How to Become a Multitasking Genius in College (2024)

As a college student, you may find it a challenge at times juggling a million things at once. College life is pretty tough as it is being a full time student having to deal with the everyday deadline assignments, exams, and even a social life. But it is even more challenging when you’re not only a full time student, but also raising a family, working two jobs, or have so many things coming to you all at once. So, how exactly do you fit in your homework?

One of the most common things you hear about multitasking is that if you do too many things at once, you will not get them done very well. But not many of us have a choice in the matter, it fact – we have no choice but to multitask in order to get anything done.

Here is the ultimate guide to becoming a multi-tasking genius AND getting a college degree:

Get Organized

The most important thing to do while multitasking is to be organized. Otherwise, you are just doing a bunch of different things all at once. Keep a handheld organizer or a pocket journal to keep track of what you need to complete. Although social media apps may take up a lot of space on your phone, there are plenty of useful apps you might need in college – especially an alarm.

Using helpful apps will help you to stay productive and on top of your work as well as maximizing time and to stay organized. Stay on track with your schedule using Sunrise Calendar. You can keep track on classes, appointments and even hangouts. It is simple and very straightforward.

Related:How to Prepare for the Best College Semester Ever

College can be stressful even causes you to forget your meals, especially drinking enough water. MyWater helps you keep track of how much cups of water you consume in a day. You simply set your daily goal, and the reminders will go off at different times of the day. It’s super easy to use, as you just swipe whenever you have a drink of water!

If you want a great app for creating a budget and keeping track of where you spend your money, try Mint: Personal Finance & Money. You can even set up financial goals like saving up for spring break, buying a new laptop, paying off school loans, and you get advice on how you should budget and distribute your money.

Learn To Manage Time Wisely

You can study efficiently using Quizlet. All you have to do is simply search by subject or even create your own flashcards so you can quiz yourself using your own notes. This is great when you have no time to write it all on your own. Try to weed out the unnecessary things. In college you may always want to have fun, but take your time to enjoy the events AFTER you know all the exams are finished. If not, you might end up causing the delay in your course work and lead to unsuccessful multitasking.

With countless to-do lists, Any.Do has one of the best ratings. This app allows you to set your tasks for today, tomorrow, and upcoming events. Once you complete the task, one click allows it to disappear. The web version is great too!

Take Advantage of Useful Tools

If you are taking a language class, try Duolingo, as you can get ahead and learn for free. This app can help you learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, or Italian using simple exercises to help you spell and pronounce each word. You can set how long you want to learn each day, making it easy to do between other tasks.

Creating info graphics using online tools has never been easier. Whether you are working on a project for school, personal use, or even social media, info graphics can be a great way to multitask.You can try Piktochart, as it is one of the best programs to use for creating info graphics. Their program is easy to use, and offers freedom in building and editing your info graphics using their simple graphic tools.How to Become a Multitasking Genius in College (2)

Freelance Platforms

Whether you need a job but cannot find enough hours in the day or looking for any other way to pay the bills, there a tons of jobs as a freelancer that gives you the freedom without commuting to work each day. In addition to countless projects you can find, Freelancer allows you to compete with other freelancers in contents to prove your skills. This is a great way to showcase your abilities and expertise and build your resume.

You can also try Upwork (previously oDesk); they offer jobs for every type of freelancer. Handling both short and long term projects, hourly or per project. This is a great way to get some extra funds while still in college.

Becoming a multitasking genius in college will help you get things done, but allow yourself to focus your attention to complete the tasks more quickly. You can become an expert of multitasking and productivity by using these tools in your daily routine. You will not only stay ahead of the game but save time and money as well.

Amy Cowen is a blogger and writer at Aussiewriter.com. She focuses mostly on educational issues. Her primary interests are engaging students to studying and staying motivated. You can find her on Facebook.

How to Become a Multitasking Genius in College (2024)

FAQs

How to Become a Multitasking Genius in College? ›

What is the Multitasking Dilemma? A study by The University of London found that men can experience up to a 15-point drop in effective IQ when multitasking. Women faired better with only a 5-point drop, but both saw a significant decline in their capability and productivity.

