TIME MANAGEMENT

“The management of time is the number one skill to master in college”

-Walk Pauk

Academic SupportA Division of the Office of Undergraduate Studies

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Not Enough Time?

• Most people would agree there is not enough time in the day to get everything done

• Some people are more efficient at managing their time

• When you start taking time out of the day for the necessary things, time can become scarce

2“The management of time is the number one skill to master in college”

-Walk Pauk

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE?

http://www.studygs.net/schedule/

3The management of time is the number one skill to master in college”

-Walk Pauk

How do you spend your time?• The first step to time management is to

find out how you really spend your time• Many people have a false idea of how

well they manage their time• Start by making a list of what you

actually do in a day• You could be surprised at how much

wasted time you have

4The management of time is the number one skill to master in college”

-Walk Pauk

After you have found out how you really spend your time, create a plan• What time periods are wasted?• How could those times be used more efficiently?• Come up with a specific plan to utilize as much time as possible

Maximize wasted time.

Write it Down. Don’t rely on your

ability to remember

and do.

Groupwise Calendar 5

Thinking about time

“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your

time, it will slip away from you.” 

-Drew Sirtors

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Planners

• Planners are a great way to manage your time• Types of Planners

• Monthly Planners allow you to see what is coming up and to plan for upcoming events

• Weekly Planners help put the week in perspective, and to know how much time will be there each day

• Daily Planners are great to help effectively plan each hour.

• What kind of planner is right for you?

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Monthly and Weekly Planners• Monthly Planners help with scheduling events

and to know when major papers and tests are coming up• Make sure to turn the page and review the

next month so things do not sneak up on you

• Weekly Planners give a basic outline of the week• These planners are great to start out with

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Daily Planners/To-do Lists• Daily planners can be as simple as a to-do list

or as complex as an hour-by-hour plan• Planners make it easy to see what is coming

up in the day and set your priorities• Make a to-do list everyday in the morning, or

one large a week.• Add or delete things as they come up or are

completed

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Groupwise Calendar 11

• Notice there is a very clear color scheme.• Matters of great importan-ce are indicated

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• Different calendars have different colors

• Can easily change view.• See

when things are due.

• Can Visualize where time is being spent.

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14Groupwise Calendar

What to Record When Making a Schedule

• A preview time immediately before each class

• A review time immediately after your classes

Groupwise Calendar 15

What to Record When Making a Schedule continued…• Class and lab times• All regularly scheduled personal activities• Your intensive study periods for each class• A weekly review• Time for daily physical activity• Schedule open space for unexpected events.• Downtime

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Priorities• There are three levels of priorities

• Level one: The most important things (attending class, paper due tomorrow, etc.)

• Level two: The routine things (exercising, school organizations, etc.)

• Level three: The things that could be rescheduled without much sacrifice (visit with a friend, shopping, etc.)

Notice:Priority Levels are indicated

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Be Flexible• You must be able to accept change and

make everything work• There are day-to-day changes in your

priorities• A test gets closer, studying moves from a level

two priority to a level one priority• Life changes are more serious and may

require assistance• These can be events such as an illness

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Make Time for Class• In general it takes two hours of study time for

every hour of class to know the material• School is your full time job

• If you have 15 class hours, expect to be working on class and study time for 45 hours a week

• Sometimes you have to say “no” to what you want in order to get everything done

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“Watches are so named as a reminder . If you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you.”  -Drew Sirtors

Studying Without Wasting Time

“Make use of time, let not advantage slip.”

-William Shakespeare

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Studying Without Wasting Time

• Study when you are most alert so that you will remember what you study

• Avoid studying for long amounts of time• Take 15-20 minute breaks every 1-2 hours

of studying• Auburn Creed example

• Avoid cramming the night before

“Make use of time, let not advantage slip.”-William Shakespeare 22

Studying Without Wasting Time

• Use the time in between classes to review

• Study the hard subjects first• Make sure you have time to eat

properly and sleep

“Make use of time, let not advantage slip.”

-William Shakespeare 23

Using Biology to make the most of your time

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll

understand.”

-Chinese Proverb

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Circadian Rhythms• Circadian rhythms are the body’s

pattern of wakefulness and sleep• Most people are awake more in the

morning and evening• Use these times to study and get things

done• Use the afternoon to run errands,

exercise, write papers, and work

26“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” -Chinese Proverb

Use Circadian Rhythms

• Stick to a schedule• Read in the morning (around 9:00) and

review in the afternoon (around 3:00)• Do all creative work and problem

solving in the morning

27“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” -Chinese Proverb

Maintain Circadian Rhythms

• Try not to sleep in on the weekends• This will mess up your Circadian rhythm

and cause you to be drowsy in the morning throwing off your routine

• Take short naps in the afternoon if you are tired to avoid sleeping in

28“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” -Chinese Proverb

Procrastination

“It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down

time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up.”

-J.K. Rowling

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Procrastination

• According to the OED Procrastination is the action or habit of postponing or putting something off; delay, dilatoriness

• It is one of the worst ways to waste time.

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“It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up.”-J.K. Rowling

Why do people procrastinate?

• Lack self-confidence• Low frustration tolerance• A way of rebellion

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“It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up.”-J.K. Rowling

Potentially Difficult Situation

Self-Beliefs

(I can’t)

Feelings

(anxiety, fear, anger)

Behavior

(procrastination)

The Procrastination Cycle

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How to stop• Set clear goals• Have timelines• Recognize the cycle of procrastination

and remove yourself before it becomes a problem

• Manage your time well and you will be less likely to procrastinate!

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“It's a strange thing, but when you are dreading something, and would give anything to slow down time, it has a disobliging habit of speeding up.”-J.K. Rowling

Goals

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this:

Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

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Goals

• An important part of time management is setting goals

• Make goals attainable, be realistic.• Set goals to keep yourself motivated

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

• Go out and make your life the way you want it to be

• Plan what you are going to do• Plan for the unexpected• Do not wait for opportunities to come

your way

38“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.” -Chinese Proverb

GOOD GOALS ARE…

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Written

• First thing, write out your goals.• You are more likely to accomplish

something that is written down in front of you.

• Seeing your goal every day is compelling for completion

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Specific and Rational

• Goals have to be specific• There need to be small goals to

achieving the big goal• Small goals along the way to achieving the

big goal

• Make your goals something you want not an impulsive whim.

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Simple and Significant

• Only one big goal at a time• Having more than one goal at a time

reduces the amount of time spent working toward each goal

• Having more than one goal at a time makes the goals overwhelming

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Strategic & Measurable • Try to make goals that have more than

one effect• Improving time management helps you live a

more organized life, study more, improve grades, improve your overall wellbeing

• Need to be able to see improvement.• If progress is more likely to abandon goal.

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Measurable

• You should make goals so that you can see a difference along the way

• If you cannot see that there is a difference along the way you are more likely to give up before reaching the goal

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein

Goal: Raise your GPA• Be specific: determine a reasonable

semester GPA that will raise your total GPA

• What grade do you want in each class (be reasonable)

• Look at the assignments and determine the grade you need on each of them to get that grade

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“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."-Ben Stein