Transcript Time Management and Organizational Skills

Time Management and
Organizational Strategies
Get It Together
Presentation provided by UTPB West Texas Literacy Center an HSI funded program. HSI is a federally funded program
granted by the Department of Education Title V programs.
Developed by: Ana Miller, M.A.. Ed., Reading Specialist
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Taking Control of Your Time
and Your Life
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Why is this important?
Time seems to “slip away”
 Promotes authority over our lives
and ourselves
 Characteristic of successful
people
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Determining Your Needs
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Document
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Categorize time spent on
Class attendance
 Study time
 Work
 Commute time
 Social
 Family
 Other
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Assess and Evaluate
Ask yourself:
Will the way I am spending my
time contribute to my college
success?
Do I need to make adjustments?
Which college related areas will
require more of my time?
Am I willing to make the
necessary changes to achieve
college success?
TIME TOOL #1 – A Calendar
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Long-range perspective
BIG picture
Due dates
Test dates
Holidays, vacations, special
events
Target dates
TIME TOOL #2 – A Weekly
Schedule
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Balanced
Study time – 2 hours per week per
credit hour
Regular time-regular place
ASAP after class
Utilize odd hours
Limit – No more than 2 hours per
course at one time
Trade time
Cumulative review for each course
Additional Weekly Schedule
Tips
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Color code
Post it in obvious places
Computer-generated
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Easier to adjust
Include weekend study hours
Organizational Strategies:
HOW to Get Organized
Set Up Your Own System
Separate courses
Set up a simple filing system
Course folders
Academic information folders
Personal information folders
Organize your study area
Locate and regularly use an IDEAL
study location
Minor disasters can be anticipated and
avoided
KEY TO SUCCESS
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Test Period
Follow your schedule for
approximately three
weeks
Adjust as the semester
progresses.
TIME TOOL #3 –”To Do List
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List everything you need or want to
get done.
Set your priorities.
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A - Must be done
B – Should be completed if at all
possible
C – Low priority, completed only after
doing A’s and B’s
Prioritize tasks within each group.
Developing this habit will increase
productivity.
TIME TOOL #4 – Sample
Assignment Record
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Estimate time needed
Library research – estimate and
add 2 hours
Count back from due date
Consult Master schedule
Use the time
Anticipating and Planning for
Courses – Course Planning
Syllabi: Your road map for each
class
After first day in each course
fill in the Semester Map
Long-range planning begins on
day one
TIME TIPS
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Ask yourself: “What is the best
use of my time right now?”
Utilize small blocks of time that
you might normally waste.
ALWAYS have study material with
you.
 Tape lecture notes or personal
notes and listen while you drive.
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PROCRASTINATION: Dealing
with Deadlines
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Putting off = Anxiety/Stress
Stop “thinking about” the
assignment and TAKE ACTION!
Break down large tasks into
manageable smaller tasks
 Chunking- set goals for each work
sessions.
 Make goals manageable and
achievable.
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MORE HELPFUL TIPS
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Work when you have the
highest level of energy.
Eliminate external distractions.
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Have the confidence to eliminate
bad influences.
When tired or distracted, change
activities – “Mix it up”
Acknowledge the work you have
accomplished.
TO CRAM OR NOT TO
CRAM?
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AVOID CRAMMING
Think about the connotation of the word
“cram.”
 Ineffective study method
 Inhibits storage of information in your
long-term memory
LEARNING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME
USING REPETITIVE PRACTICE IS A
MORE EFFIECIENT AND EFFECTIVE
TOOL FOR RETAINING
INFORMATION.
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PRIORITIZING: The
Balancing Act
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KEEP SIGHT OF YOUR
GOALS
ATTEND CLASS
IDENTIFY YOUR
RESPONSIBLITIES
PRIORITIZE
SCHEDULE
JUST DO IT!
References
Covey, S. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People. New York: Simon and
Schuster.
Covey, S. (1994). First Things First. New
York: Free Press.
Feldman, Shattles, & McKenzie. (2004).
Oracle EDU 1110. Unpublished
manuscript, Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, TX.
Leonard, E. (2007). What Every Student
Should Know About…Study Skills. New
York: Pearson.