The new college semester is around the corner and there is only one stop for personal finance, career advice, and tips on college life in general- Studenomics. If you like this article then please consider subscribing to his feed!
As a college student you want money to keep up with the latest fashion trends, to have fun on the weekends, to travel, and yes even to pay for your college tuition.
Also as a college student you want time to read bout the latest fashion trends, to go out with friends on the weekends, to go away down south or to Europe for a vacation, and yes, also to study for exams/complete assignments so you can graduate from college and find a decent career.
There’s only 168 hours in a week and you want money and time to complete all of your goals. How can this be the done? The art of multitasking my friends.
Multitasking is not a ground breaking theory nor do I plan on winning any awards for discussing this topic. On the other hand, the foundations of personal finance are extremely simple as well, you spend less than you earn. I just want to show college students a few tactical examples of how they can master the essential skill of multitasking:
- When you the ride the bus/subway to your college you probably listen to music while looking at crazy strangers. This time could be better optimized by looking over your notes to better prepare myself yourself for the class. The material will be fresh in your mind so you could actually chime in on the lecture discussion.
- When watching Entourage or America’s Next Top Model you may occasionally think about that lingering assignment. Don’t worry guys I won’t tell you to stop watching your favorite television programs, but I will suggest this- keep your notes in your hand so you can glance over them during commercials. Also it’s important to have your assignment notes with you because you never know when a great idea will hit you.
- During your four hour break (we all have those at least once during our college career) spend the time networking. Meet up with an old friend for lunch or go for coffee with a professor. The latter idea depends on the classroom size in your college and how much the professor interacts with the students. I have had many professors throw out the idea of going for coffee with students and surprisingly very few people accept the offers. Networking with your professors and helping them work on assignments will take your career further than any fancy resume you ever put together.
Meeting with an old friend for lunch doesn’t mean getting wasted while playing pool. It’s an opportunity to contact someone that you have not been in touch with regularly and meet up if they are in the area. The benefit of attending a college in the downtown area of your city like I do is that many people in their 20s work there so you definitely don’t have a shortage of friends to meet for lunch. Instead of spending your spare time wandering around the college campus, try multitasking by engaging in an activity that will:
- Make time go by faster in an productive manner.
- Add value to your day.
- Help you build a positive relationship.
Now it’s time for you guys to share some interesting tips you may have on multi-tasking. Let us know yours in the comments!
I had a philosophy class where I had to read Plato’s Republic. It can be heavy stuff at times. So I downloaded an audio version to my iPod and listened to chapters on the bus and subway to supplement the reading. This way I was getting the info on two fronts.
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You learn great multi tasking skills in college because you have so many different classes and things to handle at once. Whether class or social activities, there is a lot going on and being able to multi task can build you skills that can translate well into the real world.
Perhaps my biggest mistake in college was being altogether unsocial. Giving and receiving help with other students in my classes and developing friendships would have made college life MUCH more enjoyable, and probably would have boosted my GPA.
@Jason All you can do now is change your outlook at the present moment. If you weren’t social in college then all you can do is improve your social skills as you are in the workforce. It’s easier said than done but realizing that your social skills need improvement is a step in the right direction.
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I think one of the best skills a college student can — and should — learn is to single task. Go home, take out your books and notes, and DON’T turn on the t.v. or iPod. I know, some people swear they study better with background noise, but I think in most cases it’s just that they aren’t used to silence and it feels awkward! Well, give it a few weeks, and you’ll not only get used to the silence, you’ll realize just how distracting it was! And yes, I speak from experience! I know everyone’s different, but give it a shot because when I got used to the silence, it was like my mind was super clear for the first time in years — without the need for those drugs that are so popular in college!
Now, that said, there will indeed be plenty of times where you have to multitask, like taking notes while a teacher talks. But again, keeping distractions to a minimum in college is very important. And sometimes, you even need to stop taking notes if it means you aren’t listening well. Learning to take just the right amount of notes so you can focus on the teacher is very important.
Even though college is stressful and has too much high expectations, multitasking should not be done often. The more you do it, the short-term memory of a college students starts to decline. In general, if you want your college experience to be less stressful, DO NOT RESORT TO MULTITASKING and have a class schedule that you’re comfortable with.