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Time management is critical for any college student, but if you are a Computer Science (CS) major, it can sometimes feel particularly overwhelming with your other commitments. You may be taking on coding projects, studying algorithms, attending lectures, and balancing a social life. You can manage your time effectively and succeed both academically and socially with practice and some simple time management strategies.
Use the following guide to help you manage your workload in your Computer Science degree.
In a CS program, there will be an aspect of both theoretical work and applicable coding to complete as you type your assignments. Not all tasks are considered equally urgent or important, and the first step to managing your time efficiently is identifying and categorizing your tasks as follows:
High Priority/High Urgency: Deadlines for completed projects, preparing for an exam, or doing group work.
High Priority/Low Urgency: Studying for an upcoming exam, completing readings to do without cramming in the moment, etc.
Low Priority/High Urgency: If an assignment is late, consider how long it will logically take before you start to rapid-crank it out.
Low Priority/Low Urgency: A non-urgent side project that is not furthering your academic shadow work, but would still be fascinating to explore.
You can use simple apps like Trello or Todoist to keep track of which tasks you have accountability over. Each of these apps allows you to only break tasks into smaller parts for your personal accountability.
Time blocking is one of the most easiest ways to structure your day with the tasks dispersed throughout. Time block according to specific areas of focus, like lecture time block, coding assignments time block, group study time block, etc. Try a format of the Pomodoro Technique, where you complete blocks of 25 minute intervals with 5 minute breaks for your same-time tasks.
If you are a CS major, longer hours of code writing are in your fortune, but you can maximize time focused on code writing so it doesn’t feel overwhelming to complete. Another simple app to check out is Focus Booster (like the one I just listed), or Clockify, which use minimal tricks to manage your time blocking.
Being organized is one of the most important things when it comes to succeeding in a CS program. Use version control systems such as Git to manage your coding projects, especially when you work on group assignments. It is not just for keeping track of any changes you make, but it also inculcates the industry practices that you must hone over time.
Furthermore, keep your lecture notes organized by using tools like Notion or OneNote. Make sure to categorize them into subsets like algorithms, data structures, software engineering, etc. so that you can access and review them whenever needed.
As a student in Computer Science, it is quite natural to feel passionate and motivated to work on side projets like contributing to open-source, building mobile apps, or creating websites. Fun as they may be, this can be a time-consuming affair too. Establishing certain pre-determined goals for your side projects and then having them scheduled around your academic workload can be a smart plan. Essentially treat them as secondary until you get a grip on your coursework calendar.
In the world of tech, you will need to learn a plethora of new tools, languages, and frameworks that may be an overwhelming feat to conquer during your studies. Therefore, the best recourse is to get accustomed to learning on the go. While you can use many methods like books and articles for in-depth learning, online tutorials and resources like Stack Overflow, GeeksforGeeks, and W3Schools can be a more preferable go-to option for quick problem-solving. Let’s admit it. You don’t need to be an expert in every programming language that you encounter. Knowing about the main concepts, along with your dedication, will suffice.
Computer Science (CS) is a difficult topic, and asking for help is perfectly fine. If you find yourself stuck on a code problem, take some time to use office hours, online forums, and work with study groups. Often just talking about a problem will allow a peer or professor to give you a different perspective, and potentially save you time in the end.
Burnout happens often with CS majors in particular because of the demanding amount of homework. When you have the time I would recommend taking time for being “unproductive” by including some rest, hobbies, or exercise. Mental and physical health are key to encouraging productivity.
Take breaks, exercise and try to maintain social bonds will go a long way to keep you energized and reduce stress. Don’t underestimate the power of doing nothing.
After school life is hectic; I will be the first to admit I will put something off until the last possible chance. It is easy to procrastinate because an assignment sounds daunting. Don’t procrastinate; I would breakdown the components to the problem into smaller items and just start working on one item. After completing work, give yourself a little treat for the difficult work. I also advise to keep reminding yourself of the big picture longer than short term; something internships and jobs are ethos or that you create undergrads. Just finishing that is a milestone in itself.
Utilize automation to minimize the number of repetitive tasks involved in coding. For example, use a text editor that has an IDE such as VS Code or another JetBrains product to optimize the entire coding experience. Additionally, some tasks may be automated such as code testing or writing scripts for recurring tasks.
Furthermore, be realistic about what you can legitimately do in a day, a week and even in a semester of school. If you truly overload yourself, you will feel frustrated and become burnt out, so it’s always a good habit to set reasonable goals and consistently assess to adjust those goals.
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To manage your time as a Computer Science major requires discipline, planning, and flexibility. By prioritizing your tasks, being organized, and being realistic about your goals, you will not only keep up with your curriculum in a sustainable manner, you will also enjoy the learning process itself. Now you are equipped with methods to manage your work efficiently while trying to keep your work/life balance intact.
On a final note: it’s not about your ability to accomplish all tasks perfectly, it’s about consistency and progress.
