GET ORGANISED!

Time Management
Student Learning Development
Student Counselling Service
E: student.learning@tcd.ie
W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie

Learning Objectives
Become aware of importance of selfmanagement
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 didnt achieve them why not?
What do you hope to do the rest of the
week?
What have you done to get organised?
Environment
Routine
Notes
Mind

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 doesnt work?

Time Management Strategies

Prioritise your tasks
How?

Setting Priorities

High
Urgency
High
Importance

1
Do it now

Low
Urgency
2
Plan to do it

Low
Importance

3
Resist
giving it
high priority

4
Time
Wasters
Busy 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 timetable
Before 9.00

Mon

Tues

Swim

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat
Sun

Swim

9.00-11.00

11.00-13.00

14.00-15.00

15.00-17.00

After 19.00

Lecture: Myth
10-11 PB 101
Work in library
11-12
Independent
study

Lecture: Rome
12-1 HUM44

Keep free

Seminar: Myth
3-4 URS21

Independent
study

Seminar: Rome
9-10 HUM15
Independent
study 10-11
Independent
study

Independent
study

Badminton 2-3

Badminton 3-4

(Union night)

Independent
study

Lecture: Rome
4-5 HUM44

Film soc

Lecture: Epic
9-10 PB 105
Seminar: Epic
10-11 URS21
Paid work

Independent
study

Lecture: Myth
2-3 PB101
Work in library
3-4

Independent
study

(Out with
friends)

Paid work

Paid work

(Out with
friends)

Independent
study

Make to-do list

for next week

Independent
study

Paid work

Lecture: Epic
4-5 PB105

Lists
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

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 cant 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

Worst first

Salami Technique Make Commitments

Five Minutes
Related Tasks

Organise your learning

PURPOSE
STRATEGY
REVIEW

Making sense of the mess!

Setting up a filing system
Make it simple if its complicated, you wont 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

Further information

W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie
P: 896-1407
E: student.learning@tcd.ie