Manage Your Work, Don't Let It Manage You: Tips for Managing Your

Time and Getting Ahead

Goals of Time Management
To be able to have control over our life-manage our time, don't let it manage us!
To be healthier and happier (less stress).
Seen Suggestions for !ffe"tiel# Managing Your Time
$% &e 'rgani(ed
Use time saving tools: appointment calendars, to do lists, e-mail, answering machines, file
folders, etc.
ave an organi!ed wor"place (don#t waste time constantl$ loo"ing for $o%r wor").
Use $o%r appointment calendar for ever$thing, incl%ding listing st%d$ time.
Use &to do& lists for both long-term and for each da$'wee".
)% *lan Ahead +S"hedule it and it ,ill happen-.
(etermine how long $o%r tas"s will ta"e (do this before agreeing to ta"e on a tas"))
*onsider whether an$ activities can be combined.
(etermine if big tas"s can be bro"en down into smaller tas"s that ma$ be easier to
sched%le (s%ch as st%d$ing for e+ams and visiting the librar$ as part of an assignment to
write a term paper).
/% *rioriti(e Your Tasks
Use an ,---* rating s$stem for items on $o%r &to do& lists with , items being highest
priorit$.
.et goals for both the short term and long term as to what $o% want to accomplish.
/oo" at all of $o%r &to do&s to ga%ge the time re0%irement and whether additional
reso%rces will be needed to accomplish them (if $es, sched%le time to obtain those
reso%rces). (on#t postpone the small tas"s (a sense of accomplishment is good and
overloo"ed small tas"s can become larger tas"s.)
0% Aoid 'erload
1ncl%de time for rest, rela+ation, sleep, eating, e+ercise, and sociali!ing in $o%r sched%le.
Ta"e short brea"s d%ring st%d$ and wor" periods.
(on#t p%t ever$thing off %ntil the last min%te (for e+ample, don#t cram for e+ams).
/earn to sa$ &no& when appropriate and to negotiate better deadlines when appropriate.
1% *ra"ti"e !ffe"tie Stud# Te"hni2ues
ave an appropriate st%d$ environment.
.plit large tas"s into more manageable tas"s.
2ead for comprehension, rather than 3%st to get to the end of the chapter.
-e prepared to as" 0%estions as the$ come %p d%ring st%d$, rather than waiting %ntil 3%st
before an e+am.
(o the most diffic%lt wor" first, perhaps brea"ing it %p with some easier tas"s.
(on#t wait %ntil the last min%te to complete $o%r pro3ects.
2ead the s$llab%s as soon as $o% get it and note all d%e dates (and &milestone& times) on
$o%r calendar.
-e a model st%dent) (be attentive and participative in class, and p%nct%al, prepared, and
eager to learn)
3% &e A4le to 4e 5le6i4le
The %ne+pected happens (sic"ness, car tro%bles, etc.)4 $o% need to be able to fit it into $o%r
sched%le.
5now how to rearrange $o%r sched%le when necessar$ (so it doesn#t manage $o% - $o%
manage it).
5now who to as" for help when needed.
7% 8ae a 9ision +,h# are #ou doing all of this:.
(on#t forget the &big pict%re& - wh$ are $o% doing the tas" - is it important to $o%r long-
term personal goals6
ave and follow a personal mission statement (personal and career). (,re $o%r activities
%ltimatel$ helping $o% achieve $o%r goals6)
5now what is important to $o%. (7hat do $o% val%e most6)
ave a positive attit%de)