Time Management is Life Management

Time Management is Life Management ORNT 199

Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHZxlW9xftk • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICjDACIGkLc

Understanding Time? • Even scientists and philosophers struggle to define time • Nonrenewable (cannot make more) • Not preservable (cannot stockpile) • Time is relative

Fundamental Characteristics of Time Management • Know what you want • State clear, specific goals on paper • Know how to get what you want • Create an action plan to achieve your goals • Balance • Without this, our lives feel like chaos—don’t just live for others

Covey: Purposeful Planning • Carve out space in your life for things that are not urgent but are important • Exercise • Homework • Quality time with loved ones • Traveling • Eating healthy meals • When we feel “out of time,” we drop what is important and feel dissatisfied

Goal Setting • SMART goals • Nonspecific goals leave us confused about how to achieve them • Make goals as fine-tuned as an engine—visualize them in tangible images

Vague versus SMART Goals Vague Goals SMART (Tangible) Goals Graduate with an AAS in Nursing with a 3.0. average in May 2014 Earn a 3.5 GPA this term. Lose 10 pounds by April 1. Put $50 in Savings each month. • Get a good education. • Get good grades. • Improve my appearance. • Get control over my money.

Tips for Goal Writing • Write down your goals • Helps you realize if goals are too vague • Writing leads to changes in attitudes, behaviors • Write your goals with details in changes you want to see, feel, touch, taste, hear, be, do, or have

Tips for Goal Writing • Write goals in several timeframes (short-term, intermediate-term, long-term) • Write goals for several areas of your life • Education • Career • Financial • Family or relationships • Health • Social life

Tips on Goal Writing • Reflect on your goals each week • Remember how you feel about them • See how goals can help each other • Think about obstacles and how to overcome them • Act quickly to achieve goals • Reward yourself when reach a goal • Refocus on benefits of goal when feeling frustrated

Brainstorm and order goals • Take 10 minutes to brainstorm as many goals as possible • Take another 5 minutes to order those goals as short-term, intermediate, and long-term • Take another 5 minutes to connect goals Activity Defining your goals

Time Management Tools • To-do lists (and must-do lists) • Keep daily list of tasks • Write down time needed to complete each task • Prioritize (A=most critical items that need completed today; B=less urgent, could wait; C=do not require immediate action) • Cross off tasks when finished • Avoid “C fever”—ask yourself if something (i.e., vacuuming) really needs done before something else (i.e., writing a paper due the next day) • Assess your ranking—did you put some things too high? Others too low? Can you get rid of some tasks from the list?

Time Management Tools • Calendaring • Paper calendars versus electronic(i.e., student Microsoft email) • Monthly versus weekly versus hourly • Day planners

Creating a Calendar/Plan • Consider your goals and the big picture • What do you need to complete now? • What steps can you start to take towards intermediate goals? Long-term goals? • Consider whether you are trying to change or to maintain • Write down predetermined obligations in blocks of time (i.e., class, work) • Work in other goals, tasks around other blocks of time • Set clear stop and end times (use a timer to stick to your plan) • Set small amounts of time to work on projects (10 minutes to study—break—10 minutes to study—break) and then start increasing your time once you are in the mindset • Think about how to add time to your days (i.e., get up 15 minutes earlier; shower for 15 minutes less) • Schedule fun/flex time to remain flexible • Include time to run errands, complete chores • Plan for more difficult, time-consuming work, homework that will come later • Inform others impacted by your plans • Begin with the most difficult/important task—gives immediate gratification and you’ll be more focused at the start of your day

Longer-Term Planning Use a chart or program like Excel to make a long-term plan for coursework, tests, projects, events, work

Stop Procrastinating • This is a choice—if you don’t choose to stop, you won’t • Discover what type of procrastinator you are • Dreamers: big goals with no specifics • Worriers: focus on worst case scenario and talk about problems, not solutions • Defiers: resists tasks; don’t do what is promised • Overdoers: take on extra work, do not delegate, do not prioritize • Perfectionists: fear making mistakes Write out your habits and write ways to change them

Stop Procrastinating • Trick yourself—say you will only read 5 pages of a 50 page chapter • Don’t wait for your emotions, energy to change—Just do it! (emotion and energy change follows) • Use your time management tool to keep responsible • Plan for unexpected emergencies, obligations

Stop Procrastinating • Create goals that excite you • Multitask effectively (a mindless task + an involving task) • Monitor how you spend your time

Stop Procrastinating • Make it Meaningful Monday: Pick something you’ve put off and write why it would be good to accomplish it • Take it Apart Tuesday: Break chores and assignments down • Write an Intention Wednesday: “I intend to…and will reward myself by…” • Tell Everyone Thursday: Others keep you on task • Find a Reward Friday: Be willing to withhold if you do not complete • Settle It Now Saturday: When procrastination starts to come, do it now! • Say No Sunday: If you really don’t intend to do something, just admit to yourself that you are not and don’t do it (but remember the consequences)

Ask yourself… • What can I do right now to work on a goal? • Am I being too hard on myself and worrying too much? • Is this a piano? (regarding perfection) • Would I pay myself for the quantity and quality of work I am doing right now? • Can I do just one more thing before day’s end? • Can I delegate this? • How did I just waste my time? • Could I find time if I really wanted to? • Am I willing to promise to do something?

Homework Create a chart to make a plan of when major assignments and tests will occur this semester. See the chart on the left for an example.

Time Management is Life Management