Time Management For Everyone

Why Time Management is Important  Bad time management = stress  Your are able to accomplish more daily  This is life advice

Time Wasters

The Problem is Severe By some estimates, people waste about 2 hours per day. Signs of time wasting:  Can’t find things  Miss appointments/unprepared for class/late for class  Tired/unable to concentrate  Messy desk/dorm room

Hear me now, Believe me Later…  Being successful doesn’t make you manage your time well.  Managing your time well makes you successful.

Think About it 1)Do you estimate how many hours you will need to study each week? 2)Do you meet assignment deadlines? 3)Do you begin working on semester long projects early in the semester? 4)Do you write a daily “to do” list? 5)Do you prevent social activities from interfering with your study time?

6)Do you have a job that requires fewer than 10 hours a week? 7)Do you set specific goals for each study period? 8)Do you begin your study time with your most difficult assignment? 9)Do you complete most of your studying during your most productive hours each day? 10)Do you think of being a full-time student as you would a full time job? Think About It Con’t

My Schedule What does my schedule look like???? What are the things I must do? What are the things I should do? What are the things I could do?

Goals and Priorities WWhy am I doing this? WWhat is the goal? WWhy will I succeed? WWhat happens if I choose not to do it?

Inspiration “If you can dream it, you can do it” Walt Disney Disneyland was built in 366 days, from ground-breaking to first day open to the public.

Do you say?  It’s not due yet.  I work better under pressure.  I don’t feel like doing it now.  I really mean to do it, but I keep forgetting.  I don’t know where to begin or how to do it.  It’s boring!

Procrastination “Procrastination is the thief of time” Edward Young Nights Thoughts, 1972

Reasons for Procrastination  Your tasks seem difficult or time consuming  You have trouble getting started  You lack motivation to do the work  You are afraid of failing

Avoiding Procrastination  Doing things at the last minute is much more expensive than just before the last minute  Get Organized  Reward yourself for completing each part of an assignment  Ask for advice when you don’t know  Assume an attitude of confidence and you will be confident

Procrastination Avoiding procrastination requires some effort. Do not be discouraged if your first efforts are unsuccessful.

Keep going? Some people keep going, even when they get stuck or fail again and again. To such people belongs the world.

Who kept on going in spite of so many failures? Failed in business1831 Defeated for Legislature1832 Second failure in business1833 Suffered nervous breakdown1836 Defeated for Speaker1838 Defeated for Elector1840 Defeated for Congress1843 Defeated for Senate1855 Defeated for Vice President1856 Defeated for Senate1858

Abraham Lincoln Elected President1860

Balancing Act “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion” Parkinson’s Law Cyril Parkinson, 1957

Avoid Time Wasters Balance Personal and Study Time Set Goals and Rank Priorities Planning: It’s a Must Be Aware of Procrastination Review

Planning  Failing to plan is planning to fail  Plan Each Day, Each Week, Each Semester  You can always change your plan, but only once you have one!

ADJUST YOUR SCHEDULE EVERYDAY  Use an index card or a daily planner.  As you write out your daily schedule, assess your priorities.

EVALUATE YOUR SCHEDULE  Evaluate your schedule in the morning  Evaluate your schedule in the evening.

MAKING YOUR SCHEDULE WORK  Identify your best time of the day  Study difficult or boring subjects first  Use the same place to study every time  Use the library  Avoid distractions  Use waiting time  Treat school as a full-time job

TO DO Lists  Break things down into small steps  Like a child cleaning his/her room  Do the ugliest thing first

Create a Semester Schedule  Record known class assignments, including quizzes, tests, and papers  Record co-curricular activities including work hours, meetings, social commitments, and out of town weekends

Create a Weekly Schedule TURN assignment in  Make a list of what you have to accomplish during the coming week, including class assignments and class attendance.  Include co-curricular activities, work hours, errands, exercise, meals and time with friends on your list of things to do for the week.  Estimate how long each task will take.  Identify the day on which you will accomplish each task, keeping in mind the amount of time the task will take and other things you must also do that day.

Peer Advise TURN assignment in  How can this lesson be applied to tutoring/mentoring?