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Time Management |
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CREATE A TIME SCHEDULE. Use care in creating a feasible schedule. PLAN AND EXECUTEHINTS FOR SCHOOLBOGGED DOWN The following are some helpful tips as you begin to plan and execute:
- Plan a schedule of balanced activities. College life has many aspects which are important to success. Some of these are fixed (e.g. classes, work, organizations), while others are more flexible (e.g. relaxation, sleeping, studying). Both types of activities are important and should be a part of your schedule.
- Plan specifics. Save time later by deciding specifics now. For example, don’t just schedule a time to study; instead, schedule time to study chemistry in the library. Establishing habits of time, place, etc. can aid in this process.
- Overestimate the amount of time needed for an activity. Life often takes more time than we expect. It is better to have extra time to do something than to underestimate and not be able to finish.
- Be aware of your best time of day. Everyone is different in regards to what times of the day he/she is most alert. Find out what your best times are and utilize them for the most important and/or hardest tasks.
- Utilize odd hours and waiting times. Odd hours or waiting times between activities can be used to study or accomplish other short tasks. Be prepared to take full advantage of every minute in the day by having materials with you and possibly even preparing notes ahead of time to review. Creating the habit of utilizing these times may very well open up other free time for recreation.
- Trade time—don’t steal it. Unexpected events will often arise during scheduled activities. This is okay, but be sure to immediately adjust your schedule to make up for the time that you missed.
- Learn to say "No." You cannot do it all. People will understand if you have to turn down activities to finish your busy schedule.
- Be aware of major interrupters. Everyone has things which consistently interrupt the task at hand. Perhaps it is the telephone or another person. Find out what your major interrupters are and take control of each situation.
- Be aware of major robbers of time. Do your best to not let laziness, sidetracks, procrastination, or daydreaming cut into or take over your schedule.
- Create an environment conducive for the task at hand. Be intentional about your environment. For example, if you need to study, reduce distractions and don’t let yourself get too comfortable. Also, take advantage of helpful environments, such as the library.
- Consciously choose how you spend your time. Every person is constantly making decisions, but these are often unconscious. This is when time "gets away from you." Be conscious and intentional about the way you spend your time!
- Set reasonable goals. Remember to create a schedule with time for sleep, recreation, etc. Also, leave time for catch-up. Basically, make it something you really can and will do! Don’t design a schedule that will fail in the first day or week because it is too difficult or too drastic a change for you to actually accomplish.
- PLAN SUCCESSFUL AND SUFFICIENT STUDY TIME.
Here are some helpful hints specifically relating to school:
- Plan enough study time to do justice to each subject. Most college classes are set up to require about two hours work per week per unit. Multiplying your unit load by two should give you a good idea of the amount of time that you will need for studying. Be aware and sensitive, however, to the fact that each class and teacher varies. Also be aware of your own special needs (e.g. needing extra reading time).
- Plan to study difficult (or boring!) subjects first. It’s always tempting to do what we enjoy first, but the harder stuff often takes more energy and should therefore be accomplished first.
- Limit your blocks of study time. Usually, after 1-1/2 to 2 hours you will tire rapidly and lose your ability to concentrate. Be aware of these factors and deal with them by taking breaks or changing the course you are studying.
- Provide time for spaced review. A regular weekly period when you will review the work in each of your courses will help keep you up to date. This review should be cumulative, covering briefly all the work done thus far in the semester. Such reviews will reduce the need for "cramming" later.
- Practice self-recitation as a device for increasing memory. Organize your notes in a question and answer form and think in terms of questions and answers about the main ideas of the material as you review weekly. When preparing for exams, try to predict the questions the instructor may ask.
- Keep carefully organized notes on both lectures and assignments. Good notes are one of the best ways for review. Watch for key ideas in lectures and try to express them in your own words in your notes. Look for headings and bold face type while reading to give you clues about the main ideas. Also, take down careful notes as to exactly what assignments are and when they are due. Be sure to schedule time for long term projects on the day they are assigned.
- For a lecture class, study as soon as possible. Try to find 3-5 minutes shortly after a lecture class to clean up and review your notes.
- For a participation class, review in advance. Try to find 3-5 minutes before a participation class to review your notes. This suggestion includes classes which often have quizzes on the material from previous class sessions.
- Plan a good place to study. If you intend to study in your room, try to work out an agreement with your roommates about study time. You can even try writing out clear rules to follow with your roommates or hanging a "Do not disturb" sign on the door to facilitate studying in your room. If you cannot study in your room, plan on going some place else, such as the library. It has good lighting, low noise levels, and reminds you that your primary task is studying; take advantage of these characteristics!
When you become bogged down or behind in your work, ask yourself:
- Am I beating myself up? If you have fallen behind, do not berate yourself. That just takes up more time. Simply take a breather and then get on with studying.
- What is one task I can accomplish toward my goal? Pick out a small task that can be completed in about five minutes. Completing this will help remind you to take small steps one at a time instead of letting the enormity of a task bog you down.
- "Is this a piano?" Carpenters building rough frames for buildings say "Well this ain’t no piano." It means that perfection is not necessary. Is perfection necessary for your task? Is it possible? Sometimes your time will be short and you must accept lower standards.
- Can I do just one more thing? You can usually do just one more short task. Your overall increase in productivity will surprise you.
- How have I been wasting time? Review your actions. Become aware of your time wasting habits so that you can catch yourself in the act next time.
- Would I pay myself for what I’m doing right now? Remember that your employment is that of being a student. You are investing in your own productivity. Whenever possible, don’t do a mediocre job.
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