Putting the Pieces in Place Time Management Putting the Pieces in Place

Where does your time go? Each day, each week, a variety of tasks wait for us to do them What are your tasks? How many of them happen each day or week? Do they happen on time?

Try this activity to see the challenge What will fit in this canister? How many boxes of candy will fill it? Is the canister full? Will something else fit? If so, how much? www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmMUy2t0ZvQ&feature=youtu.be

Next, try the other way Let’s start by putting the same amount of sugar in first, followed by the candy corn, and the boxes of candy last Does this change the amount that will fit?

How does this relate to managing time? Boxes fixed, essential tasks Boxes in first more fits Similarly, essentials scheduled first, more completed Candy corn is less rigid, like flexible, moderately important tasks Sugar fits in small places and moves easily, like lower priority tasks which fit in small bits of time measure

Building a schedule Structure needs differ Too much makes some feel handcuffed Too little makes some feel lost Successful schedules fit amount of structure to the person

Structure levels Almost no structure Limited structure Work happens when the feeling strikes Avoids caged feeling Leads to last minute rush Limited structure Due dates, maybe weekly task list No other specific times Still very flexible Still high risk of overload (weekends)

More structure types Daily time plan Segmented daily time plan Make schedule once/week Daily task list + priorities set Less risk of procrastination Fun to cross items off list Too easy to put off disliked tasks Segmented daily time plan As above, but with am/pm blocks Helps avoid end of day crunch

Most structured Hourly time plan Set times for most tasks Can use only during peak busy times (i.e., finals) May include flexible time Helps get tasks/time under control Can feel rigid

Tools for Time Management Now lets move on to some Technology tools you can use for effective time management.

Pick Your Tool to Support Your Plan Planners Phone Tablets Computer Software/Apps

Calendars Student handbook Yearly planner (bookstore) Other Record appointments Week view most practical

Electronic Calendars (phone/computer) OutLook 2010 Daily Calendar with Tasks In the outlook calendar you can create appointments or schedule meetings with others. Outlook will send a message to individuals you invite, asking them to accept or decline the meeting. Calendars can be shared with others and you can view all of your calendars at once, on the same screen. You can also set reminders for upcoming tasks, meetings and appointments. Outlook 2010 Monthly Calendar

Using Technology To Manage Your Time Web based software Yahoo Calendar Google Calendar Calendar Tasks notes If you have a yahoo email or google gmail account you can access their calendar features, to type out notes, tasks, or schedule study time.

Here is a screen shot of google calendar on a PC and google tasks on the smartphone. We are going to go through the steps to set up a gmail account and access the calendar feature now. Steps:

Combine Tools Recording tasks helps memory Choose the tool(s) that work for you. Make changes as needed. Most tools work if used.

References Goss, M. (2009) What Shape is Your Personality. Joliet Herald-News. Retrieved from http://www.etals.com/pershape.html Piscatelli, Steve. Priority Management: Are You Doing the Right Things or Are You Just Doing Stuff? 2012, January. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmMUy2t0ZvQ&feature=youtu.be Analyzing Your Need for Structure in Time Management, University of Guelph Learning Commons http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/guides/time_management/