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Ms. Martha O'Brien > Physical Therapy > Faculty > Technology > Time Managment

 

Time Management

 

 

HOW DO YOU CURRENTLY ORGANIZE YOUR TIME?

To gain perspective on your current use of time, please answer YES or NO to the following questions:

_____	1.	Do you set aside time for studying each course that you're taking?
_____	2.	Do you study only when you are "in the mood?”
_____	3.	Whenever you study, do you spend some time reviewing?
_____	4.	Do you schedule time for starting early on a long-term project?
_____	5.	Do you have a regular time each day for studying particular subjects?
_____	6.	When you study, do you take a break every 30 to 40 minutes?
_____	7.	Do you study only when you have nothing else to do?
_____	8.	Do you take some time soon after class for revising lecture notes?
_____	9.	To help estimate time needed for a reading assignment in a particular course, do     you know how many textbook pages you can read in ten minutes?
_____	10.	Before you study, do you estimate the amount of time needed for doing the assignment?
_____	11.	Do you know what is the best time of the day for you to study?
_____	12.	Do you prepare a weekly schedule to help you become efficient?
_____	13.	To save time in doing assignments, do you question the teacher in class if you are     not sure of how to do the work?
_____	14.	Do you take time to write down all of your assignments?
_____	15.	Do you review regularly even if there is no immediate test?
_____	16.	Do you always know the purpose of your assignment so that you are more interested and can work faster?
_____	17.	Do you set aside time for fun and recreation?

ADAPTED FROM:  Bragstad, B.J. & Stumpf, S.M. (1987).  A Guidebook for Teaching Study Skills and Motivation, 2nd ed.

 

STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

1. SET REALISTIC GOALS - Be sure that the expectations you set for yourself are reasonable.  That way, you are more likely to accomplish your goals and feel better about your abilities.
2. ESTABLISH PRIORITIES - You can't always get everything done every day.  Therefore, it is important that you identify which of your tasks are most important, then make sure you complete those first.
3. USE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES - There are a number of techniques you can employ to improve your time management:

• Schedule tough assignments when you do your best thinking.  Difficult work is easier to do when your mind and environment are calm.

• Don't fall behind in your classes - keep up with your work.

• Put your tasks into writing.  When you think of something you have to do, do it immediately.  If you can't, write it down so you will have a reminder to do it later.

• Don't over schedule your time.  Plan only for the time you have available.

4. PLAN AHEAD - Set up a schedule for completing projects that are due at a later time.  Get started early on long-range tasks so that you will have the time you need to do the tasks well.
5. BREAK DOWN A BIG JOB INTO SMALLER TASKS - This is helpful for a number of reasons:

• It forces you to think through the project so you know just what has to be done and can work efficiently.
• It is easier to get yourself motivated to do a small task.
• It allows you to get something done even if you have only small chunks of time.
• It lets you see that you're making progress, which builds confidence and momentum.

6. ACCEPT THE FACT THAT SOME OF YOUR TASKS ARE NOT GOING TO BE FUN OR EASY - You can't expect all of your tasks to be pleasant.  Some will be difficult or unpleasant.  You must be willing to accept this fact.  It will help you approach those less enjoyable tasks.
7. USE "TO DO" LISTS - Make lists of everything you have to do.  Rank them in order of priority.  Complete as many tasks as you can, doing the highest priority work first.  Cross out those tasks you have completed; this will give you a sense of accomplishment.
8. LEARN TO SEE THE RELEVANCE OF YOUR COURSES AND ASSIGNMENTS - If you are having trouble getting yourself motivated to complete work in an area outside your area of interest, remind yourself that a grade in that class is just as important as a grade in any of your other more interesting classes.  They all are calculated into your overall QPA.
9. PLAN REWARDS FOR COMPLETING TASKS - It is easy to do things you like; working on the task often provides its own feeling of satisfaction.  Doing things you don't like, however, may require some outside compensation.  Using a reward system may help you overcome your tendency to procrastinate on certain tasks.  Remember, plan to do something that you really like as a reward for completing something you don't like to do.
10. LEARN TO DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE - Don't waste valuable time.  Use "idle" time to accomplish small tasks.  For example, if you are waiting for an appointment, write that letter you've been aiming to send.  Use the waiting time between classes to review notes or organize some paperwork.
11. LEAVE SOME FREE TIME FOR UNEXPECTED THINGS THAT COME UP - Don't over-plan your time.  At times, things come up that you just must fit in.  Your schedule should have some flexibility to accommodate those unexpected things.  Planning ahead and working ahead will also help with this.
12. SET DEADLINES FOR YOURSELF - If you are the type of person who works well under the pressure of a deadline, set deadlines for yourself.  This may also help in long-range planning and effective scheduling of your time.
13. TAKE ACTION - The best way to overcome procrastination is to just get started.  When you are deciding to work on a task, don't think about why you should or shouldn't do it, just get to work.  Once you start to work on the task, you are likely to continue.  Remember that getting started is half the battle.

