Time Management

1. Time Management Student academic skills center Dr. Marsha Urban Rusty Walker Nanci Fowler Morgan

2. Time Management • Good time management skills = academic success. • Time management has two parts: managing time and managing goals. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

3. Manage Time • Term Calendar • Weekly Schedule • To-do list STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

4. Term Calendar • Read your syllabus for each class and record all academic events, deadlines, and due dates. • Break down large projects into smaller tasks. (Ex: a large term paper can be broken down into finding a topic, doing research, outlining the paper, writing the paper, editing the paper, and checking the bibliography.) • Post the calendar on the wall near your desk to use as a point of reference throughout the semester. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

5. Weekly Calendar • List what you do in a day to “see” how your time is being used. • Find the spaces of time that are available (time between classes, waiting for friends after their classes, etc.). • Start with a calendar that breaks the day into hours. Put all commitments on the calendar. This is a graphical map of your time for each week. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

6. To Do List • Each day write a to do list on a small piece of paper or an index card as a guide for your day. • This sets your intention to accomplish specific tasks during your day. • How are you going to use your time? STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

7. Strategies • Use your daylight hours. An hour of studying during the day is more productive than an hour after dinner. • During the week, schedule time for review for every class. This builds an active review time. • Specify when you will spend time studying for each class—set beginning and ending times—create a routine for success. • Use small chunks of time—even 5-15 minutes between classes—since they are valuable for study. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

8. Strategies (cont.) • Schedule exercise. • Consistent sleep schedules support deep sleep. • Eat breakfast every day. • Take time for yourself. • Learn to say no. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

9. Manage your goals • Goal Setting: (You are more likely to be a successful student if you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and accomplish.) • Write out long range goals. • Why am I attending college? • What do I hope to achieve? • Choose your top five goals. • How can I achieve my goals? STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

10. Manage your goals (cont.) • Strategies: • Write specific goals that are measurable (ex: B+ average and attend all classes.) • Write realistic goals. Challenge yourself, don’t defeat yourself. • Discuss your goals with a mentor. • Post your goals where you can see them. Periodically review your goals. • Goals must be clear, concrete, and important. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

11. Review of Time Management • Manage your time • Term Calendar • Weekly Calendar • To do list • Manage your goals: • Write out your goals. • Discuss your goals with a mentor. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER

12. Study Tips • Identify your best time of the day. • Study difficult and boring subjects first. • Use the same place for formal study time. • Use the library. • Avoid distractions. • Use waiting time. • Treat college as a full-time job. STUDENT ACADEMIC SKILLS CENTER