Time Management
Students, especially FTIC students, may struggle with how to use and manage their time well. New students may have difficulty transitioning to college and adjusting to the realities of the post-secondary environment, including independent studying and managing the expectations of college learning (van der Meer et al.). Proper time management behaviors can reduce students’ academic stress (Misra). Students who fail to practice effective time management risk failing not only academic courses but in some cases, they fail to complete their intended degree (Baldwin). Time management at the college level involves more than assignment completion; it involves effective decision-making and evaluation (Baldwin). Students who have poor time management skills benefit from identifying the primary reasons behind poor time management to include factors such as:
- lack of energy or motivation,
- lack of focus,
- fear of failure, and
- loss of self-esteem or self-efficacy (Baldwin).
Students who utilize time management strategies have attitudes that are more positive, view themselves as more effective, and report lower levels of stress (Kearns and Gardiner 242). Research suggests that students would benefit from instruction related to time management so they can learn about the impact that time management strategies can have on their academic stress and success (van der Meer and Misra). Students who identify their individual underlying factors and areas of weakness in time management are far more likely to be successful in college (Baldwin).