1. Getting Organized and Managing Your Time
Chapter 2
Getting Organized and Managing Your Time

2. Attend Classes Always attend the first class
Meet instructor and classmates
Take notes
Learn about resources
Receive important handouts
Make it a priority to attend every class

3. Organizing for Classes
Use class materials: course documents are the game plan for the course and may include:
Syllabus
Class schedule
Course materials list
Study guide/lecture outlines
Practice exercises and assignment instructions

4. Download This!
Course materials are often available online. Make sure you have what you’ll need to access the instructor’s site:
The URL (web address)
Your user name
Your password
Keep your password in a safe place
If you happen to lose a document, you can print out a copy from the website.

5. Stay Organized Organize your class paperwork daily
Set up a binder/folder for each class with syllabus at the front
File all folders in the appropriate folder

6. Getting Organized on Campus
Familiarize yourself with your school, the campus, and its resources
Obtain a course or college catalogue
Get a campus map

7. Campus Resources Tutoring Learning labs Writing centers Computer labs
Libraries
Fitness centers
Career placement services
Counseling

8. Human Resources Resources are often people: Instructors Office hours
Scheduled meetings
Other students

9. Tips for Scheduling Success
Organize a schedule that works for you:
Schedule classes evenly throughout the week to avoid burnout and overload.
Balance tough courses.
Keep personal commitments in mind when scheduling classes.
Make informed decisions when choosing your instructions.

10. Organizing Your Time Talk to someone if you are floundering
Take a break every hour; move around
Use unscheduled time to work ahead
Keep your momentum and save tasks like checking messages for a scheduled break
Reward yourself for tasks completed

11. Organizing Your Time (con’t)
Maintain your focus by letting others know when you are studying
Have a life by making time for your family, friends, and yourself
Use a calendar planner and/or daily to-do list

12. Organizing Your Time (con’t)
Use calendars for short- and long-range planning:
A long-term yearly calendar for home
A small weekly planner to carry
Daily to-do list (notecards, paper, or electronic)

13. Managing Time by the Year
Record on your yearly calendar:
Class times and instructor office hours
Midterm and final exam dates
Due dates for papers and projects
Deadlines for completing project phases
Extracurricular events, holidays, and vacations
Deadlines for add/drop and registration

14. Managing Time by the Week
Schedule on your weekly calendar:
Regularly scheduled events
Review of notes and lectures, both before and after class
Group similar activities together
50-90 minutes study times with 15-minute breaks
Assignments, readings, and papers due
Quizzes and tests

15. Setting Up Your Weekly Calendar
Create on a Sunday, before the week begins.
Be realistic about the amount of time you estimate for each activity.
Mark down due dates for
Homework assignments
Papers
Upcoming quizzes and tests
Assigned readings

16. Managing Time Daily
Check your weekly calendar each night and write down the next day’s activities
Tasks should be specific and able to be accomplished in the time you have
Allow some flexibility
Reward yourself for tackling all of the items on your to- do list

17. Priorities
Set priorities for
Tasks
Class attendance
Homework

18. Procrastination Pitfalls
Recognize excuses:
I’m not in the mood
I feel like taking a break
I’ll do it tomorrow
I’ve got plenty of time
I don’t know where to start
I like working under pressure
I need to do other things first

19. Procrastination Pitfalls (con’t)
Getting started
Do a little at a time
Juggle deadlines
Set realistic goals
Stay focused
Be confident about your decisions
Keep goals in mind