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TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR NEW STUDENTS OF

SEMARANG STATE UNIVERSITY'S GEOGRAPHY STUDY
PROGRAM

By: Ghifari Athallah, Zinedine Yusuf Junior, Kharisma Amelia Dewi, Fainaya Nur
Aliah

ysufjr@gmail.com

Abstract
Research on time management studies as a new student is very relevant
considering the challenges and demands faced by students in the early stages
of college. New students often experience adjustments to higher academic
demands, new learning environments, and changes in daily time structure.
Time management is a critical aspect in the success of new students in
dealing with the burden of studies, assignments and other responsibilities.
Lack of good time management can lead to stress, burnout, and even
decreased academic performance. The aim to be achieved in this research is
to be able to identify and analyze the time management challenges faced by
new students majoring in Geography, Universitas Negeri Semarang in 2023.
The research method used in this research is qualitative descriptive research.
The results of this research can illustrate a map of the complexity of college
life in the Geography department. Although each individual experiences
unique challenges, common patterns emerge in the form of positive
adaptation and awareness of the importance of effective time management.
Social support and personal strategies are the keys to success in overcoming
the complexity of academic tasks and responsibilities. In conclusion, time
management in the college environment involves complex dynamics, with
important points being adaptability, support, and self-awareness.
Keywords: time management strategies, new students, challenges.
INTRODUCTION
The research background optimize their time to achieve
regarding the study of time academic outcomes and successful
management as a new student is very college experiences.
relevant considering the challenges Geography students at
and demands faced by students in the Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES)
early stages of college. New students are often faced with practical
often experience adjustments to assignments that involve preparing
higher academic demands, new reports. In this study program,
learning environments, and changes in students carry out various practical
daily time structure. field and laboratory activities to apply
Time management is a critical the theory learned in class to real
aspect in the success of new students situations in the field.
in dealing with the burden of studies, The practicum report is a means
assignments and other responsibilities. for students to reflect, analyze and
Lack of good time management can document the results of the practicum
lead to stress, burnout, and even that has been carried out. This helps in
decreased academic performance. understanding geographic concepts in
Therefore, understanding the factors more depth and developing necessary
that influence new students' time field skills.
management and identifying effective The large number of practical
strategies can help improve the quality reports that must be prepared by
of their college experience. Geography students at UNNES reflects
In this context, this research the importance of practical experience
can provide valuable insight into how in learning geography. Through these
college freshmen manage their time, activities, students can combine theory
deal with the specific challenges they with field experience, gain a better
experience, and explore effective time understanding of geographic diversity,
management solutions or practices. and improve their research skills.
This research may also provide a basis Based on the explanation of the
for developing better programs or background above, the author is
supports to help new students interested in taking up research with
the title "TIME MANAGEMENT students in college life majoring in
STRATEGY FOR NEW STUDENTS OF Geography as well as what and what
THE GEOGRAPHY STUDY PROGRAM, effective strategies to overcome time
SEMARANG STATE UNIVERSITY". management challenges to improve
the productivity and life of new
So that the author is more students majoring in Geography 2023.
focused and does not drift away from The objectives to be achieved
the planned goals, thereby simplifying in this research are:
the data and information needed, the identify and analyze the time
author will limit the problem to new management challenges faced by new
students majoring in geography in students majoring in geography in
2023. college life and investigate effective
Based on the background of the strategies to overcome these
problem, the author can describe challenges to improve student
several problems, namely the time productivity and life.
management challenges faced by new
In this research, data was obtained by
C. Research methods
collecting and analyzing available
The research method used in this documents as well as by distributing
research is qualitative descriptive questionnaires to students and
research. Qualitative descriptive students at Semarang State University,
research aims to describe, describe, Department of Geography who had
explain, explain and answer in more been selected as samples. The
detail questionnaire was distributed to 5

The problem will be researched by respondents online using a Google

studying as much as possible an Form questionnaire. Each

individual, a group or an event. In questionnaire is given to respondents

qualitative research, humans are the and it is hoped that respondents can

research instruments and the written fill out the questionnaire with the

results are in the form of words or actual situation.

