How do you keep track of your assignments? In other words, how do you know what is due when? Maybe you use a digital calendar or a paper planner, but if you’re reading this post you likely rely on copies of your course syllabi or your online course pages.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been noticing a trend with my students. With the stress of attending college during COVID-19, I’m finding students are struggling to manage their time well. 

In reality, time management isn’t a thing. You can’t really manage time. You can, however, learn to manage yourself—your weekly schedule, your assignments, your work schedule, etc.

In an effort to help my students, I’ve been looking for resources that simply explain how to make priorities and “multiply” your time. One such source is this TED Talk, in which Self-Discipline Strategist and New York Times bestselling author Rory Vaden explains a concept called “The Focus Tunnel.”

Below I will explain how you can use the focus tunnel to help you manage yourself and discover more time in your schedule.

Step #1: Eliminate

When faced by a task, start with this question: does this thing need to be done? With several to-do items competing for your attention and limited time, you need to learn to prioritize what matters. Not every task item is something you actually need to do, even if others are telling you this is the case.

For example, if you have several larger assignments due next week and some optional bonus work due as well, you likely won’t have the time needed to complete all these things. Specifically, you’ll likely have to say no to extra credit assignments. Why? Even though having extra points may help pull up your grade in one class, spending time on an optional assignment will take time away from required assignments.

While saying no to some tasks takes self-discipline, remember you are always saying no to something (even if you are not consciously doing so). This is a skill you already have. What you need to do each day is look at the tasks in front of you and say no to the things that don’t have to be done or are not worth doing.

So let’s end this step with an example: You have a few minor assignments due tomorrow and one large assignment due as well. With the limited amount of time you have available, you need to prioritize the most urgent and important task—the big project. This may mean that you will need to miss a 5-point quiz or forfeit 10 completion points attached to a worksheet. 

**Note: Ideally, you’ll work more ahead on this big project so that you’re not finishing it the day before. There are easy ways to do this, which I’ve explained in previous posts.

Step #2: Automate

After eliminating the tasks that are not important and urgent, you need to move to finding ways to provide more time in your schedule. Automating tasks will help you move from having to skip quizzes or skipping classes to fitting everything in your schedule.

Look at your current daily schedule. Look for patterns in your classes. How does a typical week look like in your classes? Your teachers likely follow a consistent flow: lecture Monday, reading and a corresponding quiz on Wednesday, etc.

Then look for ways to let the system work for you. Think about how you can create a system or a process to save you time later. By working with the system or structure of your classes, you help free up future time.

For example, most courses require reading chapters and taking quizzes connected with reading those chapters. Rather than waiting until the night before to read and take the quizzes, consider setting aside time during the weekend to complete these kinds of consistent assignments. This will save you time next week so that you can focus on the bigger assignments. (This is something I did throughout college which really helped me function and survive. It really works!)

Creating a system that frees up future time enables you to be someone who has a plan for the week ahead, rather than letting your stressful week control your day-to-day schedule.

Step #3: Delegate

You may feel like everything on your task-list is something you personally have to do. Even if you’re not a manager at work or an upperclassmen, you probably still have tasks which you can delegate.

When faced with a task, first eliminate, next automate, then move to this third step with this question: can others do this? Not every task item is something for which you need to take responsibility.

If you are part of a campus club, a study group, or some other extracurricular, you don’t have to accomplish every possible task. Don’t let peers pressure you to attend events, participate in activities, etc. if you can pass this task on to someone else.

For example, if you are part of a sorority or a society, don’t need to feel like you need to put together events or do every possible activity. Likely, there is someone else who is willing or capable of doing this activity.

As another example, if you work off campus, you don’t need to cover a coworker’s shift every time they ask. There are others who have the time and need the money. Allow others to step up, and in turn you are enabling both you and the other person to succeed. 

Step #4: Procrastinate (on Purpose)

You read that correctly. If you look at a task and decide it is important (needs to be done) but not urgent (doesn’t need to be done right now). You need to procrastinate—wait until later to accomplish a task because now is not the right time.

For example, maybe you have a speech due in a week. It is an important task, but currently it is not the most urgent task. If you don’t work ahead, however, this task will come back to bite you. Take a look at your schedule and you’ll likely discover a few free hours throughout the week. Intentionally set aside these free hours to work on this important speech that should not demand all your time and attention right now.

Step #5: Concentrate

When faced with a task, if you’ve eliminated, automated, and delegated, you’re at the point where you know this is a task you need to do now. These tasks are the ones that are both urgent and important. In other words, they need to be your priority right now. This is where you simply need to get the tasks done. Put in that elbow grease and finish the task.

Using this 5 step process, you can look at each task competing for your attention and decide what you delete from your to-do list, what you delay until later, and what you should work on right now. Even though you can’t control time, you can control your actions.