3 - Time Management

TIME MANAGEMENT

Managing Your Time

• Take control of your time
• Locus of control can be internal or external
• Use a calendar or planner
• Using your memory as your only planner means forgetting important events and deadlines

Using Time-Management Tools

• An academic calendar shows all the important dates specific to your campus
• Make note of important dates and deadlines
• Review your syllabus and create a preview; record daily commitments
• Use different colors for each category
• Create monthly, weekly, and daily calendar views

Tips as you create your schedule:

• Provide details
• Reserve study time for each class and each assignment
• Allow for emergencies by finishing before due dates
• Remember you may have to rearrange your schedule a few times
• Schedule for both work and pleasure

When organizing your day:

• Set realistic goals
• Use waiting, commuting, and travel time to review
• Look for a job that allows you to study during down time
• Limit distracting and time-consuming communications
• Avoid multitasking
• Be flexible, and schedule breaks

Procrastination

Procrastination the habit of delaying something that needs immediate attention

Reasons students procrastinate:

• Fear of failure or success
• Perfectionism
• Being easily distracted
• Difficulty organizing and regulating their lives
• Difficulty following through on goals
• Viewing the assigned task as too far into the future
• Considering the task boring, irrelevant, or busy work

Tech Tip: Get Digitally Organized

• Use a free electronic calendar or phone app
• Select the device and platform you would be most likely to use
• Collect schedule information
• Use collected information to set up your electronic calendar
• Avoid distractions online
• Pick a time every week to review your schedule
• Optional: Add work schedule, other commitments, or social events

Overcoming Procrastination

• Remind yourself of the consequences
• Create a to-do list
• Break down big jobs into smaller steps
• Avoid doing things that might seem more fun
• Find a comfortable place to study without distractions
• Say no to friends and family members, and ask them to help keep you on track
• Shut off and put away all electronic devices

Dealing with Distractions

• Distractions may push you off course and away from your intended goals
• Become aware of what distractions trip you up
• Consider how much control you have over them

Managing Your Energy

• Energy is an essential resource
• Recognize your daily pattern, and establish a routine around it

Strategies to take care of yourself:

• Take time to relax and restore energy
• Take brief naps
• Eat healthy snacks, and drink plenty of water

Establish a Routine

• Establish a study routine based on your daily energy pattern
• Set a specific time to study
• Schedule down time for yourself

Setting Priorities

How to set priorities:

Ask yourself:

• Which goals are important?
• Which goals are most urgent?
• Don’t ignore long-term goals in order to meet short-term goals
• Maintain a term calendar and to-do lists with schedules and deadlines for each task

Find a Balance

Make time for:

• Social and extracurricular activities
• Time spent alone and time spent thinking

Don’t Overextend Yourself

• Take on only what you can handle
• Learn to say no
• Assess your time commitments, and let go of one or more if you are feeling stressed

Stay Focused

If you temporarily forget your purposes for coming to college:

• Remember to finish what needs to be done before you move from work to pleasure
• When you have competing responsibilities, manage the conflict by talking to the people involved

Appreciating the Value of Time

• Time is a valuable resource
• Punctuality is expected in college, work, and elsewhere

Basic guidelines for respectful behavior in class:

• Get to class on time
• Be on time for scheduled appointments
• Avoid behaviors that show a lack of respect
• Make transportation plans in advance

Scheduling

Questions to ask:

• When do I want to schedule breaks for relaxing or for spending time with friends?
• Do I want to avoid returning to my residence hall between classes?
• How much time do I need to allot in order to get from one class to another?

Scheduling Classes in Blocks

Benefits:

• Allows you to cut travel time if you commute
• Might provide more flexibility for other commitments

Drawbacks:

• Falling behind in all of your classes if ill on a class day
• Possible fatigue from sitting in classes all day
• Limited study time between classes
• Risk of multiple exams on the same day