Time Management

Time Management

Time discovers truthAnnaeus Lucius Seneca
Developing time management skills is a journeythat may begin with this Guide, but needs practice and other guidance along the way.
One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your timeas one resource in organizing, prioritizing, and succeeding in your studiesin the context of competing activities of friends, work, family, etc.
First: try our exercise in time management
Strategies on using time:
Develop blocks of study timeAbout 50 minutes? How long does it take for you to become restless?Some learners need more frequent breaks for a variety of reasonsMore difficult material may also require more frequent breaks
Schedule weekly reviews and updates
Prioritize assignmentsWhen studying, get in the habit of beginning with the most difficult subject or task
Develop alternative study places free from distractionsto maximize concentration
Got "dead time"?Think of using time walking, riding, etc. for studying “bits”
Review studies and readings just before class
Review lecture material immediately after class(Forgetting is greatest within 24 hours without review)
Schedule time for critical course eventsPapers, presentations, tests, etc.
Try the University of Minnesota's Assignment Calculator
Develop criteria for adjusting your scheduleto meet both your academic and non-academic needs
Effective aids:
"To Do" listWrite down things you have to do, then decide what to do at the moment, what to schedule for later, what to get someone else to do, and what to put off for a later time period
Daily/weekly plannerWrite down appointments, classes, and meetings on a chronological log book or chart. If you are more visual, sketch out your scheduleFirst thing in the morning, check what's ahead for the dayalways go to sleep knowing you're prepared for tomorrow
Long term plannerUse a monthly chart so that you can plan ahead.Long term planners will also serve as a reminder to constructively plan time for yourself