Study SkillsStudy Skills

Building the Habits of Good Building the Habits of Good Organization & Time Organization & Time

ManagementManagement

Excerpt from Sean Covey’s Excerpt from Sean Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly The 7 Habits of Highly

Effective Teens:Effective Teens:

Who am I?Who am I?

I am your constant companion. I amI am your constant companion. I am

your greatest helper or heaviest burden.your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your to failure. I am completely at your

command.command.

Half the things I do you might just as wellHalf the things I do you might just as well

turn over to me & I will be able to do turn over to me & I will be able to do them quickly & correctly. them quickly & correctly.

Who am I?Who am I?

I am easily managed-you must merely be firmI am easily managed-you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want with me. Show me exactly how you want something done & after a few lessons I willsomething done & after a few lessons I willdo them automatically. I am the servant ofdo them automatically. I am the servant of

all great individuals and, alas, of allall great individuals and, alas, of allfailures, as well. Those who are great, I havefailures, as well. Those who are great, I havemade great. Those who are failures, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have

made failures. made failures.

Who am I?Who am I?

I am not a machine, though I workI am not a machine, though I work

with all the precision of a machine with all the precision of a machine plusplus

the intelligence of a human. You may the intelligence of a human. You may runrun

me for profit or run me for ruin - itme for profit or run me for ruin - it

makes no difference to me. makes no difference to me.

Who am I?Who am I?

Take me, train me, be firm with me,Take me, train me, be firm with me,

& I will place the world at your feet.& I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me & I will destroy you.Be easy with me & I will destroy you.

Who am I?Who am I?

I amI am

Habit.Habit.

OrganizationOrganization

What does it mean to What does it mean to be organized?be organized?

Characteristics of a well Characteristics of a well organized studentorganized student

They set goals and plan ways to reach They set goals and plan ways to reach them.them.

They make schedules for finishing They make schedules for finishing assignments & other projects on time.assignments & other projects on time.

They have time for the activities that They have time for the activities that they enjoy because they manage their they enjoy because they manage their time wiselytime wisely

What are some other characteristics?What are some other characteristics?

Being organized can help Being organized can help you…you…

Be a better student: Be a better student: Instead of cramming Instead of cramming for tests or writing papers at the last minute, for tests or writing papers at the last minute, you’ll be able to take the time to do your best.you’ll be able to take the time to do your best.

Reduce stress: Reduce stress: By learning to pace yourself, By learning to pace yourself, you won’t feel rushed all of the time.you won’t feel rushed all of the time.

Feel good about yourself: Feel good about yourself: Once you’ve Once you’ve learned to manage your time, you’ll feel learned to manage your time, you’ll feel confident about how much you can confident about how much you can accomplish.accomplish.

Succeed in the future: Succeed in the future: Many of the skills Many of the skills that help you succeed in school will help you that help you succeed in school will help you in future jobs, too.in future jobs, too.

Organization begins with your good Organization begins with your good study skills. Organizing how & study skills. Organizing how &

where you study can makewhere you study can make

the job a lot easier & faster.the job a lot easier & faster.

Follow these guidelinesFollow these guidelines

Use a daily planner or agenda:Use a daily planner or agenda: Use it Use it to schedule test dates, study time, to schedule test dates, study time, appointments, deadlines, etc. Bring it appointments, deadlines, etc. Bring it to every class & enter assignments as to every class & enter assignments as you get them.you get them.

Use color-coded notebooks or Use color-coded notebooks or folders:folders: Have one for each class. Write Have one for each class. Write the name of the class on the cover. If the name of the class on the cover. If you use a notebook, make separate you use a notebook, make separate sections for homework, notes, & sections for homework, notes, & handouts.handouts.

Guidelines…. continuedGuidelines…. continued

Keep your book bag neatKeep your book bag neat: If your : If your book bag is neat & orderly you can find book bag is neat & orderly you can find what you need without wasting time. what you need without wasting time. Repack your bag at night to avoid Repack your bag at night to avoid rushing to find things in the morning. rushing to find things in the morning. Don’t forget to pack your homework!Don’t forget to pack your homework!

Schedule a regular homework time:Schedule a regular homework time: Ask your family members & friends not Ask your family members & friends not to interrupt you. to interrupt you.

Guidelines…continuedGuidelines…continued

Set up a study area: Set up a study area: A good study A good study area is: QUIET, COMFORTABLE, area is: QUIET, COMFORTABLE, NEAT, WELL LIT, & SUPPLIED WITH NEAT, WELL LIT, & SUPPLIED WITH THE MATERIALS THAT YOU NEEDTHE MATERIALS THAT YOU NEED

Avoid distractions: Avoid distractions: You should avoid You should avoid LOUD MUSIC OR OTHER NOISE, TV, LOUD MUSIC OR OTHER NOISE, TV, WINDOWS WITH ACTIVITY OUTSIDE, WINDOWS WITH ACTIVITY OUTSIDE, CELL PHONE, and OTHER PEOPLE.CELL PHONE, and OTHER PEOPLE.

