1. Wait…What? There is a test today? MidWeek 10 Seminar Series First Year Success

2. Time Management Tips Create a Semester Calendar Utilize your syllabus for each class and write down your important due dates, deadlines, and exams. Pencil in commitments, appointments, personal projects, etc. Review your semester calendar at least once a week. Resolve time conflicts immediately! If you think you are going to miss a class due to an appointment talk to your professor to ensure you do not fall behind.

3. Create a To-Do List Refer to your semester calendar as a starting point. Create a realistic list. Recognize your limitations so you don’t go to bed feeling as if you didn’t get anything accomplished. Break larger tasks into smaller chunks. Cross off as you go. It is important to see that you have completed what you set out to do. Doing this will keep stress at bay.

4. Beware of common time zappers! Turn off the phone, tv, computers, etc. Every little beep, ping, or ring will distract you from the task and, ultimately it will take you longer to finish the work.

5. Tomorrow won’t be better. It will be the same task. It won’t be any more fun and still won’t want to do it. It only gets worse. Now not only do you have to write that dreaded paper, you have to do it under the influence of your fight-or-flight hormones. Ideas need time to jell. When you throw together a paper or report at the last minute, your ideas are half-baked. And your professors will know it.

6. Managing Your Time Think of time as money- it needs to be managed. We have 168 hours in a week- no more, no less. How you decide to spend this valued commodity is up to you, but use it wisely so you won’t feel regretful about wasting it.

7. Time & Organization Develop a good filing system. Organization is a skill, a value, and a challenge. Take a time out. Take deep breaths. Be kind to yourself. If you manage your time effectively you will have more free time.

8. Black Holes of Time Management Keep a log for a week and see where these black holes exist in your daily life. Phone Interruptions Drop-In Visitors Email/text Interruptions Hobbies Inability to say “no” to outside school requests Socializing Errands and Shopping Perfectionism Family Commitments/Appointments Looking for Misplaced Items Redoing Mistakes Jumping from Task to Task Surfing the Web Reading Newspapers, Magazines, Recreational Books Waiting For Public Transportation

9. Compartmentalize these areas into categories: -Big Problem For Me -Often a Problem -Seldom a Problem -Controllable -Uncontrollable Do you see any patterns? Are there areas that seem uncontrollable at first, but can actually be controlled?

10. Fun Self Tests How Good is Your Time Management? http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_88.htm Time/Self Management Test http://www.workingresources.com/timeselfmanagementsurvey/ Study Tips http://www.how-to-study.com/ **Remember to cut yourself a little slack as this is your freshman year of college and things are different then they were in high school. Remember that you are not alone in this! You have advisors, counselors, professors and peers who are here to help! If you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact the FYS Academic Advisor!