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Time Management as a Learning Strategy

Author: Rebecca Oberg

Time Management: Where to Start?

This informative slide show presentation offers insights and tips for avoiding some of the biggest problems of time management, including procrastination. It offers several viable solutions, including the use of a day planner and several methods for organizing your time.

Source: See slide show presentation for citation.

How Well Do You Plan?

 

DIRECTIONS:  FOR EACH QUESTION, CIRCLE THE NUMBER THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU.

 

 

Never

Seldom

Sometimes

Often

Always

How often do you plan in an effort to keep life from running out of control?

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

Do you put daily plans on paper?

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

Do you allow flexibility in your plans?

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

5

How often do you accomplish all  you plan for a given day?

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

5

How often do you plan time for what matters most to you?

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

5

How often is your daily plan destroyed by urgent interruptions?

 

 

5

 

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

2

 

 

1

 SCORING:  Add the numbers next to your answers.

INTERPRETATION:

6-10:  Terrible Planner. 

You should consider using new tools and processes to help you plan effectively. A great first step would be to explore this packet.

11-15:  Below average planner. 

You may already have a planning system, but using it more effectively will help to reduce the stress and lack of control you feel in your life.

16-20:  Average planner.

Your planning system is working, but you can do better. You may need help focusing on priorities, dealing with urgent interruptions or writing your daily plan.

21-25:  Above-average planner. 

Your planning system is working well.  Keep up the good work, with periodic reviews to be sure you’re planning around what matters most in your life.

26-30:  Excellent planner--or candidate for burnout? 

You have mastered planning and should experience the serenity that comes from taking charge of your life.  But make sure you’re in control of your planning rather than letting it control you. 

Five Steps to Successful Time Management

1.  Set specific academic and personal goals.

2.  Create a term calendar, recording major events.

3.  Create a weekly schedule of your classes, labs, drill, meetings, etc.

4.  Decide on specific times to work on each course.

5. Make a to-do list for each day the night before or during breakfast.

Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/time.html, modified by Rebecca Oberg

Time Management: Beyond the Classroom

Noted lecturer Randy Pausch offers his insights on time management. Though this is not specifically related to education, it is easily applied to any student. He focuses on the importance of goal setting and avoiding those notorious time wasters, such as time management. He focuses on "Doing the Right Thing" rather than "Doing Things Right."

Source: YouTube

Time Tips

1.Count all your time as time to be used and make every attempt to get satisfaction out of every moment.

2. Find something to enjoy in whatever you do.

3. Try to be an optimist and seek out the good in your life.

4. Find ways to build on your successes.

5. Stop regretting your failures and start learning from your mistakes.

6. Remind yourself, "There is always enough time for the important things." If it is important, you should be able to make time to do it.

7. Continually look at ways of freeing up your time.

8. Examine your old habits and search for ways to change or eliminate them.

9. Try to use waiting time­­-review notes or do practice problems.

10. Keep paper or a calendar with you to jot down the things you have to do or notes to yourself.

11. Examine and revise your lifetime goals on a monthly basis and be sure to include progress towards those goals on a daily basis.

12. Put up reminders in your home or office about your goals.

13. Always keep those long term goals in mind.

14. Plan your day each morning or the night before and set priorities for yourself.

15. Maintain and develop a list of specific things to be done each day, set your priorities and the get the most important ones done as soon in the day as you can. Evaluate your progress at the end of the day briefly.

16. Look ahead in your month and try and anticipate what is going to happen so you can better schedule your time.

17. Try rewarding yourself when you get things done as you had planned, especially the important ones.

18. Do first things first.

19. Have confidence in yourself and in your judgment of priorities and stick to them no matter what.

20. When you catch yourself procrastinating-ask yourself, "What am I avoiding?"

21.S tart with the most difficult parts of projects, then either the worst is done or you may find you don't have to do all the other small tasks.

22. Catch yourself when you are involved in unproductive projects and stop as soon as you can.

23. Find time to concentrate on high priority items or activities.

24. Concentrate on one thing at a time.

25. Put your efforts in areas that provide long term benefits.

26. Push yourself and be persistent, especially when you know you are doing well.

27. Think on paper when possible-it makes it easier to review and revise.

28. Be sure and set deadlines for yourself whenever possible.

29. Delegate responsibilities whenever possible.

30. Ask for advice when needed.

Forget Time Management...The Key Is Self Management!

This brief video clip, from Harvard Business Publishing, offers a unique perspective. Arguing that nobody can "manage time," the clip suggests that we instead focus on getting the most bang for our buck by being effective "self managers."

Source: YouTube