Topic the challenges of time management and its strategies for students

HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HUFLIT ©c©c©c©c© DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES Topic: The Challenges of Time Management and Its Strate

HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HUFLIT)

©c©c©c©c©

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Topic: The Challenges of Time Management and Its

Strategies for Students

Student: NGUYEN HOANG DUY LINH

Student code: 19DH7 13099

Lecturer: M.A NGUYÊN THỊ THANH LOAN

ABSTRACT

The average amount of time students wasted each day is 4.16 hours Students often waste time on Facebook, playing games, surfing the web, gathering to talk aimlessly, "sitting around” drinking coffee, etc The effectiveness of students’ time management skills is only at a low average level more than expected That is also the purpose of this essay, to explore the challenges of time management students face and strategies to overcome those challenges It means to adress the problem of poor time management among students Time is a resource that everone posesses from the beginning of human being Indeed, every day consists of 24 hours, each month has approximately 30 days, and a year typically consists of 12 months Time is an unchanging entity that exists regardless of how humans perceive it However, as humans, students have the ability to manage their time effectively Time management involves understanding how to make the most of the time available to us The orientation of the essay is to discuss the difficulties students encounter in managing their time and offer strategies to manage time effectively In order to help students become more proficient at managing their time, the conclusion focuses on the significance of time management, stresses the advantages of efficient time management, and encourages students to comply with the suggested solutions With the intention of assisting students to take charge of their time and succeed academically, the conclusion may also contain a closing statement or call to action

Introduction

Time is a precious human asset because once it is gone, it cannot be taken back While time itself may be intangible, its value is immeasurable and increases with every passing second Because once time is gone, it never comes back In today's social trends, there is a prevalent desire among people to compete with time and accomplish tasks within limited timeframes The remarkable growth of the global economy has had

a profound influence on how individuals utilize their inherent time resources Though everyone has the same amount of time—24 hours per day, 365 days per year—not everyone manages to spend it well Although time is precious, many people do not know how to make use of it, causing a waste of time Especially among university students today, many students think that they are young and still have a lot of time, so they don't know how to appreciate it and keep wasting their youth and time carelessly Realizing that the current situation is increasingly painful among the generation of university students, this topic is to clarify the current situation and provide solutions to limit this situation Effective time management is a one of the most important skills for students The challenges faced by students in managing their time efficiently have become increasingly apparent, leading to various difficulties and obstacles “Time management has a significant impact on the lives of the students commonly for those who are studying in higher education institutions where there is no existence of parent and teacher supervision” (Shazia Khan, 2015) Poor time management can lead to detrimental consequences, such as decreased productivity, increased stress levels, missed deadlines, and missed opportunities Shazia Khan (2015) highlighted that lack

of ease and high cost of data collection are the root causes of the persistent problem of knowledge scarcity in relation to time management and academic outputs Once the challenges are recognized, students can implement strategies like setting goals and creating schedules to manage their time more efficiently “The secret to achieving success in life is effectively managing this resource that everyone possesses equally and paying sufficient emphasis to planning” (Macan, Shahani, Dipboye & Phillips, 2000)

Understanding the Challenges of Time Management

Time management challenges faced by students can significantly impact their overall quality of life, academic performance, and ability to handle multiple responsibilities For example, a student who is faced with a heavy academic workload may encounter difficulties in effectively managing their time between studying for multiple courses and preparing for exams Without proper time management, they may experience increased stress levels, leading to decreased motivation and difficulty concentrating on their studies Sainz and Ferrero (2019) argued that time plays a crucial role in shaping our present and future plans and influencing our behavior in the present

It acts as a compass and guides the individual in deciding whether to continue with current activities N Ersoy, Mehmet Peker (2020) suggested that grade point average is one of the important criteria for students and organizations Procrastination and poor time management skills can significantly impact academic performance and the overall grade point average (GPA) in school These factors can lead to a decrease in grades and may hinder opportunities for scholarships or admission to graduate school It is important to prioritize effective time management in order to maintain a high GPA and maximize future prospects Moreover, students may struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as they juggle extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and personal commitments The lack of time management can lead to exhaustion, limited time for self-care, and a diminished overall quality of life According to Adams and Blair (2019), there is often a correlation between effective time management and enhanced academic performance, as well as reduce d anxiety leve ls among students However, finding a balance between academic commitments and daily routines proves to be a considerable challenge for many learners A study was conducted to assess the time management skills of 293 first-year psychology students The British version of the American Time Management Scale was used for the evaluation Students are divided into three age groups: Traditionally enrolled students (under 21 years old), marginal students (21-25 years old) and senior students (over 25 years old) Female students tend

