Time Management

Based on: J.R. Thornborough & H. J. Schmidt, The Successful Medical Student. Randy Pausch, Time Management, Carnegie Melon University. www.cmu.edu

How many of you….

Plan one week at a time Make a “to do list” Complete the “to do list” Can’t find materials easily Are distracted by interruptions Have a set of learning goals

The most important factors to successful study in medical/dental school are:

effective organization management of your time.

High productivity in medical (dental) school requires: careful, comprehensive planning

The time famine: Bad time management = stress

In average we waste 2 hours per day because of: A messy desk Inability to find things Being unprepared for class Tired/unable to concentrate

Remember that:

Being successful don’t make you manage your time well

Managing your time well makes you successful

Important ingredients to be successful:

Set goals Identify priorities Design a realistic plan Implement the plan

To do lists

Break down things into small steps Do the ugliest thing first Follow the Steven Covey’s four

quadrant to do model

Urgent Not Urgent

Important

Not Important

Covey’s 4 Quadrant to do model

Activity 1: Please complete the quadrant for next week

1 2So next week is not

in quadrant 1!

3Why to do it if it is

not important?

4Why to do it if it is

not important?

Urgent Not Urgent

Important

Not Important

Covey’s 4 Quadrant

What is procrastination?

Avoidance of doing a task which needs to be done

Why do we procrastinate?

Doesn’t happen because you we lazy

How to triumph over procrastination… Identify:

why are you not motivated or enthusiastic goals, strengths-weaknesses

Set realistic goals, deadlines, priorities Get a calendar Identify specific things to do Set specific dates and times

Ask for help Reward yourself for accomplishments

Tips Levels of planning: everyday, week, semester,

year Make study plan and stick to it

Find a regular place to study Plan regular times to study Plan goals for study before study period Have specific goals for every hour of study Don’t stop study in a middle of a topic Schedule breaks at logical breaking points Immediate correct if plan is changed Plan for exams

Keep significant others of your life informed about plan and changes

Remember!!! Elect time by choosing not to do other

things If things are not important, don’t do

them Delegate if possible

Last resort!!! Time journal

Monitor yourself in 15 minute increments for one week

Update journal every ½ hour

Activity 2: Time Management Effectiveness Survey

Please read each statement carefully and circle the appropriate number to indicate the frequency in which you engage in the following activities.

15 minutes

Activity 3: Design a Weekly Time Plan

Step 1: Identify and select activities of daily living

Step 2: Schedule daily and weekly activities

Step 3: Identify and select study time

Step 4: Identify your catch up time

Activity 4: Compare and contrast your plans!

Turn to the person next to you and discuss the similarities and differences of your two plans.

Share the similarities and differences with the larger group.