Time Management: Gaining Control

1
Time Management Gaining Control

• University of Victorias Humanities Orientation
  Session
• October 22, 2004
• Lynne Siemens

2
Agenda

• Defining the Issue
• Allocation of Time
• Question of Balance
• Goal Setting
• Prioritizing Tasks
• Saying No
• Advice

3
Defining the Issue

• What does the ideal day look like?
• What does the average day look like?
• What are the differences between the two?

4
Allocation of Time
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Question of Balance

• 3 options
• Do fewer things
• Do things faster
• Enjoy the activities more

6
Goal Setting

• Beginning point
• Short term/long term goals
• Professional
• Personal
• How do your various responsibilities/tasks meet
  these goals?

7
Prioritizing Tasks

• List all tasks
• Time management matrix
• Important vs urgent

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Time Management Matrix
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Prioritize the to-do list

• Activities
• A nearly always come first
• B come second
• C should be avoided because not important
• D should be avoided nearly all the time
• Use of a calendar

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Saying No

• One of our biggest challenges
• Questions to be considered
• Will this task have an appreciable impact on my
  goals?
• How will this help my research and teaching
  program (and tenure case)?
• Will this improve my standing in my department or
  community?
• How long will this take?
• What is the deadline?

11
Saying No continued

• Questions
• How busy am I during the period when I must
  devote time to this task?
• Do I have time to do it well?
• Will it be fun to do?
• Saying No nicely
• I am sorry, but I am trying to limit my
  commitments.
• I am sorry, but I can suggest someone else.

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Advice

• Know when something is good enough
• Put your life in your calendar
• Schedule thinking/research/writing/prep time like
  you do meetings
• Be organized
• Know oneself
• Trade time for money
• Avoid the email trap
• Maintain a balance

13
Taking the first step

• What are two things I can do today to bring the
  average day closer to the ideal day?