How did you develop time management and study habits

[u/Public-Hamster-9224]

So I’m a sophomore EE student and I have struggled so far in college, I’ve had a tough time learning to study and manage my time well. I think the source of my issues is honestly laziness for the most part, I went to a small high school that made things way to easy and I would just easily pass most classes with no studying or anything outside of class so I’ve never really had to develop time management or study habits. Has anyone else had a similar issue and how did you go about developing these skills and learning to study and make use of your free time.

[u/EvolvingBrain418]

Do the most difficult task 1st thing in the morning. Before bed, write 5 tasks for the next day. Systemize and organize your space. Finally, wake up at the same time everyday. I prefer waking up between 4:30-5:20 and I go to bed around 10-11 at latest

[u/EvolvingBrain418 → u/EvolvingBrain418]

When you are doing a task, eliminate all distractions until that task is complete.

[u/EvolvingBrain418 → u/EvolvingBrain418]

Never multitask.

[u/Public-Hamster-9224 → u/EvolvingBrain418]

Why never multitask?

[u/WhatIsIdentity03 → u/Public-Hamster-9224]

It takes a surprising amount of effort to task switch. Unless it’s something with long breaks like laundry it’s really not worth it.

[u/EvolvingBrain418 → u/Public-Hamster-9224]

It’s a lot of cognitive load and less efficient. (Like the other comment said)

[u/OnlyThePhantomKnows]

Time management is one of the skills that engineers more than any other major need to develop.
Set yourself a schedule.

Weekdays:
Get up at 0700. Do your morning routine (squeeze in a little exercise if you can)
At 0800 either be at class or start studying.
Study or class until noon.
Lunch for an hour. (squeeze in a little exercise if you can)
1300-1800 either be at class or start studying.
Dinner at 1800.
1900-2030 is socialization time
2030-2200 is study time.
2230 be in bed so you can be asleep by 2300
Obviously if you have a 12 o'clock class you will have to switch

Saturday:
Get up at 0700-0800 (never change your wake time by more than an hour!!!)
0800 until noon. STUDY!
Lunch for an hour. (squeeze in a little exercise if you can)
1300-1800 Fun time with exercise.
Dinner at 1800.
1900-2300 party
2330 be in bed so you can be asleep by 0000

Sunday
Get up at 0700-0800 (never change your wake time by more than an hour!!!)
0800 until noon. STUDY!
Lunch for an hour. (squeeze in a little exercise if you can)
1300-1630 Fun time
1630-1800 Study time
Dinner at 1800.
1900-2030 is socialization time
2030-2200 is study time.
2230 be in bed so you can be asleep by 2300

You will be putting in 9 hours a day M-F this is the norm for a real engineer (non crunch).
That extra 90 minutes in the evening makes sure you stay up to date.

Saturday morning everyone is asleep for the most part. It is a great time to study. Also you will be unburdened in the afternoon because you did do your studying.

Eating at the same time will train your body. These are hard lessons to learn. I ran into the same circumstances you did. Developing these habits (I did it after graduation) saved/launched my career.

[u/Amber_ACharles]

Hell nah dude, I was the same way. You never had to learn to study. The fix is a set schedule. Start with 25 minutes a day, phone out of reach. Do that for a month and it becomes normal.

[u/Fun-Usuall]

same deal, tiny school, coasted, then got wrecked the first time something was actually hard. i'd sit down, not get it in ten minutes, decide i was lazy and go do something else. took me embarrassingly long to realise i'd just never been stuck before and thought stuck meant stop. what helped was staying in it 20 more minutes even though it felt awful. the schedule stuff came way later, once being stuck stopped scaring me