Finding Time for Everything: Tips for Time Management

            Everyone has the ability manage their time effectively.  However, there is no magic pill that will make you manage your time and stop procrastinating.  The reality of time management is that you must want to better your skills.  

In order to improve you must understand that effective time management is the result of numerous choices you make to achieve goals.  It’s all about priorities.  The only way to improve your time management skills is to make better choices.  When you think about it, it is impossible to ‘waste time.’  Time will continue ticking away no matter what you are doing.  You can only spend time inappropriately.  Thus, the way in which you spend your time is a conscious choice.  For instance, when you watch television instead of studying, you are making the conscious decision that “right now I value television over my academic achievement.”  Procrastination is nothing more than making a series of decisions that favor postponing something that needs to get done (such as studying) for something else that you would prefer to get done (such as cleaning your room).  By assessing the priority of each activity, time management can become a less complex equation.  Since time management consists of making good choices, anyone can do it.  You just have to be aware of the difference between how you spend your time and how you want to spend your time.  Effort is still required, but effective management of your time begins with your thought process. 

General Tips FOR TIME MANAGEMENT

v     Get organized.  The most common way to keep track of things is a day planner.  Make sure you get a planner that fits your lifestyle.  You should be able to carry your planner with you anywhere, so make sure it suits you.  Even though a planner might be “‘top of the line,” it won’t do you any good if you never use it.  Try to write everything down in your planner.  When you first begin using one, refer back to the lists you made with your commitments ranked according to priority.  Go through your class syllabi at the beginning of the term and write all the reading assignments, exams, papers etc. in your planner.  This way, you get an accurate idea of how to budget your time for the rest of the quarter and minimize the need for cramming, thus making you less likely to forget things.

v     Be focused.  Concentrate on one activity at a time.  Make sure you have the pertinent information before you start a task.

v     Don't be a perfectionist.  Trying to be a perfect person sets you up for defeat. Nobody can be perfect. Difficult tasks usually result in avoidance and procrastination. You need to set achievable goals, but they should also be challenging. Striving for greatness is good; striving for perfection is simply unrealistic.

v     Learn to say no.  For example, an acquaintance of yours would like you to see a movie with him tonight. You made social plans for tomorrow with your friends and tonight you were going to study. You really are not interested. You want to say no, but you hate turning people down. Politely saying no should become a habit. Saying no frees up time for the things that are most important.

v     Daily Lists.  One of the most effective ways of being productive everyday is to make ‘to-do’ a list.  The list should be prepared in the morning or early on in the day.  Every time you get something done, check it off the list.  Checking off items will motivate you to get another task accomplished.

v     Combine several activities.  Another suggestion is to combine several activities into one time block. While commuting to school, listen to taped notes. This allows up to an hour or two a day of good study review. While showering, make a mental list of the things that need to be done. When you watch a sitcom, laugh as you pay your bills. These are just suggestions of what you can do to combine your time; but there are many others.  Above all, be creative, and see what works for you.

v     Take care of yourself. Schedule daily time to exercise, relax, meditate, spend time with friends, sleep, and eat a nutritious diet.  Avoid overly stressing out your body with incessant working and studying.  Many students overwork themselves through cramming, resulting in exhaustion and burn-out.  By planning carefully and working in small increments, you will stay healthier both physically and mentally.

v     Keep the important stuff in mind.  Remind yourself, “There is always enough time for the important things.” If it is important, you should be able to make time to do it.  Examine and revise your life time goals on a monthly basis and be sure to include progress towards those goals on a daily basis.  Put up reminders in your room about your goals.

v     Make and keep deadlines.  Be sure and set deadlines for yourself whenever possible.  Reward yourself when you meet those deadlines, especially the important ones.  If you finish an essay early, treat yourself to a movie or call up that friend who was waiting for you to finish studying.  Balance is crucial.