Does a never-ending scrolling list of tasks sound like something you can relate to? And, added to that, the repeated punctuations of the clock seem to make the situation worse? That’s how it is for everyone when it comes to time- it’s one precious commodity we simply can’t have back. Students often have to feel this way, and managing their time feels nothing short of a superpower.
That’s exactly how I feel when it comes to sharing daily habits with you all that can save hours of your time. Time that can be put to better use preparing for your exams, working on a personal project, or even just sipping coffee with your friends. So now people, are you ready to manage your time wisely and have every minute of your day count? Then let’s explore these wonderful habits that can be integrated starting today.
Capture Your Thoughts Immediately
Has a great idea ever come to you and just seconds later you remember a task such as emailing your lecturer only to forget it again? This problem could be addressed with the capture habit, which is inspired by Allen’s Getting Things Done. The approach states that whenever an idea comes into your mind, you should write it down immediately in a notebook, sticky note, or even an app such as Notion or Apple Notes.
This relieves the mental burden of the mental to-do list, adding up to fifteen minutes to your free time every day. Moreover, it lowers stress knowing that there is no possibility of missing anything. Consider putting a small notebook next to your computer or even using the notes application on your phone to aid with quick captures. That tension you feel when trying to remember that one thing you forgot will make it easy to appreciate all your future efforts.
Craft Your Daily Adventure
What one thing would make today a total win? The daily adventure habit is about completing your most important task first. This concept, based on Make Time’s “daily highlight,” prevents around 15 minutes of decision-making strife. It positively reinforces the start of one’s day as well. For fun, treat it as an adventure: perhaps a challenging essay conquest with your favorite playlist or studying in a nice cafe on campus.
By fulfilling important tasks first, you are able to work towards your goals, whether it is a stellar GPA, a personal project, without diverting energy to low-priority tasks. Every morning, ask yourself: What’s my adventure today?
Organize Your Calendar by Category
A social media break can quickly spiral out of control and can consume time if your schedule is poorly organized. Continually touching base with the rainbow calendar delivers around 15 minutes of extra productivity daily due to its visual organization and encourages intentionality with every hour. The habit includes planning out a person’s day in the morning and assigning colors to different tasks – blue for study blocks, green for breaks, yellow for social time. A handy tip: Recoup lost time during gaps in your schedule and strategically fill them with activities like flashcard reviewing or a quick coffee boost.
Tools like to do list or Google Calendar makes organizing your schedule effortless and intuitive, however, a good old-fashioned planner works just as well. More important than which tool is used, is the fact that time needs to be actively managed, rather than fragmented and uncontrolled. How could a colorful calendar promote your time management skills?
Consider Embracing the Five-Minute Rule
Being highly productive means dealing with, or rather overcoming, procrastination. If consistent productivity is needed, the five-minute rule will be the most useful. Should starting a task feel particularly intimidating, such as writing an entire research paper, one just needs to dedicate themselves to working on it for a short period, such as five minutes. In most cases, the part that people struggle with is starting and once it’s done, they will most likely continue.
This is also a great way to utilize those super awkward and in-between seconds and minutes during the day, such as the 10 minutes before class. Outlines for essays can be drafted, emails can be written and even textbook chapters can be quickly skimmed. The five-minute rule also promotes and encourages considerable progress through “bursts” – five of them to be exact, totaling 20 minutes of saved time per day. The next time there’s an inclination to procrastinate, consider this: would five minutes make a difference?
How To Deal with Phone Distractions
The productivity enhancing feature your phone provides comes paired with its own potential distractions. With the focus phone method, daily distractions are minimized and up to 30 minutes of time is saved.
Giving your phone a focus mode, like Do Not Disturb, keeping it face-down during study sessions, and using apps like One Sec which pause the user before social media opens, are all great strategies that promote intentionality. Imagine how much more you could accomplish with fewer distractions and notifications pulling your attention away. What’s one phone habit you could change today?
Swap Your Phone for a Real Alarm Clock
The alarm clock habit of swapping your phone for a physical alarm clock can reduce late-night scrolling which can interfere with sleep, and save you 30-60 minutes in the mornings. This switch helps avoid reaching for a phone to check Instagram, or watch ‘just one more’ video before sleep. Better sleep and focused mornings mean more energy for your studies and passions. Could this be the secret to starting your day feeling refreshed?
Save TV for Social Time
Binge-watching shows consumes hours done alone which are hours that could be used for more meaningful pursuits.
The no solo TV rule—only watching TV with friends—saves at least 60 minutes of time each day. Treat watching TV as a social event like throwing a movie night or watching a series with one’s roommates. While some may find this unorthodox, it does encourage deliberate downtime and more room for studying, exercising, or working on personal projects. For passionate TV show fans, consider putting restrictions on when you can watch solo TV to a certain day or time. Take a moment to think: What would it be like to gain an hour every day?
Key Takeaways
- Capture Thoughts: Jot down ideas instantly to save 10 minutes and reduce mental clutter.
- Daily Adventure: Pick one key task daily to save 15 minutes and boost progress.
- Rainbow Calendar: Color-code your schedule to save 15 minutes and stay intentional.
- Five-Minute Rule: Start tasks for just five minutes to save 20 minutes and beat procrastination.
- Focus Phone: Minimize phone- FODP phone distractions to save 30 minutes daily.
- Physical Alarm Clock: Use a real alarm clock to save 30–60 minutes and improve sleep.
- No Solo TV: Save 60 minutes by watching TV only with friends, freeing time for meaningful activities.
Conclusion
Time is your most precious resource, and these seven habits offer a roadmap to make every day more productive and fulfilling. Not every habit will fit your lifestyle perfectly, and that’s okay—experiment and find what works for you. Whether it’s capturing tasks to clear your mind or turning your phone into a focus tool, these strategies empower you to study smarter, pursue your passions, and savor the moments that matter. Start small, maybe with a five-minute rule or a daily adventure, and watch how these changes ripple through your life. What’s one habit you’ll try this week to reclaim your time and live a little more intentionally?
Ali Hassan is the lead writer at StudyRisk.site, passionate about helping students and professionals navigate studying abroad, scholarships, and online education. With a keen eye on the latest educational trends, he provides valuable insights to empower learners worldwide.
