Time Management A Study Skills Series Presented by General Studies

Time management is the way you regulate or schedule your time. The key to successful time management is allowing enough time to complete your work while still finding time to participate in things you enjoy aside from work and school.

Time Management Involves Knowing what your goals are Knowing what your goals are Deciding where your priorities lie Deciding where your priorities lie Anticipating future needs and possible changes Anticipating future needs and possible changes Controlling your life by controlling your time Controlling your life by controlling your time Making a commitment to being punctual Making a commitment to being punctual Not procrastinating Not procrastinating Carrying out your plans Carrying out your plans

Ways to Organize Your Study Time Create a semester calendar Create a semester calendar Prepare weekly task lists Prepare weekly task lists Use daily to do lists Use daily to do lists

Time Management Strategies Study in 1 hour blocks Take breaks Tackle difficult assignments first Switch subjects Break tasks down Work ahead Plan Rewards

Creating a Schedule Plan out the week on Sunday Plan out the week on Sunday Schedule weekly priorities Schedule weekly priorities Identify when there is free time Identify when there is free time Use any small blocks of time that are otherwise wasted Use any small blocks of time that are otherwise wasted Stick to the schedule you created Stick to the schedule you created

Other Factors to Consider Take Care of your body in order to achieve high productivity Take Care of your body in order to achieve high productivity Mental alertness is greatly affected by: Mental alertness is greatly affected by: Food Food Exercise Exercise Sleep Sleep

Forms of Procrastination Ignoring the task, hoping it will go away Underestimating the work involved in the task Overestimating your abilities and resources Deceiving yourself that mediocre performance or less is acceptable Substituting a worthy but lower- priority nonacademic activity (escapist technique)

Forms of Procrastination cont. Believing that repeated minor delays wont hurt you Believing that repeated minor delays wont hurt you Dramatizing a commitment to a task rather than doing it Dramatizing a commitment to a task rather than doing it Persevering on only one part of the task Persevering on only one part of the task

3 Main Causes of Procrastination Self-downing Self-downing Low frustration tolerance Low frustration tolerance Hostility Hostility

Strategies to overcome procrastination Just get started Just get started Set realistic goals Set realistic goals Clarify the directions Clarify the directions Start with the easiest part of the task Start with the easiest part of the task Avoid over scheduling Avoid over scheduling Create to do lists Create to do lists Set priorities Set priorities

Strategies cont. Break down large tasks Break down large tasks Recognize that not all assignments are easy Recognize that not all assignments are easy Recognize that all courses are relevant Recognize that all courses are relevant Use positive feedback as encouragement Use positive feedback as encouragement Use positive self-talk Use positive self-talk Identify escapists techniques Identify escapists techniques Plan rewards Plan rewards

Tackle Time Wasters Many students dont say no to a request for their time. Many students dont say no to a request for their time. Decide what you need to do and can realistically do. Say no to everything else. Decide what you need to do and can realistically do. Say no to everything else. Screen calls with an answering machine and return calls at your convenience. Screen calls with an answering machine and return calls at your convenience. Learn to say I cant talk right now. Learn to say I cant talk right now. Time wasters are often linked to a lack of self-discipline. Time wasters are often linked to a lack of self-discipline.

Reap the Benefits of Managing Time Effectively You are more productive. You reduce your stress. You improve your self-esteem. You achieve balance in your life. You conquer multitasking. You establish an important career skill. You reach your goals.

Revisit Your Values Knowing what is most valuable to you gives direction to your life. Knowing what is most valuable to you gives direction to your life. Your energy should be oriented first toward things that reflect the values that are most important. Your energy should be oriented first toward things that reflect the values that are most important. Examine your values to help you make time management decisions. Examine your values to help you make time management decisions.

Time Management Concluded Practice will enable you to get better at sticking to a schedule Practice will enable you to get better at sticking to a schedule Breaking an old habit and forming a new one takes between 21 to 30 days Breaking an old habit and forming a new one takes between 21 to 30 days DO NOT GIVE UP, it will get easier DO NOT GIVE UP, it will get easier

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