statements that correspond to actual The requirements for respondents to

situations. be selected are:
1. The respondent is a new DISCUSSION
student at Semarang State University,
The first respondent described his
majoring in geography
experience of living college life
2. Respondents are students who majoring in geography for almost six
have activities outside of lectures. months with various time management

In this research, researchers move challenges. In responding to this

between three components of analysis, question, he highlighted the

namely; connection between time management

and consistency and shared his
1. Data Reduction
experiences of being involved in
Data reduction is a process of committees, lectures and laprak. Even
selecting, focusing, simplifying and though there are sometimes delays in
abstracting the data obtained. submitting assignments, respondents
emphasized the importance of
2. Data Presentation
completing assignments intelligently
It is a series of information that allows
without neglecting obligations.
research conclusions to be made by
Commitment was seen as optional,
looking at a data presentation.
and before registering, he planned his
3. Drawing conclusions time carefully to avoid delays. After
managing time management, the next
Drawing conclusions is an attempt to
challenge is consistency in carrying out
understand the meaning, regularity of
things according to the timeline, even
explanation patterns, cause and effect
when faced with feelings of laziness or
flow.
sudden busyness. In concrete
In this research, researchers will situations of difficulty managing time
conduct research in October - in a lecture environment, respondents
November 2023. And the research will gave examples of when they received
be conducted at Semarang State committee assignments at the same
University, Gunung Pati District, time as lecturer deadlines and
Semarang City. assignments. He described his efforts
in finding solutions to complete tasks
on time. Regarding time management activities increase, while physical
strategies, respondents did not use conditions tend to decline. Managing
specific strategies, but instead applied time and energy was a challenge, but
general steps such as creating a he managed to overcome it with effort.
timeline according to their busy lives, To overcome time management
consistency, and setting their own challenges, respondents implemented
deadlines. He considers this strategy strategies based on the principle of
to be quite effective, unless there is a delaying gratification. He focuses on
feeling of laziness which affects the main goal of college, completing
productivity. Support from classmates assignments first, then working on
was recognized as a positive factor in things with a second priority scale.
overcoming time management Assessing the effectiveness of the
challenges. However, respondents also strategy implemented, respondents
noted limited facilities in the campus considered it successful because they
environment, such as reading rooms rarely experienced delays in submitting
that are small and often full, which can assignments. Apart from that, support
lead to a waste of time in finding a from the campus environment,
comfortable place to do assignments. especially easy access to WiFi, is
considered a supporting factor.
The second respondent indicated that
However, he emphasized that
his experience of living at college in
overcoming time management
the geography department for almost
challenges is up to each individual.
six months had been enjoyable. He
revealed that he felt balanced between The third respondent noted that the
academic and non-academic activities, experience of studying geography for
without feeling significant strain. almost 6 months created challenges in
Everything runs under control and is time management. He admitted that
well managed. In concrete situations he felt overwhelmed because this was
of difficulty managing time in the a new experience for him and he still
lecture environment, respondents needed to adapt further. In a concrete
identified the period leading up to UTS situation where he found it difficult to
and UAS as a difficult moment. At that manage time, the respondent
time, organizational tasks and mentioned the backlog of laprak tasks
along with having to attend committee can feel a bit overwhelming. In facing
meetings. This creates a difficult difficulties managing time,
situation to manage time. Regarding respondents highlighted students'
specific strategies, the respondent said difficulties in finding a balance
he had not tried certain strategies between academic activities and
because he was more inclined to personal life. Social support and the
follow the "let it flow" principle. He campus environment can help
does it as best he can and if there is overcome procrastination and improve
something he deems insurmountable, time management. Looking for
he chooses to let it go and take it as a strategies and utilizing technology are
lesson for the future. Assessing the also considered helpful steps. A
effectiveness of the strategy used, specific strategy that has been tested
respondents felt that their decision to by respondents is creating a structured
follow the "let it flow" approach helped and realistic schedule to organize
reduce stress and increase study time, assignments, and other
adaptability, so they could be more activities. To assess the effectiveness
productive in doing other things. of the strategies implemented,
Support from the campus environment respondents emphasized the need to
or other resources, according to the evaluate changes in productivity or
respondent, apparently came from his quality of life. Increased productivity
mother. The respondent's mother has can provide benefits in improving
an important role in providing solutions welfare and providing greater
when the respondent experiences opportunities for a career. Support
stress due to busyness and busy from the campus environment and
college assignments. other resources was recognized by
respondents as an important element.
The fourth respondent lived college life
The university provides emotional
majoring in geography for almost 6
support, mental health services,
months with time management
resilience programs, and creates a
challenges. According to him, finding a
supportive environment. Human
balance between independent
resources on campus also provide
activities and academic tasks such as
academic competency guidance,
laprak is important, but sometimes it
training, workshops and seminars to Assessing the effectiveness of the
help students overcome pressure and strategy implemented, respondents
stress. stated that the strategy was very
good, and the change they felt was
Respondent 5 reported that the
their ability to appreciate their existing
experience of studying geography for
time more. Support from the campus
almost 6 months, especially time
environment and other resources,
management, was difficult at first, but
according to respondents, plays an
after several months, he managed to
important role in time management.
manage his time well. In concrete
Friends in the neighborhood
situations where he had difficulty
understand his situation and always
managing time, respondents noted
remind him not to waste time, and to
that difficulties occurred when there
use his time well
was a task with an approaching
deadline, but on the other hand, there
was a committee meeting. The specific
strategy implemented by respondents
was to make good use of their free CONCLUSION
time, both to do assignments and to
Based on observations made through
rest to maintain health.
interviews with five respondents, it
was concluded that new students in
the 2023 Geography study program at
Semarang State University face new
challenges in the world of lectures,
namely time management between
coursework and organizational
responsibilities. The following
conclusions were obtained:

