GRAHAM GARNER FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR SPRING 2008, SECTION 8 Time Management: Managing Your College Schedule Adapted from “Thriving in College & Beyond,” by Joseph B. Cuseo, Viki Sox Fecas, and Aaron Thompson

How Do You Spend Your Time? College introduces new factors to your schedule Less mandatory “seat time” Less supervision Four out of five work part-time Time is money – budget it

College introduces new factors to your schedule

Less mandatory “seat time”

Less supervision

Four out of five work part-time

Time is money – budget it

Itemize: What do you need to do, and when? Map out how you spend your time Identify wasted patches of time Think of it like a grocery list Keep an assignment booklet Include all assignments and due dates from all classes Keep a calendar Include your academic calendar, tasks and appointments Keep it in clear view

Map out how you spend your time

Identify wasted patches of time

Think of it like a grocery list

Keep an assignment booklet

Include all assignments and due dates from all classes

Keep a calendar

Include your academic calendar, tasks and appointments

Keep it in clear view

Prioritize: How do you rank importance? Urgency Tasks close to deadline should receive high priority Gravity Tasks with the most “weight” should receive high priority Divide into categories A, B, and C A: Essential, or “must do” B: Important, or “should do” C: Trivial, or “could do” Analysis, Evaluation and Synthesis

Urgency

Tasks close to deadline should receive high priority

Gravity

Tasks with the most “weight” should receive high priority

Divide into categories A, B, and C

A: Essential, or “must do”

B: Important, or “should do”

C: Trivial, or “could do”

Analysis, Evaluation and Synthesis

Develop a Time-Management Plan Long range Identify the deadline dates Mid range Identify intermediate dates to finish particular parts Short range Work backward to determine start dates Include reserve time for the unexpected Include a balance of work and recreation Be flexible It’s your plan – you own it, you run it; it doesn’t own or run you.

Long range

Identify the deadline dates

Mid range

Identify intermediate dates to finish particular parts

Short range

Work backward to determine start dates

Include reserve time for the unexpected

Include a balance of work and recreation

Be flexible

It’s your plan – you own it, you run it; it doesn’t own or run you.

Dealing with Procrastination 75% of college students say they are procrastinators Myth 1: “I work better under pressure.” Don’t confuse rapidity with quality; creativity takes time. Myth 2: “If I study early, I’ll forget it by test time.” Cramming loses REM sleep, where memory is formed Psychological causes: Fear of failure Perfectionism Fear of success Indecisiveness

75% of college students say they are procrastinators

Myth 1: “I work better under pressure.”

Don’t confuse rapidity with quality; creativity takes time.

Myth 2: “If I study early, I’ll forget it by test time.”

Cramming loses REM sleep, where memory is formed

Psychological causes:

Fear of failure

Perfectionism

Fear of success

Indecisiveness

Combating Procrastination Make the work meaningful Visualize your goals and connect them to your aspirations Make the work manageable Break larger tasks into smaller pieces Make starting as inviting or appealing as possible Start with the part you find most interesting Adjust your schedule to intercept procrastination Use enjoyable parts as incentive to complete other parts

Make the work meaningful

Visualize your goals and connect them to your aspirations

Make the work manageable

Break larger tasks into smaller pieces

Make starting as inviting or appealing as possible

Start with the part you find most interesting

Adjust your schedule to intercept procrastination

Use enjoyable parts as incentive to complete other parts

Combating Procrastination Organization matters Have the right materials in the right place at the right time Location matters Choose a place without distractions Distractions come in two major forms: social or media Momentum matters It’s easier to finish a task than restart it “ Closing the deal” can give you a sense of satisfaction

Organization matters

Have the right materials in the right place at the right time

Location matters

Choose a place without distractions

Distractions come in two major forms: social or media

Momentum matters

It’s easier to finish a task than restart it

“ Closing the deal” can give you a sense of satisfaction