendar. If you haven't set your goals yet, start with Goals for the short, medium and long term.

Plan your semester

Monash planner

In order to complete the many tasks required across the full span of the teaching period (e.g. a semester), it’s useful to make a ‘master plan’. This will enable you to be prepared not only for all your assessments, but also to build your knowledge for each unit and ensure you have done adequate revision for your final assessments.

When planning your teaching period, it’s a good idea to have a visual overview as well as a week-by-week breakdown. This can be a wall planner plus a diary, or an online calendar. With your Monash email account, you will have access to a Google Calendar. Instructions on how to use your Google Calendar are available on the eSolutions website.

Create your master plan View

Plan your week

A full-time study load is estimated at approximately 35-40 hours a week. This estimate includes the time it takes to complete your assessments, as well as prepare for classes, revise your class material, and study for final assessments (exams). There is a lot to try to fit into those hours!

Screenshot of a weekly plan in Google calendar

Create your weekly plan View

Plan your day

Use these tips to plan your day so you make the most of your time.

Make daily to-do lists View

Taking it further

Your feedback matters

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you found most useful or share your suggestions for improving this resource.

	1. Plan at three levels: the teaching period, the week, and the day. Those are the key areas of focus for you as a student. Central to effective management is scheduling – using various calendars to evaluate exactly how much time is available to you for study and other activities.
	2. Break assessments into smaller tasks. Even a short essay or report has several steps that can't all be left to the last minute. See Break down and track your assessments.
	3. Expect new tasks to take longer than you think. When planning, practise contingency management and leave a buffer of time before due dates. That way you will not need to depend on excessive caffeine or excuses to buy yourself more time.
	4. Prioritise and plan first to avoid the stress of trying to achieve everything at the same time. See Prioritise competing demands.
	5. Build your time management skills: prioritising, avoiding procrastination and overplanning, and staying focused and motivated. See Key time management skills.
	6. There is no simple set of strategies that works for everybody. Consider your own preferences (e.g. is there a part of the day when you are most productive?) and don’t be afraid to try a few new strategies in order to be more organised and efficient with your time. A big part of time management is reflecting on what works best for you, and making adjustments along the way.

Student Academic Success