2. Managing your time. Adam Segal, Learning Skills Program www.yorku.ca/cdc

3. 2 Time Management Defined n Time management is best thought of as “self-management”, the skill of making smart decisions about how to allocate one’s time and energy to articulated goals.

4. 3 Time awareness Let’s look at the numbers… n The term is 2184 hours long.. n Each week is 168 hours long. n Each day is 24 hours long. n This deceptively seems like a lot of time. n Let’s breakdown these hours…

5. 4 WARNING! n Half of our time goes to 4 things: sleeping,eating,commuting, personal grooming n (None of these things are majors at York!)

6. 5 Time awareness n After the basics, there are 1092 hours available for use in pursuing your goals. n Full course loads require 15-20 hours of classroom, tutorial, lab, and studio time n (Going to class is essential, but it isn’t enough by itself.)

7. 6 Time awareness n So, after the basics, classes and tutorials, there are 897 hours available per term for use in pursuing your goals. n Which translates into roughly 69 hours per week to manage per week to manage n Therefore, only 10 hours a day are really yours to manage.

8. 7 WARNING! n For every lecture and tutorial hour, you’ll need to schedule approximately 2 hours for homework if you intend on completing the work. n (A recent York study found that students spend 5.7 hours per week per course doing homework.)

9. 8 Time awareness n So, after the basics, classes and tutorials, and homework, there are 507 hours available per term n You’ll have 39 hours each week with which to pursue outside tasks. n On average, only 5.5 hours a day are really yours to use in other ways.

10. 9 WARNING! n And, keep in mind that you lose about 1 hour’s time daily to fatigue, stress, disorganization, not knowing what to do next, and avoidance of stressful tasks

11. 10 The Point! n There are many fewer hours than you think there are! n Students need to have a strategy in place to help them use this time productively n Stress is one of the main inhibitors of success. -Having a PLAN helps us feel in control, relaxed and motivated!

12. 11 Setting Realistic Goals n Be Committed – it’s ok to not “like” the task – but still do it! -Be Specific, Realistic and Precise with details of goal <when, for how long etc.> etc.> - A big “chunk of time” is not necessarily a good thing – Structure your time!

13. 12 Some tips on using time... n Take on fewer tasks or goals than you think will fill your time because tasks tend to expand beyond the limits planned for them

14. 13 Some tips on using time... n Create more accurate, workable plans by subdividing larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.

15. 14 Some tips on organizing your study time... –Organize course notes –Identify key information –Build course ideas together –Rehearse/review –Self-test

16. 15 Some tips on using time... n Set interim deadlines. n They provide ongoing feedback and motivation. n They can tell you when you need to adjust your plan.

17. 16 Some tips on using time... n Learn to get value from using small blocks of time effectively. Just a half hour a day can add up to weeks of productive time every year. - What are your EXPECTATIONS?

18. 17 Some tips on using time... n Aim to keep a balance of school, work, social life, exercise, and personal time…but don’t forget to study!

19. 18 The Point! n Even though there are common statements we can make about students’ time use, time management is a very personal activity. –Manage your own time: compare you with you! –Think: how long does it take me to do this kind of task? How long will I spend doing this task? What priority will I assign to this task?

20. 19 Using a Weekly Planner n It is important to use a weekly planner n Many students purchase a planner but have difficulty using the planner in a helpful and constructive way - A lot of us think we can have it all planned “in our head”…

21. 20 Do the tasks in your Schedule n Take breaks but watch for the “Never Ending Break” - Take breaks that use a different part of your brain - Vary your study tasks - Plan flex and buffer time

22. 21 Doing the tasks cont. n Reward yourself - Be realistic when you set up your Weekly schedule - Get to know your “Best Study Time” - Part-time Jobs – BEWARE!

23. Further Resources Learning Skills Program E-mail: lsp@yorku.ca Web:www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp Phone: 416-736-5297 College Academic Advisors