Effective Time Management Tips

Created by: Samuel E. Dunham

What is Effective Time Management?

• According to fluent-time-management.com:• Time management is the act of taking conscious control over the

amount of time spent on specific activities.

• You exercise time management to increase productivity, effectiveness and efficiency.

• You practice skills and use tools and techniques to aid you when accomplishing tasks, projects or are working toward goals and deadlines.

Characteristics of Effective Time Management

• According to Dunn (n.d.)• Evaluation – how are you spending your time

• Planning/Prioritization – determine what the most important responsibilities

• Eliminate Time Thieves – remove distractions

• Delegation – delegate tasks that can effectively be done by others

• Saying “No” – decline tasks and responsibilities that do not align with your goals

• Resting/Replenishing – know how and when to take breaks (Yes, they are needed)

Priority Examples

• Major priorities for you as a college student:• Attending class

• Studying

• Doing Homework

• Work and its responsibilities (if applicable)

• Eating (as needed)

• Sleeping (but not all day!!!)

• Others may fall under this category for you

Priority Examples

• Intermediate priorities for you as a college student:• Student Organization Responsibilities

• Volunteering

• Exercising

• Breaks (periodically, not all day)

• Others may fall under this category for you

Priority Examples

• Minor priorities for you as a college student:• Partying

• Video Games

• Hanging out with Friends

• Others may fall under this category for you

Barriers to Effective Time Management

• Phone

• Video Games

• Friends

• Bed

• Your room (for some)

• Etc.

S.M.A.R.T. Chart

•Questions to Consider…

S - Specific

• Answer these questions:• Who?

• What?

• When?

• Where?

• Why?

M - Measurable

• How do you measure success?• Is it based on:

• Time?

• Performance?

• Other Outcomes?

A - Attainable

• Are the plans realistic

• Can they be accomplished under the conditions you operate under?

• Are your goals beyond your reach?

• Is the goal too easy?

• Is the goal too difficult?

R - Relevant

• How do my plans help me achieve my goals?

• Do my plans really matter?

• Are my plans in line with my priorities?

• What is the purpose of doing your plans?

T – Time Bound

• When should the goal be completed?

• Do I have a reasonable amount of time to complete me goal successfully?

• Will I be rushing to complete my plans?

Good Scheduling Plan Examples

• “I am going to study for college algebra tomorrow afternoon from 2-4pm in the library. I am specifically going to work on graphing linear inequalities by doing the example problems at the end of the chapter so that I will be ready for my test a week from tomorrow.”

• “I need to have $600 saved by the beginning of next month, so I am going to save $150 every week by going to the bank every Monday this month and transferring $150 to my personal savings account.”

• These goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound.

Bad Scheduling Plan Examples

• “I am going to study sometime this week for the test I have next week.”

• “I’ll transfer some money to my savings account in a few weeks so that I can pay my rent.”

• These goals are vague and are not likely to be carried out due to the lack of specificity

•Your ability to effectively manage you time will determine the level of success you achieve in college!

Some Quotes to Remember

• Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. - William Penn

• Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One man gets only a week’s value out of a year while another man gets a full year’s value out of a week. - Charles Richards

• Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade! - Anthony Robbins

• It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? - Henry David Thoreau

Schedule Making Help

• https://www.myedu.com/class-schedule/

• http://www.collegeruled.com/

• http://schedulebuilder.org/

• http://www.studygs.net/schedule/

• http://doodle.com/

References

• Dunn, K.P. (n.d.). What are six characteristics of successful time management? Demand Media. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/six-characteristics-successful-time-management-21789.html

• The meaning of time management (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fluent-time-management.com/meaning-of-time-management.html