One of the biggest challenges you’ll face as an undergraduate arriving at university in your first semester will be how to effectively manage your time. Even if you were very organised during your A-Level studies, studying at university is quite a different experience. The responsibility for managing your time falls squarely on your shoulders and at first this can feel overwhelming. One of the biggest mistakes you could make is thinking that because you don’t have to attend lectures for 6 hrs a day, 5 days a week you have plenty of time to get work completed.

In order to ensure your future success, minimise your stress levels and maximise your opportunities for having fun and enjoying many of the extracurricular activities that are available at uni, it’s really important that from the very beginning you learn how to effectively manage your time and establish good study habits to keep up with your work. Some people are inveterate planners and list makers while others like to keep things quite simple. It’s important that you work in a way that suits you and adapt any strategies to suit your needs.

Listed below are 7 tips for how to effectively manage your time.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 1 Plan Planning might be a rather obvious tip, but it’s very easy to underestimate the amount of work you need to do. For every hour that you spend in a lecture you will need to do between 2 and 3 hrs work by yourself. Make sure that you plan and schedule this time.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 2: Prioritise. You need to prioritise your activities and that should include all your activities including your study time, relaxation, social activities, exercise .. Make sure that you are leading a balanced life.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 3: Control distractions It’s really important that you can study without distractions. Not only will you stay more focussed and retain information you will also free up time to do other things. Switch of your mobile, lock your door ... do whatever it takes to have some effective study time.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 4: Eat and drink sensibly It’s important that you keep your body hydrated and eat regularly so that you do not become distracted by being hydrated or feeling hungry. Don’t skip breakfast – it will set you up for the rest of the day and help to keep you energised.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 5: Learn to say no Don’t fall into the trap of letting other people disrupt your study time. Although it’s important to have a balance and not try to study every minute of the day, there are times when you will have to say no to friends who suddenly want to play pool, go shopping, go to the pub... Explain that you have to study and fix a time that fits in with your schedule. If you don't learn to say no you will become stressed if you fall behind with your work. It's up to you to minimise your stress levels.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 6: Work in short sessions You will work more effectively if you work in short sessions. Break things up and remember to get some exercise or do something to relax and clear your brain before carrying on.

How to effectively manage your time: Tip 7: Make the most of your lectures Make sure that you make the most out of your lectures by being prepared and doing any required background reading, take accurate lecture notes review them on a regular basis and take the opportunity to follow up on anything that you’re not sure of.

Summary Learning how to effectively manage your time at university will be one of the keys to your overall success. Adopting good time management skills, will not only lower your stress levels and make you a happier and healthier person, they are also skills that you will able to transfer into the work place.