1. Diverse Time Management

Experience:
The responses from the five 5. Evaluate Strategy Effectiveness:
respondents showed variations in time
Some respondents evaluated the
management experiences during
effectiveness of their strategies by
college life majoring in geography for
looking at changes in productivity and
almost 6 months.
quality of life. The evaluation involves
2. Adapt to Challenges: improved well-being, increased
productivity, and positive changes in
Some respondents admitted that they
attitudes towards time.
initially faced difficulties in time
management, but as time went by, 6. Benefit from Experience:
they were able to adapt and overcome
Despite facing challenges, the
these challenges.
interview results showed that this
3.Different Time Management experience provided benefits such as
Strategies: increased time management skills,
adaptability, and appreciation for
Each respondent had a different
existing time.
approach to time management, from
creating a structured schedule to From interviews with the five
following the principle of "let it flow." respondents, a map of the complexity
The strategy used involves of college life in the geography
emphasizing a balance between department was drawn. Although each
academic tasks and other activities. individual experiences unique
challenges, common patterns emerge
4. Importance of Environmental
in the form of positive adaptation and
Support:
awareness of the importance of
Support from classmates, family, and effective time management. Social
the campus environment played an support and personal strategies are
important role in helping respondents the keys to success in overcoming the
overcome time management complexity of academic tasks and
challenges. Advice, attention and responsibilities. In conclusion, time
emotional support are the determining management in the college
factors. environment involves complex
dynamics, with important points being Sugiyono, (2013). Metode Penelitian
adaptability, support, and self- Kuantitatif, Kualitatif dan R&D.
awareness. Bandung
http://rayendar.blogspot.co.id/2015/m
ethod-penelitian-menrut-sugiyono-
BIBLIOGRAPHY 2013.html. (Accessed 24 October 2023

Sandra, K. I. (2013). Manajemen at 20.30 WIB).

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Persona: Jurnal Psikologi Indonesia, Instrument Preparation Techniques.
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