get organised! time management student learning development student counselling service e:...

GET ORGANISED!Time Management

Student Learning DevelopmentStudent Counselling ServiceE: student.learning@tcd.ie

W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie

Learning Objectives

• Become aware of importance of self-management

• Learn about goal setting, time management and procrastination

• Controlling distractions and overcoming procrastination

• Practice strategies

Self-Management

Effectively managing yourself

and your resources by:

• Planning

• Monitoring

• Evaluating

Self-Assessment

• What study goals have you done this week?

• If you didn’t achieve them why not?

• What do you hope to do the rest of the week?

• What have you done to get organised?EnvironmentRoutineNotesMind

Goal Setting

• Goals help us focus, stay in control

• Goals are motivating

• Different types:– Long term goals– Medium term goals– Short term goals

SMART Goal Setting

• S = Specific

• M = Measurable

• A = Action

• R = Realistic

• T = Time-based

EXERCISE

Discuss the various techniques or things you do to help manage your time and resources

• What works?

• What doesn’t work?

Time Management Strategies

• Prioritise your tasks• How?

Setting Priorities

High Urgency

Low Urgency

High Importance

1Do it now

2 Plan to do it

LowImportance

3Resist giving it high priority

4Time WastersBusy work

Time Management Strategies

• Prioritise • Specificity• Small bite-size pieces• Use all available time• Structure the environment• Establish a routine• Scheduling

Scheduling – use a system

• Diary and/or

• Term Planner

• Time Tables

• To do lists – weekly or daily

• Relaxation time

• Monitor, evaluate, reward

Get a diary

• Everything

• Check daily

• Dates, meetings,

lectures, timetable

• Social / Relaxation

• Rewards

www.printfree.com

Plan Weekly – short term tasks

An example timetableBefore 9.00 9.00-11.00 11.00-13.00 14.00-15.00 15.00-17.00 After 19.00

Mon Lecture: Myth 10-11 PB 101 Work in library 11-12

Lecture: Rome 12-1 HUM44

Keep free Seminar: Myth 3-4 URS21

Independent study

Tues Swim Independent study

Independent study

Lecture: Epic 4-5 PB105

Wed Seminar: Rome 9-10 HUM15 Independent study 10-11

Independent study

Badminton 2-3 Badminton 3-4 (Union night)

Thurs Swim Independent study

Independent study

Lecture: Myth 2-3 PB101 Work in library 3-4

Lecture: Rome 4-5 HUM44

Film soc

Fri Lecture: Epic 9-10 PB 105Seminar: Epic 10-11 URS21

Independent study

Independent study

(Out with friends)

Sat Paid work Paid work Paid work Paid work (Out with friends)

Sun Independent study

Make to-do list for next week

“The best thing I did was to make lists of things that I needed to do and prioritize them. It helped me to become more organized and efficient.

It really helps me to keep on top of things and also not to procrastinate.

Procrastination is the easiest thing to do and the hardest thing to get away from.”

Joanna

Lists

To-do list

• Make a list of all tasks• If it can be done in 2 mins

do it now• If not, add it to your list• Prioritise

Options:

www.rememberthemilk.com

Mobile Phone

Notepad

Diary

www.mindtools.com

Distractions• Emails

• Phone calls & texts

• Facebook/Twitter/Bebo

• Surfing the net

• Computer games

• Television

• Food & Drink

• Tidying/Housework

• Family commitments

PROCRASTINATION

Is to delay needlessly something that we believe would be to our benefit!

Patterns of Procrastination

• Perfectionist – Focused on excellence at the expense of getting tasks completed on time. (Focused on the future)

• Postponer – Focused on having fun and avoiding difficult tasks. (Focused on the immediate present)

• Politician – Focused on social commitments and others needs – can’t say no. (Focused on externals)

• Punisher – Focused on own perceived shortcomings and failures. (Focused on the past)

Patterns of Procrastination (Schubert Walker, 2004 in Counseling the Procrastinator in Academic Settings)

Overcoming Procrastination

• Take Action

• Salami Technique

• Five Minutes

• Related Tasks

• Worst first

• Make Commitments

Organise your learning

• PURPOSE

• STRATEGY

• REVIEW

Making sense of the mess!

Setting up a filing system

• Make it simple – if it’s complicated, you won’t use it

• Aim to be able to file it quickly and find it quickly

• Use box files or magazine holders to store documents, notes, small books etc – label clearly

• Use document folders to transport what you need each day - empty and repack these regularly!

Organise your mind!

• Positive attitude

• Positive language

• Self-efficacy

• Goals and wants

Some work for you

Stop doing

Continue doing

Start doing

Signed ----------------------------------------------- Date:----------------------------------

Summary

• Plan, monitor and evaluate how you manage yourself and your time

• Set and achieve SMART goals

• Use a time management system and effective strategies

• Get things started and finished – beat procrastination

• Maintain balance

Further information

• W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie

• P: 896-1407

• E: student.learning@tcd.ie