Time Management
Jill Barrett
DIT Careers Service
Why have you come?
Exercise:
Brainstorm what issues arise for you with
Time Management.
Self reflect – 2 mins and Share – 5 mins
Learning Objectives
Goal Setting
 Identifying and tackling Time Stealers
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Time
168
“Life is what happens when we are busy
doing other things!”
Unknown
So, where does
it all go?
Column I:
List the amount of time you spend in weekly activities
in hours
Class time
______
Column II:
Multiply your recurring daily activities by five
(weekdays) or seven (weekly) to estimate the number of
hours you engage in these recurring activities in a week
Commuting/Travel time (multiplied by 5=)
______
Study Time
______
Meal preparation/eating (multiplied by 7=)
______
Employment
______
Personal care (multiplied by 7=)
______
Family
______
Sleep (multiplied by 7=)
______
Exercise
______
______
Regularly scheduled functions
______
______
Socializing with friends
______
Leisure activities, clubs, hobbies, etc
______
Chores and Errands
______
Other
______
Total A:
______
Total B:
Total A + B= Total C: ______ hours
There are 168 hours in a week. Subtract Total C from 168 = _____ Uncommitted hours (168 - total C)
______
MOTIVATION: Help yourself to
achieve your goals and …. on time!
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Set Rewards not Penalties
Make your study location a nice place to be:
Quiet location; free from interruption;
comfortable chair; good desk; clear work-top;
good light; window; well ventilated; comfortable
temperature; plants help!
Other essentials: Drink enough water, eat well,
take breaks.
Further Increasing Motivation
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GET SMART – SET SMART GOALS
Specific - e.g. make notes on ch. 8 from 8-9pm
Measurable - e.g. how many chapters revised
each day
Achievable – create action oriented steps within
your control to get you there
Realistic - achievable using the resources you’ve
got
Time-bound – set time limits; work backwards
from deadline to identify these
Time Wasting
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Procrastination
Drop in visits
Telephone calls
Checking e-mails
Lack of clear
communication
Lack of organisation
Laziness
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Inability to say no
Not using your
“completer-finisher” skills
Clutter/untidiness
Not knowing what your
KRAs are
Fatigue
No schedule
Procrastination
Identify it

Identify one activity you are currently putting off
needlessly and want to start doing
Understand it
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Ask yourself what feelings (A) are supporting the
procrastination.
Then ask yourself what behaviours (B) are contributing
to the procrastination.
Finally ask yourself what thoughts (C) are contributing to
your procrastination.
Procrastination – tips to tackle
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By identifying the trigger for procrastination you can
begin to change it.
When A is the problem, relaxation and other stress
management techniques may enable you to sit with the
feeling and proceed with the task.
When the difficulty is at B, use rewards to encourage
the behaviour that you are avoiding, make it worthwhile
to complete it.
Finally when C is the problem, substitute your negative
thoughts that are causing the procrastination with
positive self talk.
THE NIKE PRINCIPLE……
THIS ISN’T TO DO WITH GREEK GODS
OR MYTHOLOGY…IT’S ….
JUST DO IT!
Schedule, schedule, schedule….
Why?
Helps you focus
 Realise how much time you DO have
 Gives time to subjects you don’t like
 Avoid “slacking”! –schedule tasks =likely to
be completed
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“A goal is a dream with a deadline”
Unknown
Why make a schedule cont..
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Ensures time for leisure & recreation!
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More manageable = More Enjoyable
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Up to date on study = No last
minute cramming !
Making your schedule
Academic Calendar:
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Be familiar with it !
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Enter important dates –mid
term/exams/holidays
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Enter dates for
assessment/papers/projects/social activities
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Post up where you will see it every day
Weekly schedule
Projected weekly schedule
- Fill in activities –classes, study times, appointments,
family/social events
 Actual weekly schedule
- Evaluate & modify this.
REMEMBER: WE ALL MAKE LISTS!
THOSE WHO FEEL MOST SATISFIED WITH
THEMSELVES AND ACHIEVE WHAT THEY NEED TO
ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE TIME-BOUND LISTS
AND STICK TO THEM! IT’S JUST A HEALTHY HABIT.
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