Time Management

Department of Academic SupportSaint Louis University

Goals of this workshop

The following workshop is designed to bring you through a process of:1. Evaluating your current time management skills;2. Providing education on goals and priorities;3. Help you identify and eliminate distractions;4. Work towards more effective time management

strategies!

Before you continue, make sure you have pen and paper to complete the next few activities…

Where does your time go?

• In order to seek improvements, you first need to observe your current habits.

• Take a few minutes and write down how many hours a week you spend on the following activities.

• Attending Class• Working (internship, RA, outside job)• Sleeping• Personal care• Traveling (to and from class) weekday• Traveling weekend• Studying• Eating• Watching TV• Cleaning apartment/room, doing laundry• Caring for family• Exercise• Attending athletic practice or games• Surfing the net (facebook), videogames, etc• Leisure activities (reading, talking on the phone, etc)• Other (social)

How many hours a week do you

spend…Now…

Add up all of your activity hours for the

week. What is your total?

Where does your time go?

• Guess what…There are only 168 hours a week.

• On what activities did you spend the most amount of time?• On what activities did you spend the least amount of time?• To what activities would you like to devote more time?• Are you satisfied with the way you spend your time?• What changes would you like to make?

Sources:Carol Kanar, The Confident Student

Lisa Israel

Based on your current time management…

We will now work on strategies to improve

your productivity!

Creating a Goal for Time Management

What would you like to change about your current time management?For example, would you like to devote more time to studying?

The first step is to make a concrete goal.Better yet, make sure your goal is S.M.A.R.T.

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsFrom Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• S = SpecificA specific goal has a greater chance of being accomplished.When thinking of your goal, consider “who is involved,” “what you want to accomplish,” “when you want the goal accomplished,” “which requirements/restraints will provide obstacles,” and “why you want to accomplish the goal.”

• M = Measurable• A = Attainable• R = Realistic• T = Tangible

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsFrom Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• S = Specific

• M = MeasurableEstablish a concrete means for measuring the progress towards your goal. To determine if your goal is measurable, ask the questions: “How much?” “How many,” and “How will I know when it is accomplished?” For example, if your goal is raise a B to an A-, you can measure your quiz and test grades to see if you are on track.

• A = Attainable• R = Realistic• T = Tangible

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsFrom Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• S = Specific• M = Measurable

• A = AttainableIdentify a goal that is most important because then you’ll adopt an attitude and plan proper to make sure it actually comes true. Remember, reaching goals requires thoughtful consideration and planning. Make sure you picked a goal that you will actually take the steps you planned out!

• R = Realistic• T = Tangible

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsFrom Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• S = Specific• M = Measurable• A = Attainable

• R = RealisticA goal must be an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. Making sure the goal is realistic is up to you.A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force.Your goal is probably realistic if you believe that it can be accomplished.

• T = Tangible

S.M.A.R.T. GoalsFrom Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• S = Specific• M = Measurable• A = Attainable• R = Realistic

• T = TangibleA goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of your senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, or hearing). When your goal is tangible, ou have a better chance of making it specific, measurable, and attainable.(Intangible goals are more internal changes like personality characteristics and behaviors. They are important and vital to reaching other goals, but extremely difficult to measure. Thus, focus on the tangible so you can stay motivated and see results!)

S.M.A.R.T. Goals From Paul J. Meyer’s “Attitude is Everything”

• Now, determine a smart goal for how you hope to change your current time management behavior.

Write down this goal

• Share a goal with a friend who will be committed to asking your progress and support you!

Create more time in your day!

• Now that you have a goal in mind, how can you find more time to accomplish it?Eliminate those time thieves!

• Example of time thieves include:– Procrastination– External Distractions (noise, music, TV, facebook, etc)– Internal Distractions (hunger, fatigue, worrying, etc)– Over scheduling– Poor organization

How to eliminate Time Thieves1.Identify what steals your time.

2. Organize a plan and a “to do” list…– List your obligations– Set time limits– Avoid new commitments that would…

a. Not be a priorityb. Would take away time from meeting your new goal

– Schedule enough time to sleep, eat, and exercise!

3. Spend 15 minutes to clean and organize your room and or study space (set an alarm to let you know when those 15 minutes are up).

How to eliminate Time Thieves4. Start on your to-do list.

– When starting on a project (specifically homework or a paper), schedule only 10 to 15 minutes and put pen to paper.

– Do not worry about neatness or being correct. Rather, use this time to loosen up your brain and brainstorm ideas.

5. Say “NO” to interruptions.– Do not answer the door or your phone.– Unhook the internet (unless if it is needed) and tv.– Deactivate your facebook account for a while.

6. Make this a routine!– Complete as many of your tasks as possible, but don’t let it cut into your sleep

or food.– Prioritize what needs to be done, cut things into short increments of time, and

discipline yourself with the time scheduled.– As you continue….it will get easier to create and finish your “to do” lists!

What other strategies exist?• A “to do” list may not work for you…– Try…

• A weekly planner• A monthly planner or calendar• Google calendar

• Find ways to build discipline…– Schedule time to meet with a tutor, professor, or

study group (thus, scheduling time where you know you’ll do work!)

What other strategies exist?• Find appropriate times to multi-task

• Study throughout the day! – Bring books and notes with you, and spend extra

time in the library.– Treat school like a job and do not return to your

room until (at least) 5:00 p.m.

Resources• Lisa Israel

ManagerStudent Success Center, Medical CampusNursing Building, Room 114

• Carol KanarThe Confident Student4th Edition, Houghton MifflinCopyright 2001Pages 106-107

• Billiken BeginningsKendall Hunt Publishing CompanyCopyright 2009Pages 85-88

• Academic Centers for ExcellenceUniversity of South Carolina—Columbiahttp://www.housing.sc.edu/ace/res_gs.html

For more information…

• If you feel that you need more information about time management, then please contact:

Kelly HerbolichCoordinator, Academic SupportStudent Success CenterBusch Student Center, Suite 331

kherboli@slu.edu(314) 977-2649