Time
Management is
Life
Management
ORNT 199
Videos
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHZxl
W9xftk
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICjD
ACIGkLc
Understanding Time?
 Even
scientists and philosophers struggle
to define time
 Nonrenewable (cannot make more)
 Not preservable (cannot stockpile)
 Time is relative
Fundamental Characteristics
of Time Management
 Know

State clear, specific goals on paper
 Know

what you want
how to get what you want
Create an action plan to achieve your
goals
 Balance

Without this, our lives feel like chaos—don’t
just live for others
Covey: Purposeful Planning
 Carve
out space in your life for things that
are not urgent but are important





Exercise
Homework
Quality time with loved ones
Traveling
Eating healthy meals
 When
we feel “out of time,” we drop
what is important and feel dissatisfied
Goal Setting
 SMART
goals
 Nonspecific goals leave us confused
about how to achieve them
 Make goals as fine-tuned as an engine—
visualize them in tangible images
Vague versus SMART Goals
SMART (Tangible)
Goals
Vague Goals

Get a good education.

Get good grades.


Improve my
appearance.
Get control over my
money.




Graduate with an AAS
in Nursing with a 3.0.
average in May 2014
Earn a 3.5 GPA this
term.
Lose 10 pounds by April
1.
Put $50 in Savings each
month.
Tips for Goal Writing
 Write


down your goals
Helps you realize if goals are too vague
Writing leads to changes in attitudes,
behaviors
 Write
your goals with details in changes
you want to see, feel, touch, taste, hear,
be, do, or have
Tips for Goal Writing
 Write
goals in several timeframes (shortterm, intermediate-term, long-term)
 Write goals for several areas of your life






Education
Career
Financial
Family or relationships
Health
Social life
Tips on Goal Writing
 Reflect



on your goals each week
Remember how you feel about them
See how goals can help each other
Think about obstacles and how to
overcome them
 Act
quickly to achieve goals
 Reward yourself when reach a goal
 Refocus on benefits of goal when feeling
frustrated
 Brainstorm
and
order goals



Take 10 minutes
to brainstorm as
many goals as
possible
Take another 5
minutes to order
those goals as
short-term,
intermediate,
and long-term
Take another 5
minutes to
connect goals
Activity
Defining your goals
Time Management Tools

To-do lists (and must-do lists)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Keep daily list of tasks
Write down time needed to complete each task
Prioritize (A=most critical items that need
completed today; B=less urgent, could wait;
C=do not require immediate action)
Cross off tasks when finished
Avoid “C fever”—ask yourself if something (i.e.,
vacuuming) really needs done before something
else (i.e., writing a paper due the next day)
Assess your ranking—did you put some things too
high? Others too low? Can you get rid of some
tasks from the list?
Time Management Tools
 Calendaring



Paper calendars versus electronic(i.e.,
student Microsoft email)
Monthly versus weekly versus hourly
Day planners
Creating a Calendar/Plan
Consider your goals and the big picture
1.
a.
b.
Consider whether you are trying to change or to maintain
Write down predetermined obligations in blocks of time (i.e., class, work)
Work in other goals, tasks around other blocks of time
Set clear stop and end times (use a timer to stick to your plan)
2.
3.
4.
5.
a.
b.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
What do you need to complete now?
What steps can you start to take towards intermediate goals? Long-term
goals?
Set small amounts of time to work on projects (10 minutes to study—break—10
minutes to study—break) and then start increasing your time once you are in
the mindset
Think about how to add time to your days (i.e., get up 15 minutes earlier;
shower for 15 minutes less)
Schedule fun/flex time to remain flexible
Include time to run errands, complete chores
Plan for more difficult, time-consuming work, homework that will come later
Inform others impacted by your plans
Begin with the most difficult/important task—gives immediate gratification
and you’ll be more focused at the start of your day
Week
of…
2/13
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
ORNT
199
HW
2/20
2/27
ORNT
199
Midterm
3/6
3/13
Longer-Term
Planning
3/20
3/27
4/2
Capstone
1st
Draft
4/9
Capstone
Final
4/16
4/23
4/30
Final
Exam
Use a chart or program like
Excel to make a long-term plan
for coursework, tests, projects,
events, work
Stop Procrastinating


This is a choice—if you don’t choose to stop,
you won’t
Discover what type of procrastinator you are





Dreamers: big goals with no specifics
Worriers: focus on worst case scenario and talk
about problems, not solutions
Defiers: resists tasks; don’t do what is promised
Overdoers: take on extra work, do not
delegate, do not prioritize
Perfectionists: fear making mistakes
Write out your habits and write ways to change them
Stop Procrastinating
 Trick
yourself—say you will only read 5
pages of a 50 page chapter
 Don’t wait for your emotions, energy to
change—Just do it! (emotion and energy
change follows)
 Use your time management tool to keep
responsible

Plan for unexpected emergencies,
obligations
Stop Procrastinating
 Create
goals that excite you
 Multitask effectively (a mindless task + an
involving task)
 Monitor how you spend your time
Stop Procrastinating







Make it Meaningful Monday: Pick something you’ve put off
and write why it would be good to accomplish it
Take it Apart Tuesday: Break chores and assignments down
Write an Intention Wednesday: “I intend to…and will
reward myself by…”
Tell Everyone Thursday: Others keep you on task
Find a Reward Friday: Be willing to withhold if you do not
complete
Settle It Now Saturday: When procrastination starts to
come, do it now!
Say No Sunday: If you really don’t intend to do something,
just admit to yourself that you are not and don’t do it (but
remember the consequences)
Ask yourself…









What can I do right now to work on a goal?
Am I being too hard on myself and worrying too
much?
Is this a piano? (regarding perfection)
Would I pay myself for the quantity and quality of
work I am doing right now?
Can I do just one more thing before day’s end?
Can I delegate this?
How did I just waste my time?
Could I find time if I really wanted to?
Am I willing to promise to do something?
Week
of…
2/13
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
ORNT
199
HW
2/20
2/27
ORNT
199
Midterm
3/6
3/13
3/20
Homework
3/27
4/2
Capstone
1st
Draft
4/9
Capstone
Final
4/16
4/23
4/30
ORNT
199
Final
Exam
Create a chart to make a plan
of when major assignments
and tests will occur this
semester. See the chart on the
left for an example.