The most important resource in a college student’s life is time. Everyone knows the phrases “time and tide wait for no man” and “time is money.” I do not intend to preach these quotes again. Every college student will agree with me that most of us understand the importance of time. But the problem is not about realizing the importance of time. Rather, it is more about how to manage our time effectively. 

So how should we use this very precious resource most effectively? I am a student at NC State like all of you, and I am writing this column based on some general guidelines. We can follow them to manage time effectively while also considering each of our independent schedules and concentrating on those areas that should come first in our lives.

I recently happened upon the inspiring lectures of Randy Pausch on time management. He said Americans are really good at dealing with money as a commodity, but we are very bad at dealing with time as a commodity. Indeed, we definitely should learn and practice techniques to manage time, as using time properly not only increases our productivity but also makes us feel accomplished when we complete our tasks on schedule. 

In the book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey explains that being able to manage time in an efficient way is one of the success traits of effective people. He explains the four quadrants for time management and, indeed, we spend a lot of time doing things that are either not important but urgent or that are important and urgent. In the latter case, we are compelled to do it. But certainly it is not good time management, as the author suggests. We should rather focus on those things that are “important and not urgent.” 

It is similar to the Pareto rule of 80-20 in which 80 percent of the results comes from 20 percent of the activities we do. So, those 20 percent tasks are the most important and would yield the maximum throughput, and that is the most effective way to complete our tasks. And we should give 80 percent of our time to those 20 percent tasks in our schedule. 

So what are those 20 percent tasks that are not only important but also essential for all of us? We all need to ask ourselves in the morning after we get up: What are the things that are really important to us? What are those things that really add value to our lives and that are necessary for our personal empowerment? 

For college students, one of the most important things is our education. We all are here to study, learn new things and widen our experiences. It is one of those activities that should occupy most of our time in a day. And we are often busy completing assignments, projects and studying for exams. But these should not be the only activities we get involved in. As per the old saying: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” 

Along with studies and attending classes, it is equally important to set aside time for exercise, food, grooming and sleep. These four things are basic physical requirements. We all should go to Carmichael Gym for daily exercise or to play any sport we like. Eating healthy food and having a sufficient amount of sleep are also important for performing our daily activities with high energy and enthusiasm. Often students — especially graduate students — neglect exercise, eating or sleep due to the excessive pressures of deadlines and exams. This is very detrimental not only to health, but also to effective studying. Many researchers and psychologists have derived results supporting the relationships between healthy eating, proper sleep and overall success in life. 

Along with these things, another important aspect of everyone’s life is our family and friends. We should spend at least some time with our loved ones every day. It not only makes us feel happy and secure, but also develops our bonds with them. This is very necessary for a healthy relationship. Staying away from our family or friends for a long time affects our personality, makes us psychologically insecure and alone and thereby affects our career. After all, we are working hard to gain respect and love from family and friends. So, in spite of being overloaded by work and deadlines, we all should make some time for them. 

The last important of the four things is our hobbies, our hidden interests. Not all people always enjoy the work they do, but they should definitely make time for interests that are not part of their work. These may include music, painting, community service or even hiking out for adventure. At the end of the day, we need to do some things apart from our work that are purely for our mental satisfaction and calmness. 

As it is said, a day well-spent is a day well-lived, so by putting these things on our schedule beside all our worries and burdens, we can spend each day happily. It is our happiness that really matters in life. And we can stay happy only when we manage our day well and spend it doing the right things.