Time Management

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Time Management
Learning how to better manage your busy schedule,
prioritize your work, and still have time for fun!
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Time Management Quotes

• Time is an equal opportunity resource.
• Time is a commodity that cant be saved.
• If only there were more hours in the day!
• Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time
  for thats the stuff life is made of. Benjamin
  Franklin
• I have never know a successful man who was not a
  good manager of timewho did not have a good
  sense of the value of time and how to harness
  it. Louis Lundborg, Past Chairman Bank
  of America

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Why managing your time can help you

• Determine which of the things you do are
  important and which can be dropped.
• Use your time more effectively.
• Increase the time in which you can work.
• Control the distractions that waste your time.
• Increase your effectiveness and reduce stress.

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Time management can reduce your stress by

• Allowing you to be in control of what you do.
• Productive and secure in your job/academics
• Enjoyment of what you do.
• More quality time to relax and enjoy life outside
  of work/school.

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Time Management Myths

• Myth My life is completely controlled by
  external events.
• Fact You can have control over many aspects of
  your life, but you and you alone are responsible
  for initiating that control. By anticipating the
  future and clarifying the external demands that
  must be faced, you will develop a base from which
  to start. Evaluate what must be done within the
  given time frame and determine what can be
  postponed.

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Time Management Myths continued

• Myth I should meet everyones expectations.
• Fact The needs and demands of others may be
  inappropriate for you and your lifestyle. By
  trying to meet the expectations of others, you
  may be shortchanging yourself and your needs.
  You need to be clear about what your needs are
  firstbefore you consider what others expect of
  you.

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Last myth

• Myth I should have no limits.
• Fact We all have limitsfailure to acknowledge
  this may cause you to become perfectionist in
  your expectations of yourself. Having reasonable
  expectations allows you the freedom to set time
  management goals that are within your grasp and
  that can help you achieve a sense of success.

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Stretching the clock tips

• Use waiting time
• Tackle hard subjects first
• Dont cram
• Avoid perfectionism
• Plan creative time (for rejuvenation)

• Know your instructions
• Take care of yourself (exercise, eat your
  veggies, etc.)
• Dont over commit

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Whens your best time of the day?

• Do the right things at the right time!
• The time of the day I
• Have the most energy,
• Feel the most productive,
• Think the most clearly is during_____________
• between the hours of __________________.

• Schedule less demanding or less important tasks
  for low-energy periods.
• The time of day I
• Fade quickly,
• Have the least energy, and
• Feel less alert is during____________
• between the hours of _________________.

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Tips to improve your Time Management Skills

• Set priorities Decide what tasks must be done
  today, this week, or this month.
• Make a To Do List
• Do difficult or unpleasant tasks first.
• Think about how great you will feel when the task
  is complete.
• Create an incentive.
• Break down rules.
• Realize the task doesnt have to be done
  perfectly.

• Delegate Could tasks youre spending time on be
  handled by someone else?
• Avoid distractions
• Set aside a part of every day when youll meet
  with people take phone calls, and read email.
• Turn your desk away from passerbys
• Physically block out disturbances as much as
  possible.

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More Time Management Tips

• Handle each piece of paper only once Decide what
  to do with each piece of paper as it comes on to
  your desk, to gain greater control over it.

• Use the 80-20 rule
• 80 percent of your accomplishments come from 20
  of your efforts.
• Find out what makes that 20 so productive.
• Try using a log of daily activities to analyze
  how you spend your time.

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Even more tips

• Find solutions for time wasters
• Create form letters.
• Clean up organize your filing system.
• Combine business trips.

• Adjust your schedule to your energy levels
• Determine your pattern of physical mental
  energy levels.
• Handle mentally demanding jobs during peak energy
  periods.

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Covey System

• Put first things first.
• What are your top obligations/priorities?
• Productivity tip Handle each piece of paper that
  comes to you only once.
• Look for time wasters.
• What are your long-term goals? (Why are you
  attending? What do you want to achieve?)

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When utilizing a planner

• Schedule fixed blocks first. (classes, work,
  etc.)
• Include time for errands and eating.
• Schedule time for fun.
• Set realistic goals.
• Allow flexibility.
• Study 2 hours for each hour in class.
• Avoid marathon study sessions.
• Plan for the unplanned.

• Add dates for exams and study times for these.
• Add assignment due dates and times to get these
  done.
• Add dates like your moms birthday! ?

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Anti-Procrastination Plan

• Break up the task!
• Acknowledge the problem
• Do something!
• Promise yourself a reward!
• Get psyched!

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Procrastination Quiz Directions Place an X
in front of each statement that applies to you.

• __ I find that I do almost anything to avoid what
  I have to do.
• __ I feel guilty or anxious when I put off doing
  important tasks.
• __ I think that I procrastinate a lot.
• __ I have to force myself to do almost any
  important task.
• __ I have trouble setting priorities.
• __ I put things off because its too difficult to
  organize and focus.
• __ I tend to procrastinate when I dont think I
  can do a perfect job.
• __ I put off things because I am overwhelmed with
  all I have to do.
• __I often procrastinate when I start something
  new and unfamiliar.
• __ It is harder to complete tasks that are
  assigned to me by others.
• __ I am likely to put off tasks that arent
  relevant or important to me.
• __ I act as if I can ignore a task and it will go
  away.
• __ I have trouble estimating how much time I need
  to complete tasks.
• __ I convince myself that repeated minor delays
  are harmless.
• __ I find that I often abandon my work when
  something fun comes up.
• __ I may start out strong on a task but I quickly
  lose my motivation.
• Now, Add up the number of X marks you
  recorded SCORE _____

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Scheduling

• Find a planner, calendar or PDA that works for
  you!
• Monitor your schedule (hour by hour) for one week
  and ask yourself afterward
• -Where did your time go?
• -What did you do, when, and how long?
• -What did you learn?
• -What do you want to spend more/less time on?
• -What caused me stress and how can I fix that?

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More on scheduling

• Arrange your schedule to do the most important
  things first.
• Block out large chunks of time for really
  important tasks.
• Learn to check habitual impulsestry to avoid
  unscheduled actions.

• Allow enough flexibility for the unexpectedabout
  25 of your day.
• Keep your schedule in front of you at all times.

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Time Management Sheet

• 1. I spend __ minutes a day getting ready to
  actually work/go to class.
• 2. I spend __ minutes a day thinking
  productively.
• 3. I spend __ minutes a day reading
  reports/homework.
• 4. I spend __ minutes a day doing homework
  assignments.
• 5. I spend __ minutes a day in nonproductive
  daydreaming.
• 6. I spend __ minutes a day in non-school
  related conversations.
• 7. I spend __ minutes a day in
  work/school-related conversations.
• 8. I spend __ minutes a day trying to organize
  my day.
• 9. I spend __ minutes a day eating.
• 10. I spend __ minutes a day exercising or
  relaxing.
• 11. I spend __ minutes a day on unnecessary
  interruptions.
• 12. I spend __ minutes a day on specific
  work/school related tasks.

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Resources

• Time Management (a 18 minute video) is available
  for Students of Student Support Services to check
  out-located in our resource library in the office
  of Student Support Services.
• We also have a limited number of planners, PDAs,
  and weekly scheduling sheets available upon
  request.