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Time Management and Overcommitment

by Betsy Chapman

With fewer hours spent sitting in a classroom compared to high school, first-year students suddenly have an abundance of unstructured time. Managing this freedom while balancing rigorous academic demands and extracurricular activities is a major learning curve.

If your student feels stretched thin, encourage them to evaluate their daily time management:

  • Identify optimal study environments: Help your student reflect on where and when they do their best work. Finding quiet zones in the ZSR Library or a residence hall lounge – or any other ideal study spot on campus – can minimize distractions.

  • Account for digital distractions: Constant notifications from phones and computers can silently fragment study sessions. Encouraging your student to set devices aside during study blocks can restore hours to their week.

  • Evaluate commitments: It is far better to deeply engage with a small number of student organizations than to overextend across too many activities during the first semester.

Finding balance is a trial-and-error process that takes time for every single student. Your steady voice of reason from home helps remind them that it is completely okay to slow down and focus on what matters most.

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support. You can also visit we.wfu.edu for resources.