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Tips and Tricks 3:Time Management @ KU Leuven
Karel JoosStudy Advice ServiceOctober 23rd 2017
Time management
Managing Time Effectively• Introduction• How to increase your awareness• How to manage your time?• Difficulties• Advantages
Introduction
Introduction• How much time do you spend studying?
o Number of hours in class per week = ?o Number of hours study time per week = ?
o Total load = ?
Introduction• Research : The ‘average’ student spends 37,5 - 45 hours a week
o including studying, preparing papers, attending courses/ lectures, library/ lab work, ..
o For 60 credits, passing in June
• 1 credit = 25-30 hours • 1 year = 1500 – 1800 hours
If you want to change …
http://johnnyholland.org/2011/01/the-a-b-c-of-behaviour/
How to increase your awareness
How to increase your awareness• Questionnaire
How to increase your awareness• Time management questionnaire• 45 - 50 points: You're on your way to becoming CEO of a major
corporation! • 38 - 44 points: You’re in control and well organized. • 30 - 37 points: You are managing your time fairly well, but sometimes feel
overwhelmed. • 25 - 29 points: Your college career is likely to be stressful and less than
satisfying unless you take steps to begin to manage your time more effectively.
• less than 25 points: Your life is one long roller coaster ride, out of control.
How to increase your awareness
• Keep track of the number of o hours spent studying o hours spent not studying
• After recording : could your time be better/more effectively spent ??
How to Manage Your Time?
Systemizing • Do not wait until you feel like having fun in studying• Look for a system :
o Develop a manageable routineo … that can last for weeks or months
• System = o Chop into manageable chunks
Examples :• Detailed schedule• Number of hours/week
o On Friday : count• If ok, free weekend• If not ok, add some hours in weekend
• Number of hours/dayo E.g. 8h/day in total (lectures included)o 2h of individual studying
• Review previous lecture before next one
Ingredients • Goals
o As concrete/clear as possibleo When did you reach your goal of the day??
• Motivationo Pick a major study goal
• f.ex. Passing an exam : think about the resulto Break your goal down into steps/substeps
• Having read everything before end of lecture weeks• By Sunday evening : having read everything of that week.• …
o Reward yourself on completion of a step• ‘coffee break!’; ‘well done!’; activity…
Some Tips• Moments of the day that you are most alert• Contrast activities : after 2 hours of study, some physical
activity• Breaks : every 50 min – 10 min ??• Small chunks of time : 15 - 30 min
o list of small tasks• Installing good habits (‘automatic pilot’)• Active recreation :
o jogging, fitness-training, swimming… o Two or three times a week o at least 30 minutes per activity.
Difficulties
No Overview• Short term
o Someone pops in to invite you for a drink• Long term
o overview of things to do in the coming weeks and months.
o relevant data and periods like tests, exams, deadlines for papers; other activities, …
o Calendar or time schedule
Concentration• Concentration = fever
• Set an immediate small goal and refocus your attentiono Short term pleasure – pleasure in the long termo Opposite of addiction (pleasure in short term)
• Distracting thoughts and worries : o write down ?
• Deal with personal problems o talk to friend, counselor
• Remove distracting stimuli o pictures, computer, mobile phone…
• Change your environment o move your desk or try other places (library)
Fear of Failure• Worries about ‘ disastrous’ consequences of a study
failure• Tendency to judge own possibilities pessimistically. • High level of stress (psychosomatic problems, like
insomnia, having difficulty to eat, crying fits, feelings of powerlessness and panic)
• Distracting thoughts : ‘Oh dear, this is going wrong, the professor will think I’m stupid, I’m blushing, I’m really making a fool of myself…’
• Chain of thoughts : no study exam failed no diploma no work no partner horrible life…
Fear of Failure (2)• Active fear of failure :
o perfectionist - control - hardly ever dare to relax o Looking for certainty
• Passive fear of failure : o confrontation avoidance / escape into relaxation
activities
Other Underlying Difficulties• Idea of “losing time”• Forced to study• Passive agression• Low self-esteem• If admired in the past, …• Magical thinking• …
Advantages
Time Management: Advantages• Reduces stress• Increases productivity• Makes you feel better
o more self-confidence, less guilty, frustrated,…• Helps you accomplish important long-range goals in life
Contacto Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 803000 Leuven016/32 43 11www.kuleuven.be/studyadvice (contact form)
Good Luck!
