©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Study Skills Topic 2 Time Management & Life Skills PowerPoint by JoAnn Yaworski

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Time Management Time management is the skill of taking charge or control of your life and your time. Time management involves:  Goal setting  Organizing  Planning  Conserving time and resources  Maintaining peak efficiency

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. How to Discover What is Important  Make a list of the 10 most joyous moments in your life.  Ask yourself “What do most or all these moments have in common?”  Try to write your answers by describing why the moments were important to you. (Sample answers: helping others, competing or winning, creating something worthwhile, connecting with nature, etc.)

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Defining Life Goals Your goals should be:  Positive  Realistic  Achievable  Worthwhile  Include a time frame Goals may change according to changes in your life.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Your Life for Success in College  Organize a place to study.  Organize each course.  Organize your job to work for you.  Organize family responsibilities.  Organize your finances.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Each Course  Become familiar with each textbook: Read the introduction and study the table of contents. Choose a chapter at random and examine its format. Check the end of the book for an index, glossary, bibliography, or appendix.  Organize a notebook for each class.  Use a pocket calendar.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Your Job to Work for You  Keep work hours to a minimum.  Choose a job with a regular schedule.  Make sure your employer understands your college commitments.  Choose a job that provides a break from the task of studying.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Managing Part-time Jobs  Do the work hours conflict with your class schedule?  Are your work hours the same every week?  Can you reduce your hours if necessary?  Can your employer support your college goals?  Is your job physically or mentally draining?  Does your job cost you time in travel or preparation?  Are you working during peak study times?

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Working Full-Time While Attending School Tips for full-time workers who are part-time students:  Schedule your classes earlier in the week.  Plan to use part of your weekend to study.  Use spare time for routine tasks.  Do not overload yourself with classes.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Your Family Responsibilities  Make sure family members understand how college will help achieve your life goals.  Reserve time to spend with family members.  Redistribute household responsibilities.  Purchase an answering machine & organize a message center.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. 2 to 1 Rule  Students should spend 2 hours studying outside of class for every hour spent in class. For example, if you spend 12 hours a week attending classes you should spend 24 hours outside class: Reading textbooks Doing research Studying for exams Writing papers

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Building a Study Plan  Develop a semester/term schedule.  Develop a weekly study schedule.  Plan long-term assignments.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Developing a Weekly Schedule  Use peak periods of concentration.  Study difficult subjects first.  Study for a particular course close to its actual class time.  Include short breaks in your study time.  Spread out your study sessions over time.  Be generous when estimating needed time.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Managing Your Time  Assign priorities to your work.  Use lists to keep yourself organized.  Combine activities.  Use spare moments efficiently.  Use the telephone or Internet to get information.  Try not to overload yourself with too much work.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Time Management in the Electronic Age  Answering machines  Cellular phones & beepers  Computers Electronic calendars Electronic address & phone list Electronic to-do lists Electronic note pads

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Time Management Tips for Commuters  Use your commuting time.  Find a place on campus to study.  Plan your next semester schedule to reduce commuting time.  Do not do things when everyone else does.  Avoid the morning mad rush.  Buy a large backpack so you can comfortably carry books and notebooks.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Procrastination Ask yourself:  What tasks am I avoiding?  Why am I avoiding these tasks?  When, realistically, can I start each?  Are the tasks too difficult? Consult a classmate. Talk with your instructor. Get a tutor. Visit the academic skills center. Obtain a more basic text and read it first.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Concentration Tips  Focus your attention.  Vary your activities.  Write and highlight as you read.  Approach assignments critically.  Challenge yourself with deadlines.  End on a positive note.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Your Finances Ways to decrease spending:  Do things yourself instead of paying others.  Cook for yourself.  Use coupons; shop for sales.  Reconsider your housing arrangements.  Avoid credit card finance charges.  Walk or carpool instead of driving.  Seek free forms of entertainment.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Organizing Your Finances Ways to increase your income:  Apply for student loans.  Apply for student grants and scholarships.  Obtain a part-time job.  Inquire about tuition reimbursement programs or tuition assistance plans.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Avoiding Debt  Use credit cards cautiously.  If you must have credit cards, own only one.  Do not carry your credit card unless you need to use it.  Pay off your balance every month.  Pay on time.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Managing Your Health  Eat sensibly.  Get plenty of exercise.  Get enough sleep.  Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Maintaining a Balanced Diet  Eat three meals a day.  Include each of the four food groups at every meal.  Use sugar and salt sparingly or moderately.  Choose foods low in saturated fats.  Drink plenty of water.  Include fiber in your diet.  Avoid fast foods and empty calorie foods.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. If You Decide to Drink...  Eat before or while drinking.  Get your own drinks.  Do not drink if you are pregnant.  Avoid drinking games.  Know your limits.  Never drink and drive.

©2003 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Visit the Longman Study Skills Web Site