Guidelines….continuedGuidelines….continued

Take breaks: Take breaks: Don’t wear yourself Don’t wear yourself out. For example, have a snack, get out. For example, have a snack, get up and stretch or take a short walk.up and stretch or take a short walk.

Find out what works best for you.Find out what works best for you.

Organization & time Organization & time management management

sprinkled with effort sprinkled with effort means that you can means that you can achieve ANY GOAL!achieve ANY GOAL!

What is time What is time management?management?

Time management is making the best use of Time management is making the best use of the time that you have. It is knowing:the time that you have. It is knowing:

A systemA system for helping you meet your goals. for helping you meet your goals.

Practical tipsPractical tips for using your time for using your time effectively.effectively.

How to succeed How to succeed when facing stumbling when facing stumbling blocks or procrastination.blocks or procrastination.

Yourself Yourself – your habits, goals, & times – your habits, goals, & times during the day when you are most alert & during the day when you are most alert & productive.productive.

Time management Time management is a tool that you is a tool that you

need to succeed in need to succeed in high school & high school &

beyond.beyond.

Time management enables Time management enables you to:you to:

Achieve more Achieve more so you can get the so you can get the most out of your academic career.most out of your academic career.

Have more free time Have more free time so you can so you can participate in activities that are participate in activities that are important to you.important to you.

Lead a balanced life Lead a balanced life so you can so you can better enjoy both work & play.better enjoy both work & play.

Meet deadlines Meet deadlines so you can be firmly so you can be firmly in control of your life & work.in control of your life & work.

Putting first things Putting first things first & organizing & first & organizing &

prioritizing your time prioritizing your time means that you can means that you can pack more into your pack more into your life & reduce stress.life & reduce stress.

How do you manage your time How do you manage your time now?now?

Where can I improve? What am I Where can I improve? What am I doing now? Is it working?doing now? Is it working?

Keep a time log. Keep a time log. Use your agenda Use your agenda book or day planner to write down book or day planner to write down what you do after school for one what you do after school for one week. Note how you spend time on week. Note how you spend time on your weekends, too.your weekends, too.

Examine how you spend your time. Examine how you spend your time. At the end of the week ask yourself: At the end of the week ask yourself:

1) What tasks do I spend the most 1) What tasks do I spend the most time on? Why?time on? Why?

2)What activities do I enjoy most?2)What activities do I enjoy most?

3) What can I change to make room 3) What can I change to make room for more important activities or for more important activities or goals?goals?

Use your agenda book Use your agenda book to schedule time to to schedule time to study, work, play, & rest.study, work, play, & rest.

Be realistic & set time for each activity. Be realistic & set time for each activity. Pace yourself! Pace yourself!

1) Set aside enough time for each 1) Set aside enough time for each activity.activity.

2) Be careful not to over schedule.2) Be careful not to over schedule.

3) Include time to get from one activity 3) Include time to get from one activity to to

another.another.

Don’t procrastinate. Don’t procrastinate. Sometimes Sometimes you will just have to do the task you will just have to do the task you like the least just to get them you like the least just to get them done. Don’t just say, “Oh well, I done. Don’t just say, “Oh well, I will start the paper tomorrow.” will start the paper tomorrow.” Soon you will have Soon you will have procrastinated so much & be so procrastinated so much & be so stressed out that it will drain stressed out that it will drain your energy level.your energy level.

Always plan ahead. Always plan ahead. Ask your Ask your teacher for any assignments he or teacher for any assignments he or she can provide ahead of time. By she can provide ahead of time. By knowing what is coming, you will be knowing what is coming, you will be better prepared – and have a head better prepared – and have a head start!start!

Organization & time management Organization & time management need to exist for all of us. High need to exist for all of us. High

school students, college students, school students, college students, military workers, business owners, military workers, business owners, & professionals need to have these & professionals need to have these

skills.skills.

Start getting organized Start getting organized today:today:

Practice good study habits to make Practice good study habits to make the most of your time.the most of your time.

Plan ahead by scheduling your time Plan ahead by scheduling your time in a daily planner & calendar.in a daily planner & calendar.

Take time to avoid burning out.Take time to avoid burning out. Always get help from others if you Always get help from others if you

need itneed it

Make a habit of being a Make a habit of being a ‘prioritizer’‘prioritizer’

& have balance & control of & have balance & control of your life.your life.

If you need help, you can get advice If you need help, you can get advice from your teachers, parents, other from your teachers, parents, other family members, your school family members, your school counselors, friends, classmates, counselors, friends, classmates, study groups, and others. Don’t be study groups, and others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It will show afraid to ask for help. It will show that you are serious about becoming that you are serious about becoming a better student!a better student!

Thanks for a job well Thanks for a job well done!done!