to possess stronger time management skills than their male counterparts, as indicated

by the data Additionally, older students showed the highest level of time management skills among the three groups However, the correlation between age, time management skills, and academic performance was found to be moderately significant Similarly, professionals in the workplace face similar challenges when it comes to time management In the professional world, poor time management can have significant consequences Professionals who face challenges with time management often experience a constant state of working under pressure, which can ultimately lead to burnout and have a detrimental effect on their overall well-being Understanding the

difficulties of time management, in my opinion, can also help me with my academic issues and be beneficial for my personal development Recognizing the common time management challenges faced by students and understanding the negative consequences of poor tine management allows students to take control of their own learning, lower stress levels, and increase success and productivity all around

Strategies for Effective Time Management

When trying to increase productivity and accomplish goals, students need to manage their time effectively The solution to improve time management skills is implementing various strategies to enhance efficiency and organization Setting clear goals and prioritizing tasks is the first method By defining both short-term and long- term objectives, individuals can gain a sense of direction and purpose This allows them

to focus their energy and efforts on tasks that contribute directly to their goals For example, students can set short-term goals by creating a study schedule and a long-term goal of earning a scholarship for academic excellence Students can also prioritize their resources and time by identifying and ranking high-priority tasks Calonia and Pagente (2023) highlighted that breaking down larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps aids in minimizing distractions, maintaining focus, and effectively prioritizing tasks for students Creating a time management plan is another effective solution This involves utilizing calendars, planners, or digital tools to schedule activities and commitments According to a study conducted by Kolhar, Kazi, and Alameen (2021), it has been observed that university students nowadays devote significant amounts of time to social media platforms throughout the day and even during nighttime, indicating the internet and its social platforms as influential tools for staying connected However, it can also have negative consequences that impact students’ studies As a prevention measure for poor time management, university students can use productivity apps such as Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Todoist, and Notions to effectively manage their time and tasks, ensuring they stay organized and meet their academic commitments According

to a recent survey by Google, 85% of college students use digital tools to manage their time, with the most popular tools being Google Calendar (used by 75%) and Todoist (used by 50%) Additionally, 71% of students report that these tools help them stay organized and 67% say they reduce their stress levels These tools allow users to visualize their daily, weekly, or monthly schedules, enabling them to allocate specific times for specific tasks Through this method, every assignment is guaranteed to receive the appropriate attention prevents users from becoming overwhelmed or

forgetting important obligations Allocating specific time slots for different tasks and commitments also helps in avoiding procrastination and maintaining a consistent workflow This can be compared to creating a well-structured itinerary for a trip Similar to how a thorough itinerary arranges events and timetables for every day, setting aside particular timeslots guarantees that responsibilities and work are planned and completed, enabling students to navigate their day efficiently and accomplish their goals On the other hand, another important aspect of effective time management is the ability to identify and eliminate time-wasting activities This involves analyzing daily routines and identifying areas where time is being spent unproductively By recognizing these time-wasting activities, individuals can make conscious decisions to either eliminate or minimize them This may involve reducing time spent on social media, limiting distractions, or delegating tasks that can be shared with others As a result, individuals can free up valuable time and redirect their focus toward tasks that contribute directly to their goals Furthermore, the practice of effective time management also includes the ability to delegate tasks and ask for help when necessary Recognizing one's own limitations and seeking assistance from colleagues, friends, or family members can significantly alleviate workload and increase overall productivity Delegating tasks allows individuals to focus on their core responsibilities and areas of expertise, while also fostering a sense of collaboration and teamwork In summary, implementing strategies for effective time management is crucial for individuals aiming

to optimize productivity and achieve their goals By setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and creating a time management plan, individuals can enhance efficiency and organization Moreover, identifying and eliminating time- wasting activities and delegating tasks contribute further to effective time management By adopting these strategies, individuals can better allocate their time, reduce stress, and ultimately achieve a higher level of success in both personal and professional endeavors

