<![CDATA[Academic productivity is a vital indicator of student success in higher education, but it is often hampered by the complexity of tasks, transitions in the learning environment, and digital distractions that trigger procrastination. This phenomenon demands a high degree of adaptability so that students do not become trapped in physical and mental exhaustion due to unmanaged workloads. Therefore, this study aims to analyze in depth the causal relationship between time management skills and academic productivity, as well as investigate their role in mitigating academic stress levels in students. The research method applied is a literature review with a qualitative-descriptive approach. The research data was sourced from secondary data in the form of 21 reputable scientific articles (national and international journals) published between 2020 and 2025. The data analysis process was carried out through the stages of data reduction, synthesis of findings, and narrative conclusion drawing to systematically map the relationship between variables. The results and discussion of the study show that time management has a significant positive correlation with improved learning achievement. Specific indicators such as daily schedule planning, priority setting, and self-regulation have been empirically proven to increase task completion efficiency and Grade Point Average (GPA) achievement. Conversely, poor time management was identified as a major predictor of cognitive overload and exhaustion, especially among students with dense curricula such as engineering majors. This study concludes that mastery of time management is not merely a scheduling tool, but a fundamental cognitive strategy that functions as a coping mechanism to maintain mental health and achieve an optimal study-life balance.]]>
