The first step to effective time management is recognizing that you can be in control. The next time you find yourself saying, “I don’t have time,” stop and ask yourself whether it is actually true. Do you really not have time, or have you made a choice not to make time for a particular task or activity?

When we say we don’t have time, we imply that we don’t have a choice. We do have a choice because we have control over how we use our time and how many commitments and small decisions we choose to make. We have control over what time we get up in the morning; how much sleep we get; and how much time we spend studying, working, and exercising. All of these small decisions have a big impact on our success in college and in life.