10 Ways to Save 10 Minutes a Day in College

Are you heading off to college in the next few weeks? While you probably thought high school demanded much of your free hours, you will find that you will have more demands on your time than you previously did. Particularly if you are taking lab courses or are involved in any type of campus group or activity, you will need to learn to shave time from your daily schedule. These 10 tips will can save you 10 minutes daily. While it may not seem like much, it can add up to a good chunk of time for extra studying or a little fun.

1) Make use of spare time.

Most people have heard that using index cards to study while waiting in line is helpful, but college offers lots of "down time." Doing the laundry is a perfect time to read notes, for example. You can also use time between classes to review notes or check math problems. The little breaks during the day add up.

2) Think strategy.

Think through your errands. Don't make a trip to the library to return a book this morning if you have a class in the building next door this afternoon. Be careful not to double your steps. If you're on a large campus, you can spend half an hour riding campus transportation to the library and back.

3) Don't just sit on the bus.

Speaking of campus transportation, use your time in transit well. Rides around campus can be used to jot notes or take a few minutes to study for an exam.

4) Visit the library judiciously.

Use the library, but wisely. "Going to the library" seems like a studious plan, but often on campuses, they are social centers. If your library has quiet floors designated, be sure to use them. Also try to avoid meeting friends at the library because you will spend more time talking than studying. If your library doesn't have quiet floors, or if you find that time at the library doesn't yield results in your work, check out the books you need and study at home. You may get more done, and you'll definitely be more comfortable.

5) Do as much as possible beforehand.

Printing a paper - finishing the paper - before the morning it's due can help avoid a last-minute frenzy. Other things you can do the night before include getting your books together and getting out your clothes.

6) Keep like items together.

Keep everything you need for a certain task in one place. If you live in a dorm with communal showers, for example, put shampoo, soap, cloths, razors, and anything else you may need for the shower in one basket. That way you don't get stuck in the shower without shampoo, and you don't have to run around every morning gathering everything up.

7) Build your bibliographies!

When you're in the final minutes of a paper, it can be daunting to have to sit down and type up the works cited page because the work can be tedious and time-consuming. Try writing down the citations when you first look at the books, or print the library's citation when you get the book. That way, you have the information handy when you need it.

8) Avoid The E-Mail Quicksand

Cut down on the number of times you check your e-mail. You could spend 10-15 minutes each time you check your e-mail, and if you check it four times a day, you've spent an hour. Try cutting down to once a day. Also, turn off instant messaging programs if you're on the Internet to work. It may seem like a good idea to chat with friends while you're doing research, but since both can't get your full attention, it's likely your work will be short-changed.

9) Always carry change.

It may be your grandmother's advice, but it's still useful. If you're in the library studying and need a quick caffeine fix, you don't want to have to trek to your dorm or an ATM and back just to get a drink. Always carry a couple of dollars' worth of change with you for such situations. If your campus offers the chance to put money on student ID cards for such use, keep yours stocked.

10) TURN OFF THE TELEVISION!

"Studying" while the gameis on doesn't actually count as studying. Being glued to Gilmore Girls re-runs and glancing at your physics text during commercial breaks isn't the best use of your time. You would feel like you study less and actually get more accomplished if you shut off distractions and focused on studying.