Time Management

Time Management Paper

Do you find yourself daydreaming when you sit down to study? Do you stare into space after reading your textbook, trying to "absorb" the information? Or do you look at pictures of friends or family instead of doing the task in front of you? All of these may eventually lead to wasting time and frustration. Here are a few tips to help you concentrate better: Study in small blocks of time instead of long time periods. Try 60-minute blocks of time and take 10-minute breaks in between. Tell yourself (as crazy as it sounds) before you begin to study. Each time you find your mind wandering, repeat this phrase. Concentrating is a skill and you may need to remind yourself to practice it. Remove distractions from your desk/study space. Minimize noise. Alternate topics, rather than spending 2-3 hours on one subject. Use a hi-liter as you read, underlining the important words in concepts that are presented. Reward yourself once you've completed something. Develop regular study habits -- same place, same time. Try reserving one place for studying that you don't use for anything else.

Where you study will influence your ability to retain information. Sometimes your room isn't the best place for studying. For some, the library is just "too quiet" or creates more distractions for socializing. Eliminate or minimize noise. Stay away from the phone! (If it's really important they'll call back.) Make sure you have adequate lighting. Have what you need to study at hand, so you don't have to get up so much to get things. Take a few minutes to straighten your study space before you start. Don't get too comfortable while you're studying. A bed is not the best place - try a straight-backed chair and desk. In addition to the above tips, there are probably other places around you - on campus or off - that could easily become positives study environments. Try your church (or campus ministry).

You may be overwhelmed with a large task or even with trying to figure out how you're going to do all the "little but important" things. Don't panic! Break down assignments, tasks, or daily responsibilities into manageable parts. Begin by making a list of things you need to do. Use lists to organize your class work as well as any committee work, or job commitments. Reserve time each day or each week to complete small portions of the assignment. Learn how to prioritize effectively. Check off items as they are completed so you can feel a sense of accomplishment when you're working through your list.

Do you put things off till the last minute, and then feel guilty and plagued with self-doubt? There are a variety of reasons that people procrastinate (perfectionism, evaluation anxiety, ambiguity in the task, fear of the unknown, lack of relevance, etc.), but there are ways to overcome them. Here are a few tips: First, recognize what contributes to your procrastination. (Do you have difficulty concentrating? Are you a perfectionist? Do you have a hard time making decisions? Or do you manage your time poorly?) Understand that time management requires a certain amount of discipline. Learn to prioritize your tasks and to use your time more wisely. (Alternatively, you may decide that certain things really only need a minimal amount of effort. Admit it and move on!) Learn how to break down tasks to more manageable parts. Dwell on your successes, rather than your failures. Periodically write down your goals -- for the long- and short-term -- and identify your strengths as well as areas for self-improvement. Track your progress! Change your study environment .Be reasonable about your expectations for yourself. Perfectionism often results in rebellion or self-sabotage. All students want to get their assignments in on time and the majority of students succeed in doing it. But some students frequently miss deadlines for assignments. So what is the difference between students who regularly meet the deadlines and those who don*t? One important difference is likely to be motivation (or the lack of it). Motivation is a desire to achieve a goal, combined with the energy to work towards that goal. Certainly a student who is motivated about their program usually enjoys university life, feels they are benefiting from study and is able to meet academic deadlines.

Most students find that their greatest challenge in adjusting to college life and to succeeding in the classroom is in managing their time effectively. This is especially true for community college students who often work long hours. Adult students deal with the additional issues of childcare and family and home responsibilities. When evaluating your schedule or how you spend your time, you also need to consider your goals and priorities. What is most important in your life, right now-- your family, friends, school, hobbies, or other activities? As you look at how you spend your time, ask yourself if this matches your priorities.

When you really hate it, try to make it as enjoyable as possible. Work on this task first, while you have more energy. Reward yourself when you complete certain aspects of the task. Study with a friend. Once you have found the time to study, commit to a time and place that meets your needs. In order to do this, ask yourself whether the environment in which you are studying matches your learning style and preferences. Based on your preferences, you should schedule your most challenging classes and intense study sessions in the environments that best match your needs. The following are some aspects of study environment you may need to consider.

Break down the task into chunks. Estimate how much time you'll need to complete the task. Don't try to do it all at one time. Break it down so that it's "do-able" and not so overwhelming. Stay up-to-date on assignments to help avoid overload. It doesn't have to be perfect. Some people are so afraid that they won't perform perfectly; they won't do anything at all. Make sure you understand the expectations of your instructor. Then evaluate how important the task is and what level of performance is acceptable to you. Then just do it!

Studies have shown that some people become depressed because of light deprivation during the winter months. If you are one of those people, you should try to study and spend as much time as possible in highly lit places. Other studies have shown that reading ability can be affected by the light contrast between print and paper color. There is a high contrast between black letters printed on white paper. Some people find it easier to read black print on blue or gray paper, which has less contrast and is easier on their eyes. Being aware that light does make a difference,

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