Introduction
Attention Grabber: Time lost can never be regained once it has been lost. Time management is a
concern for people in every stage in their life and it is one of the most important skills that a college student can learn.

Transition: This statement applies to every aspect of the life of a fulltime student. The following
will examine how important this statement can be to the full time student.

Thesis Statement: Attaining my goals of obtaining a degree in business will require me to make many changes in my life and the way in which I think about time management. I wish to have time not only for my studies, but also time for keeping myself physically fit and for managing my mental and emotional health as well. Keeping a balance between one’s studies and other areas of their life is an essential element to success. This research explores one technique that allows me to balance all of these important areas of my life.

Body Paragraph I
Topic Sentence: The first change that I have attempted to make is to go to bed earlier and get up
earlier.

General Description of the Change: I recently read on article that explored the difference between those that go to bed late and those that go to bed early and get up early. It seems that early morning risers are able to accomplish more, maintain better health, and achieve more than those who continually stay up late and do not get enough sleep.

Assessment of whether the change was successful: This change was relatively successful, even though there are temptations to stay up late on a college campus. I have found that if I allow myself one night per week where I can socialize, I am less tempted to stay up late the rest of the time.

Concluding sentence: I feel that since making this change, I have been able to attend to my studies and maintain a better balance between studies, physical activity, and time to relax with my friends.

Body Paragraph II
Topic Sentence: Shifting my exercise to the morning is the second major change in my attempt to manage my time more effectively.

Anecdote about the Change: The saying, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” has been attribute to the great Benjamin Franklin. Whether Benjamin Franklin actually said that or not is up to debate. What is not up to debate is that our bodies have a natural built-in cycle that is tied to the amount of daylight. Those that follow their body’s clock have been found to feel better, have more energy, and better mental functioning than those that do no. In my experiment, I have tried as much as possible to follow my body’s natural urges to sleep, rather than forcing myself to stay up later. Shifting exercise to the morning helped me stick to my goals.

Assessment of whether the change was successful: At first, I found this change to be difficult in the beginning, but within two weeks, I found that I actually preferred a morning workout to my usual afternoon physical activity. The exercise helps to wake me up and get my brain working. I find myself more alert and attentive during my early morning classes.

Concluding sentence: It seems that early to rise works for me on many levels and this is a change that I want to keep.

Conclusion
Restate thesis: Attaining my goals of obtaining a degree in business will require me to make many changes in my life and the way in which I think about time management. I wish to have time not only for my studies, but also time for keeping myself physically fit and for managing my mental and emotional health as well. The changes that I chose to implement included going to bed earlier and switching my workouts to the mornings.

Highlights of your implementations of the changes: These two changes were difficult at first. My life as a college student has allowed me to impose an artificial schedule that is in conflict with my body’s natural clock. Once I got used to the changes, they became easier and I now enjoy them. I like the effects that they have had physically and mentally. My grades have improved and I feel good about all areas of my life. These changes will form the basis of good habits when I enter the workforce in the future.