Managing Your Time For Study

Louise Livesey

Academic Skills Adviser

This workshop will: − help you investigate how you use your time− include plenty of handy tips for managing time

well while at university − help you plan to manage your time more

effectively.

Today’s plan

1.What is time management?2.Barriers to being effective3.Strategies4.Dealing with procrastination5.Breaking the day into 6

How did you score?

Activity 1: Self-audit

1.What is time management?

1.What is time management?

• Getting more done in less

time• Balance between work and

“real life”!• Making and meeting

deadlines

• Prioritising activities

• Being organised

• Being realistic

• Planning

• Efficiency

• Being in control• Dealing with issues, not

hiding them• Having time to do

everything you want to do

• Being honest

1.What you need to do!2.What you need to do it!3.When it needs to be done

by!

Tip 1: Failure to plan is planning to fail

1.What is time management?

2.Barriers to Being Effective

• What are the things that prevent you from making good use of your time and getting things done?

Activity 2: More barriers

2.Barriers to Being Effective

• Lack of time

• Friends

• Interruptions– e-mail– internet– phone– lectures– study time– work

• Sleep

• Illness

• Lack of a fixed routine

• Being distracted

• Not being organised

• Being in a panic

• Not interested

• SELF-SABOTAGE

2.Barriers to Being Effective

Tip 2: Be assertive when dealing with interruptions.

How do you eat an elephant?

3.Strategies to help you manage time

Tip 3: the pizza principle - break down larger tasks.

3.Strategies to help you manage time

Bio-rhythms

Are you a night-owl or an early bird?

Do you prefer quiet study or background noise?− Music or silence?

− Library or coffee shop?

Where do you work best?

Do you think best on the move?

− Read before walking to uni, then think through on the way

Home or “office”?

3.Strategies to help you manage time

Tip 4: Identify where and when you work

best and maximise it

3.Strategies to help you manage time

• Keep “To-Do” lists and review frequently• Prioritise tasks• Finish things - get jobs off your lists• Don’t waste time on recriminations/ regrets• Be realistic/ honest

3.Strategies to help you manage time

Tip 5: Get a ‘diary

3.Strategies to help you manage time

• Exams dates

• Days and times essays are due

• Any presentation dates and times

• Significant life events – interviews, work times, etc.

3.Strategies to help you manage time

When are your…

Tip 6 - Know your deadlines: know your module handbooks!

3.Strategies to help you manage time

Why procrastinate? Solution

• The task seems too big

• It’s unpleasant

• We think we’re not good at it

• We don’t know how to do it• It has no clear deadline or

it’s far off• We are too tired or

panicking

• Break tasks into small chunks

• Reward yourself/ Do the hard tasks first

• Do the easy tasks first

• Get help• Set your own deadlines

• Get some sleep/ relax

4.Dealing with procrastination

1. Compulsories = external factors giving you no choice e.g. lectures, labs, deadlines etc.

2. Necessaries = must be done but you have some leeway as long as you fit them in e.g. meals, sleep, etc.

3. Protected time = things that are important to you and your well-being, e.g. gym.

4. Optionals = things you want to do to be effective but that are moveable, e.g. directed study.

6. Breaking the day into 6

Summary

• Set the right environment

• Get the timing right

• Stay focused

• Avoid postponing important tasks

• Avoid interruptions

• Use “time-bites”

• Compile a SMART and REALISTIC to-do list

• Identify urgent and important tasks

• Prioritise maintenance and progress tasks

• Review how you are doing

Sáez, F. (2010) GTD and the benefits of routine. Facile Things. [online] Available at:

http://facilethings.com/blog/en/routines [Accessed 12.6.2014]

All visuals are from Clip Art or previous booklets.

Thanks to all Academic Skills Advice service colleagues past and present

References

Academic Skills Advice Service

• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23• What do we do? Support undergraduate students with

their study skills by running clinics and workshops, having bookable appointment slots, and enabling students to drop-in for Instant Advice.

• Who are we? Michael and Helen specialise in Maths Support; Lucy and Russell advise students on study skills; and I (Louise) deliver the workshops

• When can you come for help? Everyday both face to face and on-line

• How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk or website www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills

Any questions?