Organising your time during your university years is vital. Particularly as most students find a part time job to support themselves financially, which results in little free-time remaining.

However, there are various strategies that are easily incorporated into your routine that will better enable you to study, work and enjoy some time to yourself. Because who said university had to be all work and no play?

1. Look for a job with set working hours

Although you may feel like ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, there are part time jobs available with fixed hours. For instance, many establishments employ weekend only staff in order to cover the busy periods.
Having set working hours in place will give you stability and give you the opportunity to plan your studying schedule and social life around your job.

2. Which learning style suits you?

There are three types of learners: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners. Once you have identified how you learn, it will become easier to ensure your time is being used as efficiently as possible – as there are plenty of tips and tricks which can be incorporated into your studies that are tailored to each type of learner.

3. Make lists

Making lists will give your studying a sense of structure. Lists are a great way to manage your work as well as your time, while checking each item off your list will give you a well-earned sense of satisfaction and achievement.

4. Set study goals

Setting yourself goals is a great way of organising your studies, especially if you reward yourself afterwards. If you are struggling to find time for your hobbies, make this your reward for achieving your study goals.

5. Dedicate time each day to your studies

If you feel like you aren’t spending enough time studying, try breaking your sessions up into smaller slots so that you are working for a little bit of time every day. If you are against the clock, it is more achievable to study little and often as opposed to cramming it all into one day. You will also find that by doing this you remember more as breaking the information you are learning into bite size chunks makes it easier to retain key facts. Doing this might seem like hard work at first, but once you get into the routine of finding time every day, it’ll be easy!

6. Start early

Starting your coursework and revision well in advance will stop you from squeezing it all in just before the deadline, this will not only save you from the stress of cramming everything in at the last minute, but your work will be of a much higher standard if you have dedicated more time to it. By planning ahead you will have more time to do the things you enjoy over the course of the year, as opposed to losing two weeks of your time and pulling all-nighters.

7. Make sacrifices

In order to be able to do the things you want to, you may have to make some sacrifices. If you like to pop your glad-rags on and dance the night away a few times a week, sacrifice a night out or two and plan a night in instead; the chances are, you are going to be more productive and organised without a hangover.

So get planning

Structuring your time can make a huge difference to your academic performance while at university, whilst better enabling you to do the things you want to do. Whether you are in a society, play an instrument or simply enjoy socialising with your friends, there’s no reason why you can’t do the things you love as well as achieve fantastic grades – all you need is a little organisation.

About the author: Sophie Mellor

This article was written by Sophie Mellor from Pure Student Living. Pure Student Living is a student accommodation provider in London that welcomes students from universities all over the city.