Growing Up
Unlike many of my other planners, the idea for a college planner did not necessarily spring from a need seen in my own life or that of my children. Instead, as I developed resources that met our needs, I saw young adult friends, both from within and outside the homeschool community, who struggled with time, life, and financial management during the college years. Although there were resources targeted for adults or for the college life, nothing quite fit what I knew my own children would want or need if they chose the college route.
Keeping Track
College is the first step in your journey of adulthood. Gone are the days of mothers waking you at your bedside and teachers reminding you of your homework. These days are wholly your responsibility. Whether you are a seasoned college student or this is your first year, time management is often the key to productivity and, ultimately, success in your college experience. How do you navigate such freedom and liberty without stumbling into the vortex of procrastination?
The best way to accomplish solid time management is by taking a week to compile an inventory of how you spend your time. Tracking your time is fairly easy. To begin with, when you wake each morning, jot down the number of hours you spent sleeping the previous night. Next, jot down how much time your morning routine takes, then on to classes, study, mealtimes, work, recreation, etc. At the end of each week, calculate your findings.
When you record your findings, you will be amazed at how the information begins to change your thinking! In black and white, you can now see a plan for your schedule that allows you the freedom to enjoy your “down” time, because the stress of getting it all done has been placed in a structured plan. This practice also works for financial management.
Real Needs, Real Products
I remember walking through these steps with a college student at one point. As she finished the exercise, she was amazed by how busy she thought she was, when really, she was overspending her time in recreation. This time could have been spent working a few extra hours a week to pay for college loans.
Real-life experiences with friends like this college student provided the motivation and thought behind the College Planner – a planner that can help students maintain evaluation and management of their time and finances, while also discovering tips and recommendations to help them along the way.
