Adult learners face unique challenges in managing their time due to work and family responsibilities. They must fit studying into whatever time remains after working full-time, sleeping, commuting, spending time with family, and attending to other daily tasks. Effective time management requires trying different strategies to find what works best for each individual learner, such as setting priorities, minimizing distractions, taking regular breaks, and leveraging available academic support resources. The key is experimenting with different tips to develop personalized time management skills that enable adult learners to balance work, family, and academic responsibilities.

1. And the Adult
Learner

2. Adult learners face unique challenges. Many
work 40 to 50 hours per week. Add in the
number of hours per week spent sleeping.
Then add in the time spent eating, commuting,
spending time with your family and other
activities that you need to accomplish in a
week.
Where do you fit in time to earn a degree?
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

3. •Time management is one of the greatest
challenges of adult learners.
•Most college courses require 1 hour of study for
each credit taken.
•Working adult learners try to fit in study time
after a full work day.
•Adult learners face obstacles to effective time
management.

4. •Over-scheduling
▪Monitor time spent on each task
▪Review your priorities
▪Ask yourself “What is the best use of my time
right now?”
•Over-Accessability
▪How might you regulate traffic?
∙Don’t answer the phone
∙Close the door – use a “do not disturb” sign
Reference: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/index.gw/Site_ID/Page_ID/14544

5. •Tyranny of the Urgent
▪Constantly running up against urgent tasks
▪Delegate or ignore less important urgent tasks
▪Important tasks require a time line approach
∙Breakdown sub-tasks
∙Identify the “last Minute” for each stage
∙Budget extra time for unforseen
complications
Reference: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/index.gw/Site_ID/Page_ID/14544

6. •Distractability
▪Try building concentration with short, focused
bursts of attention and effort
▪Check your anxiety level
▪Check your frustration tolerance
•Procrastination
▪Do not fear failure because of the task
▪Check your motivation
Reference: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/index.gw/Site_ID/Page_ID/14544

7. •Fear of failure
▪Irrational “self-talk” ultimately provides an
excuse for poor performance
▪Replace irrational “self-talk” with
positive/realistic statements
▪Check the underlying motivation for your
perfectionism
▪Check the relative value of what you are
trying to do
Reference: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/index.gw/Site_ID/Page_ID/14544

8. •Depression
▪Major obstacle to learning
▪Many symptoms affect all aspects of a
person’s life
∙Emotional
∙Physical
∙Behavioral
∙Thoughts and Perceptual
Reference: http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/asc/index.gw/Site_ID/Page_ID/14544

9. There are many different ways a person can
effectively manage their time.
Using tips that can work for you will help you
manage your time effectively.
Trying different tips, some might work, some
might not, will help you find the tips that work
the best for you.

10. •Stay Motivated
▪Stay on track
▪If you get interrupted, remember your goal
and pick up right where you left off
•Study Surroundings
▪Set up a comfortable study area
▪Have everything you need at hand
Reference: http://associatedcontent.com/article/530573/time_management_tips_for_ the_adult.html

11. •Take Breaks
▪Take a 2 minute break every 20 minutes
▪Every hour get up and stretch or walk around
•Stay Organized
▪Make lists
▪Know what you need to accomplish
▪Know when things are due so you can prevent
confusion and panic
Reference: http://associatedcontent.com/article/530573/time_management_tips_for_ the_adult.html

12. •Set boundaries
▪Let your family know that you will be
unavailable
▪Tell friends and family members not to call
during your study time
•Learn to be flexible
▪Personal time management can bring order to
chaos
▪Can increase productivity
Reference: http://associatedcontent.com/article/530573/time_management_tips_for_ the_adult.html

13. •Find a calendar system that works
▪Keep track of course deadlines
▪Keep track of family and social obligations
•Keep your class syllabus close
▪Lists all course readings, assignments and
deadlines
▪Refer to it frequently during course
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

14. •Create your perfect study space
▪Change what interrupts your focus
▪Make your space comfortable
•Leverage university resources
▪Universities have many experts for students
▪Make use of tutors and support services
•Eliminate social distractions
▪Don’t answer phones or texts
▪Don’t log into social networks
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

15. •Try some tricks
▪Set a timer for 30 minutes to 1 hour and study
until it rings
▪Post a dream job offer to help you remember
your goal
▪Have energy-boosting snacks nearby
∙nuts, crunchy veggies, healthy smoothie
▪Give yourself a 10 minute break to give your
brain a rest
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

16. •Take a break from multi-tasking
▪Stop, attend to another task
▪Pick up where you left off
•Reward yourself
▪You are taking courses – that is a tremendous
accomplishment
▪Enjoy a special dinner, coffee with a friend, a
movie
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

17. •Turn to classmates for support
▪Their insight might help spur you on
▪They can help you avoid wasting time
•Recognize when it’s not working
▪Every night might not be record-setting
▪Sometimes you need to stop – whether for 1
hour or for the night
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

18. Effective time management can mean trying a
variety of techniques before you find what is
right for you. It can be waking up an hour
earlier in the morning or even staying up an
hour later at night. Not every tip will work for
you, but through trial and error you can find
the management skills that will make you a
much more productive learner.
Remember – earning a degree is a journey
towards your goals and self-discovery!
Reference: http://onlinelearningtips.com/2010/03/08/top-10-time-management-tips-for-online-students/

19. Debra McClay
November 7, 2011