Transcript Time Management for Students

Time Management for Students
Time Management = Self Management
You’re not learning how to
manage your time as much as
you are learning how to manage
yourself.
Effective Time Management
• Helps to reduce stress
• Helps you get more things done well
• Helps ensure your well being
• Helps improve quality of life
Poor Time Management
• Causes stress at school, home, and at work
▫ Long term stress leads to health issues
• Can lead to problems in relationships
• Can lead to quitting your job or school
Time
• No matter how organized we are, there are
only 24 hours in a day.
• All we can actually “manage” is ourselves
and what we do with the time that we
have.
• You can change your behaviors, but you
can not change time.
Wasting Time
• What do you tend to waste time on?
▫ telephone calls, TV, internet, email, etc.
• When do you tend to lose time?
▫ Interruptions, mistakes, falling behind,
waiting, etc.
• Procrastination?
▫ Do you put things off or do “fun” things first?
Try some of the following
strategies and see if they help.
Plan Each Day
• Planning your day can help you accomplish more and
feel more in control of your life.
• Keep to-do lists, the most important tasks at the top.
• Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize
conflicts and last-minute rushes.
• If you’re a night person, at the end of each day, plan
for the following day.
• If you’re a morning person, plan the day ahead as
you’re getting started.
Jump Right In
• Begin each assignment the day it is assigned.
▫ Figure out what needs to be done to complete the
assignment
▫ Figure out when you are going to do each task
▫ Give yourself deadlines for each task
▫ Don’t fall behind on other assignments while
you’re working on “something big”
▫ Address your assignments daily
Prioritize Your Tasks
• Time-consuming but relatively unimportant
tasks can consume a lot of your day.
• Prioritize tasks to ensure that you spend your
time and energy on those tasks that are truly
important to you.
• Set a time limit on “time wasters” like internet
surfing or reading email, and stick to it.
Establish Routines
• Stick to routines as much as possible
• If emergencies arise, you'll be much more
productive if you usually follow routines most of
the time.
• If emergencies arise, you’ll have the energy and
flexibility to adjust and deal with them effectively,
if you follow routines most of the time.
Limit Distractions
• Turn off your phone (really!)
• Close out your email (leave an “away” message)
• Put a “do-not-disturb” sign on your door
• Turn off the TV, stereo, ipod, etc.
Use Time Management Tools
• Know what works best for you: a planner, a calendar, an
Outlook calendar, your cell phone, etc.
• Color code tasks for school, work, church, family, and
yourself. This helps to visually organize notes on your
calendar .
• Set your technology to send you reminders of events in
advance.
• It is helpful to post a large month-at-a-glance calendar
where the whole household can see obligations and
deadlines.
Say No to Nonessential Tasks
• Consider your schedule before agreeing to take
on additional work.
• Turn off your phone, and call people back when
you’re done with your tasks.
• Learn to say “no” once in a while.
Delegate
• Take a look at your to-do list and consider what you
can pass on to someone else.
• For effective time management, you need to let
other people carry some of the load.
• Delegate chores or errands to your spouse, your
children, roommates, family, or friends.
• Ask for favors, and learn to say “no” once in a while.
Do Quality Work
• Perfection isn’t usually possible or necessary.
• Doing work right the first time may take more
time in the beginning, but you will save time and
avoid stress.
• Errors usually result in spending time making
corrections, or doing something over again,
which wastes your time.
▫ This can cause more stress, too.
Break Projects into Smaller Tasks
• Begin your project the day it is assigned!
• Assign yourself small tasks to do over time to complete
the overall project.
• Work on tasks a few minutes at a time, perhaps a little
each day, until you get them all done.
• This allows time for corrections or changes before the
deadline.
• Work on tasks you dread for just 10 minutes, and once
you get started, you may find you can finish it.
Evaluate How You Spend Your Time
• Look for time that can be used more wisely.
• When you are waiting somewhere you don't need to
just sit there with nothing to do..
• Always take something along to do, such as:
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a report you need to read
a checkbook that needs to be balanced
notes you need to review or re-write
just a blank pad of paper that you can use to plan,
make to-do lists, organize your thoughts or
assignments, or shopping lists
Take Care of Yourself!
• Get plenty of quality sleep
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Exercise regularly
• A healthy lifestyle:
▫ improves your focus and concentration,
▫ improves your efficiency so you complete your work
in less time.
▫ avoid illness and stay well so you can be your best
Take a Break
• When you need a break, take one.
• Take a walk, and then get back to work.
• Do some quick stretches at your workstation, and
then get back to work.
• Take a “ten minute vacation” and then get back to
work.
• Take a mental health day to rest and re-energize, but
plan it appropriately.
How Do You Spend Your Time?
Use the following link to determine how you
spend your time on daily activities. This exercise
may help you find more time in your schedule
for studying.
• http://www.studygs.net/schedule/index.htm
Daily Calendar Example
Monday
Activity
7:00 – 7:30
Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast
7:30 – 8:00
Drop kids off and drive to school
8:00 – 8:50
English class
9:00 – 9:50
Math class
10:00 – 12:00
Study in library
12:00 – 12:30
Lunch with friends
12:30 – 1:20
Psychology class
1:30 – 3:00
Study in computer lab (online class)
3:00 – 4:00
Pick up kids, get groceries, get home
4:00 – 5:00
Fix supper, help kids w/homework
5:00 – 6:00
Eat with family and clean up
Monthly Calendar Example
1
8
2
3
Ecology
Club noon
8pm Study
Group
9
10
16
Presentation
in BIO class!
22
23
30
11
12
8pm Study
Group
Psych test!
24
25
8pm Study
Group
7
Oil Change
9:00
13
14
Math test!
18
31
6
Research
paper due!
17
8pm Study
Group
Choir practice
29
5
8pm Study
Group
Choir practice
15
4
19
20
21
Birthday party
1:00
26
27
Dr. appt.
11:00
Math test!
28
Hair appt.
2:00
Links
• http://www.studygs.net/timman.htm
• http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/col
lege-success/116.html
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/timemanagement/wl00048
• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newH
TE_00.htm