Time Management …So much to do, so little time? We
all have numerous drains on our time be it coursework, lectures, sports,
part-time jobs and a hectic social life – unless you learn to manage your time
you will not be able to do everything and feel the strain of stress. Once you
are working as hard as you can, you must learn to work more effectively to stay
on top.
Effective working
Everyone has times when they work most
productively. The first step to being in control is to identify these times and
take advantage of them. Get a routine in place during high stress and stick to
it – routines can enable us to cope.
Aims and tasks
What are your aims? Consider:
Long term visions and
dreams (ambitions)
Medium term goals
(while at University)
Short term day-to-day
items that must be completed to achieve the longer-term aims.
Make a list of your goals
Goals can be divided into tasks hat can be easily
achieved
Prioritise
Divide up you tasks into categories:
URGENT/NOT URGENT
IMPORTANT/UNIMPORTANT
Put them into a grid like the one below
Category
|
URGENT
|
NOT URGENT
|
IMPORTANT
|
A
|
B/C
|
UNIMPORTANT
|
B/C
|
D
|
A = High Priority
D = Low priority, do you really need to do them? If
not, forget about them!
Deadlines – one of the most important points of
time management!
Set yourself deadlines to do your task, according
to your priorities. If a piece of work is due in at the end of term set the
deadline a week or so in advance in case another urgent item crops up nearer
the time.
Look at how long each task will take to do, be
realistic and remember if it involves another person it may take twice as long!
You can make another time plan, called a Gantt chart, where all your tasks are
out into your diary according to how long they will take and how important each
one is to the success of the other tasks
A is a high priority, but needs a lot of time allocated to it, e.g. a group
project for the semester
B is medium priority, like an assignment with a deadline at the end of week 2
C is a medium priority, but is an individual essay related to you group work
Timetable
Devise a timetable for your work. Put in all
commitments, include social and relaxation time. Once it is written stick to
it, but review from time to time. This gives a visual overview and can be a
satisfying record of all you have done.
Be Organised
When you sit down to work make sure you have all
the equipment, materials and researched information you need. Stopping to find
a book can be a major drain on your time
Tidy your desk of distractions
Use a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door. If
someone calls you think ‘is it really urgent or can you call back?’
Take regular breaks to keep your mind fresh. After
each break review the work you have done to keep yourself focused
Concentrate on one task at a time. Do not start one
task then leave it to pick up another. This is called procrastination (putting
things off!) and can take up to twice as long to complete each task
Once you’ve finished a task, congratulate yourself,
take a break, call your friend and relax…
All work and no play…
Some activities may seem like a waste of valuable
time, e.g. sleeping, eating balanced meals, sports or meeting with friends. In
fact continuing with your interests will help you to keep working productively
and are an important part of managing your time. You do have more than just
your studies in your life – keep a balance between work and play. Remember we
need sleep for a reason – to recharge ourselves! If you deprive yourself of
sleep your brain functions slow down and you will make mistakes. Save yourself
the trouble by getting regular sleep.
Be positive
Try not to worry too much. Feel good about the work
you have done and not what you haven’t. Use your tick list to see the jobs you
have completed. Try not to compare yourself to others. It is about your
capabilities and limits, not theirs. This way your motivation will increase and
you will be able to tackle your jobs more effectively.