ADAPTED FROM:  Van Blerkom, D.L. (1994).  College Study Skills: Becoming a Strategic Learner.  Belmont, CA:  Wadsworth Publishing.

 

HINTS FOR AN EFFECTIVE TIME-BUDGETING SYSTEM

1. Before you make out a time schedule, keep a diary for a week to see where your time goes and to find out how well you use it.  Analyze your diary to pinpoint wasted periods or inefficiently used time.

2. Make a general schedule in which you first include all permanent time such as classes, work, meals, sleep, regular clubs, activities, and discretionary times (“free time”).

3. Analyze your assignments each week and juggle your schedule to fit those needs.

4. Use a system of EXCHANGES to achieve the appropriate flexibility in your time schedule.  You can go to the basketball game tomorrow night if you “borrow” recreation time and exchange it for study time tonight.  Make substitutions but never omit studying.  If you are conscientious about this exchange system, you also won’t have to completely omit your recreation.

5. Plan study time for initial preparation of the assigned readings, regular review time for pulling together the study notes or underlines and the lecture notes from class, and review for quizzes and exams.

6. Plan to take a break for 15 to 30 minutes between study periods.  Relax a bit!  But  . . .  don’t let your break go on so long that you don’t get started on the next project.

7. Plan your study time in effective blocks of about 1½ to 2½ hours.  A block should be long enough to really get into a subject and to finish a reasonable section of work  . . .  but not so long that you become inefficient or overwhelmed.

8. Make planned use of all available time during the day.  Consolidate your errands.  Don’t waste time between classes . . . it’s not wasted time if you plan to use “official” relaxation time to just sit around.  But more useful will be planned use of time for review of material for the next class.  Review refreshes your memory and makes it easier to be ready for an unexpected quiz.

9. Give your study hours top priority.  One way to stick to your schedule is to set a contract with yourself.  This means that you promise yourself some reward when a certain goal is reached.  Study a subject you like as a reward for finishing a subject you like less.  Another type of contract provides for a payoff for getting a certain amount done in a given time period.  Possible rewards could be playing an album for 15 to 30 minutes, watching TV for half an hour, making a phone call to a friend, etc.

10. Work on one item until it is finished.  Resist the temptation to leave that task for more appealing tasks, because of attractive interruptions or because you are tired of it.

11. Promote study effectiveness by: working in a place free from loud music or talking, completing any unfinished tasks before you start something new, and setting reasonable goals to accomplish in a given study period.

12. Four guidelines to effective planning:

• Simplicity

• Flexibility - don’t let the schedule run you; you run it

• Completeness

• Work ability - set realistic goals.  Don’t cram too many things into one day.

 

TIPS FOR MAKING TIME MANAGEMENT SCHEDULES

Devising an effective time management schedule is an extremely individualized process.  You must decide what you are capable of doing, and when you should do it.  If something works for you, then by all means use it!  If you drastically change your lifestyle because of your new time management schedule, you probably will have difficulty keeping to the schedule.  Sticking to your schedule is difficult at times, but in the end, your time management skills will pay off!

To help you along with this, here are some tips for scheduling your time effectively:

1. Make a schedule that incorporates not only studying but also activities like recreation, exercise, socializing, etc.  There is much more to a college education than learning facts and figures!
2. Don’t schedule too much.  Be realistic about your schedule.  A schedule packed with things to do probably won’t get done, and you will abandon your schedule.
3. Plan your schedule in blocks of time.  You can study more efficiently by studying for 50 minutes, and then taking a break for 10 minutes.
4. When estimating time for long projects or papers, plan to start far ahead of time instead of trying to “throw it all together” the night before it is due.
5. As you plan your schedule, it is important to know how long you are capable of studying.  If you allot 3 hours to study history when you know that you can only study effectively for 2 hours, you are managing your time poorly.
6. Make use of free hours between classes.  These hours can be used to review notes or even begin an assignment.
7. Know your sleep pattern.  Be sure to incorporate sufficient time for rest into your schedule.
8. Build your schedule to reflect your own personality and changes in energy level.  Some people do their best work early in the morning; others do better in the early afternoon or later in the evening.  Think about the way you operate and the times of day you are able to work best.
9. Study at the same time daily.  Having specific hours set aside each day will maintain the systematic organization of your schedule, and keep you actively involved in your studying.
10. Schedule consistent review times.  Plan some brief review time for before recitation-type classes and for as soon as possible after lecture-type classes.  Also, be sure to set aside time each week to review each class’ notes from beginning to end once a week.  This only takes a short amount of time, and will reduce the amount of study time needed before an exam.
11. When scheduling an extended study period, plan to study your hardest subjects first.
12. Set a specific goal for each study period.
13. Allow flexibility.  Although your schedule should be very systematic, you should allow for some flexibility.  It is important not to over-schedule, thus allowing for a variety of “non-academic” activities.

 

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