Time Management

What You Will Learn How to set goals and priorities How to create a time-management system How to assess your energy level and time wasters How to work in alignment with your learning style How to overcome procrastination How to handle interruptions

Barriers to Time Management Factors that affect time management: Your attitude Your energy level Your ability to concentrate

Assessment Where Does Your Time Go? You can divide time into three areas: Committed Time Maintenance Time Discretionary Time

Committed Time Committed time includes activities involved in achieving your immediate and long-term goals School Studying Work Commuting Family time

Maintenance Time Maintenance time is the time you spend maintaining yourself Eating Sleeping Bathing Exercising Maintaining your home

Discretionary Time Discretionary time is time that is yours to use as you please Use discretionary time for things you value most in life Building relationships Contributing to the community Contributing to your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being

First tip—focus on priorities Not activities Managing Your Time First tip—focus on priorities Not activities

TIPS first rule of time management is to set goals are Your days a treadmill of activities, crises, and endless tasks? Do you you focus on the important as well as the urgent? Time-Management Strategies Write A daily to-do list. Make a project board. Do the tough tasks first. Break projects down into smaller tasks. Consolidate similar tasks

Time Management Study Tips Study at your high-energy time. Study everywhere and anywhere. Study in short segments throughout the day Get organized Be flexible, patient, and persistent

Organizing

Organizing Organize your office, study area, and activities to achieve your goals Use positive reinforcement to motivate yourself Monitor your attitude, behavior, expectations, and the results you are creating Keep all your class information in one place Organize your computer files so you can find them easily Don’t sell you books back, many times you can go back to texts and use them to complete assignments throughout the program

Organizing Set daily priorities. Break the project into small tasks Interruptions steal your time—find ways to work for shorter times You may need to schedule frequent breaks but negotiate with family members to not interrupt for 15-30 minute intervals Don’t let the telephone and other people control you, let phone calls go to the answering machine for short periods of time. Combine socializing with exercising or eating lunch or dinner

Organizing Create an organized place to study, well lighted Create a good time to study—schedule it on your calendar Create quiet time. Study in the library. Do first things first. Just say no!

Juggling Work Load Be flexible Communicate expectations Increase your energy Find good daycare Create positive time Delegate and develop Create a support system Get organized Balance your life

Counting hours There are 168 hours in a week Sleep Grooming Study—reading, writing, researching Work Commuting Shopping Paying bills Going to class (plan 203 hours for every UNIT you are taking) Family and friends time Other responsibilities

Rules of Managing Time Be realistic! Be kind to yourself Take responsibility for only those jobs that are your responsibility Learn to say “NO!” Nicely of course If you are faced with a decision, always pick the choice that brings you closer to yourself, your loved ones