GET ORGANISED!Time Management
Student Learning DevelopmentStudent Counselling ServiceE: [email protected]
W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Learning Objectives
• Become aware of importance of self-management
• Learn about goal setting, time management and procrastination
• Controlling distractions and overcoming procrastination
• Practice strategies
Self-Management
Effectively managing yourself
and your resources by:
• Planning
• Monitoring
• Evaluating
Self-Assessment
• What study goals have you done this week?
• If you didn’t achieve them why not?
• What do you hope to do the rest of the week?
• What have you done to get organised?EnvironmentRoutineNotesMind
Goal Setting
• Goals help us focus, stay in control
• Goals are motivating
• Different types:– Long term goals– Medium term goals– Short term goals
SMART Goal Setting
• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Action
• R = Realistic
• T = Time-based
EXERCISE
Discuss the various techniques or things you do to help manage your time and resources
• What works?
• What doesn’t work?
Time Management Strategies
• Prioritise your tasks• How?
Setting Priorities
High Urgency
Low Urgency
High Importance
1Do it now
2 Plan to do it
LowImportance
3Resist giving it high priority
4Time WastersBusy work
Time Management Strategies
• Prioritise • Specificity• Small bite-size pieces• Use all available time• Structure the environment• Establish a routine• Scheduling
Scheduling – use a system
• Diary and/or
• Term Planner
• Time Tables
• To do lists – weekly or daily
• Relaxation time
• Monitor, evaluate, reward
Get a diary
• Everything
• Check daily
• Dates, meetings,
lectures, timetable
• Social / Relaxation
• Rewards
www.printfree.com
Plan Weekly – short term tasks
An example timetableBefore 9.00 9.00-11.00 11.00-13.00 14.00-15.00 15.00-17.00 After 19.00
Mon Lecture: Myth 10-11 PB 101 Work in library 11-12
Lecture: Rome 12-1 HUM44
Keep free Seminar: Myth 3-4 URS21
Independent study
Tues Swim Independent study
Independent study
Lecture: Epic 4-5 PB105
Wed Seminar: Rome 9-10 HUM15 Independent study 10-11
Independent study
Badminton 2-3 Badminton 3-4 (Union night)
Thurs Swim Independent study
Independent study
Lecture: Myth 2-3 PB101 Work in library 3-4
Lecture: Rome 4-5 HUM44
Film soc
Fri Lecture: Epic 9-10 PB 105Seminar: Epic 10-11 URS21
Independent study
Independent study
(Out with friends)
Sat Paid work Paid work Paid work Paid work (Out with friends)
Sun Independent study
Make to-do list for next week
“The best thing I did was to make lists of things that I needed to do and prioritize them. It helped me to become more organized and efficient.
It really helps me to keep on top of things and also not to procrastinate.
Procrastination is the easiest thing to do and the hardest thing to get away from.”
Joanna
Lists
To-do list
• Make a list of all tasks• If it can be done in 2 mins
do it now• If not, add it to your list• Prioritise
Options:
www.rememberthemilk.com
Mobile Phone
Notepad
Diary
www.mindtools.com
Distractions• Emails
• Phone calls & texts
• Facebook/Twitter/Bebo
• Surfing the net
• Computer games
• Television
• Food & Drink
• Tidying/Housework
• Family commitments
PROCRASTINATION
Is to delay needlessly something that we believe would be to our benefit!
Patterns of Procrastination
• Perfectionist – Focused on excellence at the expense of getting tasks completed on time. (Focused on the future)
• Postponer – Focused on having fun and avoiding difficult tasks. (Focused on the immediate present)
• Politician – Focused on social commitments and others needs – can’t say no. (Focused on externals)
• Punisher – Focused on own perceived shortcomings and failures. (Focused on the past)
Patterns of Procrastination (Schubert Walker, 2004 in Counseling the Procrastinator in Academic Settings)
Overcoming Procrastination
• Take Action
• Salami Technique
• Five Minutes
• Related Tasks
• Worst first
• Make Commitments
Organise your learning
• PURPOSE
• STRATEGY
• REVIEW
Making sense of the mess!
Setting up a filing system
• Make it simple – if it’s complicated, you won’t use it
• Aim to be able to file it quickly and find it quickly
• Use box files or magazine holders to store documents, notes, small books etc – label clearly
• Use document folders to transport what you need each day - empty and repack these regularly!
Organise your mind!
• Positive attitude
• Positive language
• Self-efficacy
• Goals and wants
Some work for you
Stop doing
Continue doing
Start doing
Signed ----------------------------------------------- Date:----------------------------------
Summary
• Plan, monitor and evaluate how you manage yourself and your time
• Set and achieve SMART goals
• Use a time management system and effective strategies
• Get things started and finished – beat procrastination
• Maintain balance