Students know they should manage their time better. Here’s how to help.
Students are expected to manage their time almost immediately when they arrive in college, but many have never been explicitly taught how to do it. They may struggle with procrastination, distraction, competing responsibilities, or simply misjudging how long something will take. Faculty can explain the importance of planners and calendars, but information alone rarely changes behavior. Students need opportunities to see their own patterns, reflect on what is and is not working, and talk through those experiences in ways that feel relevant to their everyday lives.
In this 20-Minute Mentor, Anna Gavrilova shows how peer dialogue can make time-management instruction more personal and more effective. She shares seven activities instructors can begin adapting right away, including partner self-assessments, time-tracking exercises, anonymous schedule analysis, identity webs, procrastination interviews, psychology-based group work, and habit-building activities. Each one is designed to help students make their use of time more visible while learning from classmates who may be navigating many of the same challenges.
These conversations do more than increase participation. They help students recognize that they are not alone, put their habits into words, and begin thinking more intentionally about how they use their time. Instead of simply telling students what they should do differently, this program gives instructors practical ways to help students discover those changes for themselves. Viewers will leave with classroom-ready ideas that support stronger self-awareness, better decision-making, and time-management skills students can carry beyond college.