Practice Effective Time Allocation

To succeed in their first year of university, students can practice effective time allocation by setting aside specific times for studying and revision and avoiding multitasking “Thus, the demand in both school and workplace made way for the working students to have time management interventions in their workplace to successfully accomplish their tasks and to avoid procrastination.” (John, Khate, Reyken, 2023) University students can optimize their productivity by developing effective study habits To maximize productivity and make the most of time, it is essential to create an ideal study environment This involves finding a quiet and comfortable space that reduces the likelihood of distractions and interruptions For example, when studying for an exam, it is important to eliminate distractions as much as possible This means turning off your phone and closing any unnecessary tabs on your computer Having a dedicated study area also helps students to focus and concentrate better on their tasks Kaushar (2013) emphasized the significance of

a well- structured and managed study schedule in higher education for improved outcomes The author also suggested that the value of time in education supports higher education authorities in formulating cost-effective educational policies In addition, organizing study materials and keeping them easily accessible can save valuable time that would otherwise be spent searching for resources Active learning involves actively engaging with the material This can be done through techniques such as summarizing information in your own words, creating flashcards, or teaching the material to someone else In this case, students can improve their understanding and retention, making their study time more efficient by actively interact with the content On the other hand, consistency is another key aspect of effective time allocation Establishing a regular study routine helps to create a sense of structure and discipline By setting aside specific times each day for studying, students can develop a habit of dedicating focused timeto their academic pursuits In their study, Nasrullah, Shazia, et al (2015) stressed the significance of planning and highlighted that it involves creating a summary of daily tasks, setting time limits, and establishing priorities This approach enables students to gain control over their time and effectively manage all activities Consistency also helps to prevent procrastination and ensures that studying becomes a regular and ongoing practice People who multitask are less productive than those who focus on one task at a time

A study by the University of California, Irvine found that people who multitask switch back and forth between tasks so often that they lose 40% of their productive

time Furthermore, effective time allocation involves periodically reviewing and adjusting the study plan According to Khate, Reyken et al (2023), the P6mdoro Technique is embraced by individuals like Nely as a means to effectively manage their time They explained that Nely follows a pattern of alternating between focused work periods, such as 30 minutes, and short breaks, such as 20 minutes Nely reportedly repeats this cycle for 3 to 4 sessions, finding it beneficial for maintaining concentration within the specified time limits Furthermore, regularly assessing and adapting the study plan allows students to make necessary changes to optimize their time and maximize their learning outcomes In the mean time, students can make the most of their time to achieve better academic results

Overcome Time Management Challenges

There are several practical strategies that can be used to address time management issues in higher education First and foremost, it's important to make use of the university's resources Numerous educational institutions provide assistance services like academic counseling, workshops on study techniques, and time management software In an article by Johnson (2018), it was highlighted that universities invest significant resources in providing support services to help students manage their time effectively These resources may include time management workshops, online tools, and one-on-one consultations with academic advisors Students that make use of these tools can learn insightful tips and time management techniques Study skills courses offered by universities can help students develop comprehensive time management skills and practical strategies for managing their academic workloa d effectively Moreover, actively participating in workshops or training sessions focused on tine management can yield significant benefits These workshops, frequently available through universities or external organizations, offer valuable practical techniques and tips

to effectively manage time A study by the Association for Talent Development found that 70% of participants in training programs reported improved time management skills after completing the program As a university student, | have personally experienced great benefits in terms of my academic success by actively participating in time management workshops and courses These workshops provided practical strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by students Attending such workshops enables students to learn new strategies, enhance their organizational skills, and develop effective study routines Creating a suppor tiv e environment is another key aspect of overcoming time management challenges Students can seek support from peers, friends, or family members who understand the importance of time management and can offer encouragement and accountability Without a supportive environment and collaborative study groups, studen ts may feel isolated and overwhelmed by the demands of their coursework Lack of access to a supportive peer network for guidance, resource sharing, and assistance can contribute to increased stress levels and challenges in efficiently managing academic responsibilities Therefore, regular reflection and adaptation are crucial for maintaining effective time management practices Consistently reflecting and adapting are essential for maintaining effective time management practices According to Smith (2023), achieving effective time management requires routinely reviewing one's tactics and making the required modifications

Students should periodically assess and evaluate their time management strategies

to identify what is working well and what needs improvement Similar to how a teacher looks for areas of strength and areas that need improvement in student assignments, st udents can identify what aspects of their time management are working well and which areas may require adjustment Engaging in self-reflection enables individuals to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses in terms of time management, empowering them to make the necessary adjustments Students can improve their time management skills by identifying the specific areas where they struggle and customizing their strategies accordingly This will help them address their needs more effectively Overcoming time management challenges in higher education necessitates a multi-faceted approach that combines self-awareness, goal- setting, prioritization, and effective scheduling