The instructor may choose to have students complete Try It #1 at this time. Discuss with students why it is important to be efficient users of time rather than victims of time.
A person ’ s internal clock regulates their breathing and heartbeat, as well as the discharge of chemicals within their bloodstream. The goal of time management is not to schedule every moment, but instead to make informed choices to meet our personal needs. Students should complete the Journal Reflections in class or discuss their answers if assigned as prior homework. An instructor may also pair or group students to discuss their journal reflections.
Try It #2 provides a form for the time log. Each person has an internal clock that dictates if morning or evening is their prime time in which they accomplish much of their work. Black holes are time-eaters of unimportant activities that keep us from doing the things that we need to get done. Try It #3 allows individual or group work to identify the black holes in a student ’ s life. Priorities are the tasks and activities you need and want to do. Students may use Try It #4 to set their priorities.
Most students have a word processor on your computer that will create an electronic calendar. Microsoft Word has a calendar wizard. Encourage students to create a master calendar making sure that their priorities are listed. The weekly timetable may be more detailed showing all the regularly scheduled activities. The daily to-do list may be a small portable calendar or small notebook.
Discuss with your students how effective time management deals with the inevitable surprises. Traffic congestion, unexpected visitors or phone calls, sickness, and computer crashes contribute to time management problems. Plan for the unexpected. Leave time for surprises. Take an e-break from cell phones, instant messages, and email.
Divide the class into groups to discuss their findings. Ask each group to find 3 strategies to avoid procrastination. Suggest the following strategies if they are not brought up by the students: 1) start with the easiest and simplest part of the task; 2) work with others; 3) keep the costs of procrastination in mind.
Flextime allows an individual to set their own hours by coming in earlier or later, as long as the job gets done. Don ’ t take on more work than you can handle while attending school. If work is a means to pay for your education, it is more important than if it is for spending money only.
Discuss the importance of the check-off list to provide an objective record of what has been accomplished.
Discuss setting clear priorities, using time management tools, avoiding procrastination, and dealing with surprises.
The P.O.W.E.R. Learning website provides online versions of time management forms in this chapter. Forms can be completed online. The University of Victoria ’ s Office of Counseling Services provides two sites with effective hints on planning study time.
