Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) students attended a Time Management Workshop last week to learn more about how to better manage their time and schedules for the new Fall semester.
“This event was inspired by the recognition that many students, especially those who are in their second year, can benefit from learning practical skills to balance their academic and personal responsibilities,” said Second Year Experience staff member and third-year, Ramona Jalomo.
The presentation was facilitated by Second Year Experience (SYE) and led by peer mentors Malina Wong and Fabian Aguilar from the Cooperative Learning Center (CLC).
“Sometimes everything gets overwhelming. What do you do with your time? Do you study? Do you take a nap?” Wong opened. “Time management is the ability to organize and plan your time between different activities.”
During this workshop, Wong guided students through building their Google calendar, syncing their Canvas calendar and choosing time management strategies that worked best for them.
“In high school, I had a hard time with time management and now I’m in college. I think it is really important and I hope to share some things that I have learned,” said Wong.
Students were provided with mac and cheese, cookies and soda to snack on as they listened to the presentation and followed along with the workshop’s activities.
Wong walked from table to table, meeting with groups and assisting students with tips and tricks for best managing their time.
“You can even schedule rest time so you don’t feel so nervous about your tasks,” Wong advised students who felt overwhelmed.
As students filled out paper copies of a weekly schedule outline provided during the seminar, Wong and Aguilar introduced different types of lists such as a Top 3 List or a Done-List used to help manage time.
The peer coaches explained that a Top 3 List lists the three most important tasks that a person needs to complete for a day. This list makes multiple tasks in a day seem less overwhelming and can help with prioritizing, while a Done-List marks off everything completed in one day.
Wong praised the Top 3 List, challenging students to utilize it every day and see just how much they were able to get done over a month.
Other time management applications and tools were also discussed aside from just Google Calendar. Apps like Notion, Excel, Notes, Google Slides and even more personal ones like WaterDo can also be a great way for students to stay on top of things.
“Time management is a crucial skill that the student will always utilize to either reduce stress or improve productivity, we wanted to introduce the students to resources that can assist them in mapping out their day-to-day lives,” Jalomo commented.
At the end of the workshop, Aguilar and Wong prompted students to drop by the CLC for any type of support they may need.
“We really are your ‘personal cheerleaders.’” said Aguilar, encouraging students to set up an appointment with a peer coach.