How to multitask in college? ›

If you're going to aim to seriously, intentionally multitask during your time in school, make sure you do it smartly:
  1. Let Machines Do Your Work for You. ...
  2. Exercise While Doing Something Academic. ...
  3. Combine the Social Scene with Your Coursework. ...
  4. Make a List of 5-Minutes-or-Fewer Tasks You Need to Get Done. ...
  5. Delegate and Cooperate.
Sep 20, 2021

How do I train my brain to multitask? ›

6 Tips to Improve Your Multitasking Skills
  1. Create To-Do Lists: Combat a cluttered mind overwhelmed with tasks by crafting a well-organized to-do list. ...
  2. Prioritize Tasks: ...
  3. Break Down Tasks: ...
  4. Use Technology Wisely (e.g., Cirkus): ...
  5. Practice Time Blocking: ...
  6. Monitor Your Progress:
Dec 14, 2023

Is multitasking related to IQ? ›

What is the Multitasking Dilemma? A study by The University of London found that men can experience up to a 15-point drop in effective IQ when multitasking. Women faired better with only a 5-point drop, but both saw a significant decline in their capability and productivity.

How do you develop the ability to multitask? ›

How to improve your multitasking skills
  1. Develop a schedule. Once you're aware of your tasks and responsibilities, a good first step is to organise these into a schedule. ...
  2. Prioritise. Once you know what you're required to do, you can sort your tasks into a hierarchy of priorities. ...
  3. Reduce distractions. ...
  4. Plan and adapt.
Sep 18, 2023

Can college students effectively multitask? ›

Studies indicate that when multitasking, we make up to 4 times more errors and it can take up to 50% longer to accomplish a task. Students who do not use their mobile phones in class can score a grade and a half higher than those who are distracted by their phones.

Can college students multitask? ›

But evidence from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience suggests that when students multitask while doing schoolwork, their learning is far spottier and shallower than if the work had their full attention.

Can people with high IQ multitask? ›

Research suggests that multitasking can impair cognitive performance and lead to a decrease in overall productivity, regardless of IQ level. This is because the brain is not designed to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, and attempting to do so can lead to increased cognitive load and mental fatigue.

Are ADHD brains better at multitasking? ›

On one hand, the nature of ADHD, including difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, can make it difficult to effectively juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. This can result in decreased efficiency, increased errors, and difficulties in organizing thoughts and actions.

How do ADHD people multitask? ›

Adults affected by ADHD tend to struggle with inattention and seek out novelty. For them, task-switching is natural, as the brain looks for something new or exciting, or at least not what it typically does. For people with ADHD, working on two or three projects at a time seems to make sense.

Is Elon Musk multitasking? ›

This has helped him deliver innovative products and services at a lower cost, making his companies even more competitive and successful! Elon's multitasking skills are second to none.

Is multitasking a skill or talent? ›

Multitasking is a necessary skill for many roles across a variety of business functions. However, it can also be detrimental to efficiency and mental performance whilst at work.

What is high IQ linked to? ›

Outcomes for People With High IQ

Some studies have suggested that children with exceptional intelligence may be more prone to depression and social isolation than less-gifted peers. 12 They may need support in these and other areas to perform well at school and work.

Why do I struggle to multitask? ›

What the new emerging evidence suggests is that we struggle to multitask when our brain is representing information that it is going to use across many tasks in life. For example, we struggle to multitask when attempting to remember a phone number and writing a shopping list at the same time.

Can you train yourself to be better at multitasking? ›

Practice how to multitask

Look at all the things you do in a day. Pick a few routine tasks to start with. As you master doing multiple routine things, then move on to slightly more difficult tasks. Gradually work up to the number of tasks you normally do.

What is your secret to successful multitasking? ›

Effective organization and planning are essential for successful multitasking. Create a to-do list or use task management tools to keep track of tasks and deadlines. Plan your day in advance, identifying which tasks can be tackled together and which require undivided attention.

How do you juggle multiple classes in college? ›

How to juggle college coursework
  1. Step 1: Make an all-in-one calendar. One of the best ways to make sure you never forget an assignment is to create an all-in-one calendar. ...
  2. Step 2: Use a file folder. Remember: You can't do your homework if you can't find it! ...
  3. Step 3: Keep track of your notes. ...
  4. Step 4: Keep your commitments.

Should I multitask when studying? ›

The evidence is clear: when students multitask while studying or doing their homework, they do not learn as well as when they put their full attention into the work. Students will understand and remember less while multitasking and they'll have difficulty conveying their learning to new contexts.

How does multitasking affect your college education? ›

Multitasking results in lower grades.

If you are aiming to maintain or improve your grades, know that multitasking will not help you reach your goal. Whether you are doing more than one task during class or while completing homework, multitasking will hurt your chances of earning good grades.

What is multitasking examples for students? ›

Multitasking Examples
  • Driving while talking to someone on the phone. ...
  • Studying while listening to music. ...
  • Another example is a person watching a movie, and surfing social media sites. ...
  • Another example is talking to a person on the phone, while talking to another person face-to-face.

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