GET ORGANISED!
Time Management
Student Learning Development
Student Counselling Service
E: student.learning@tcd.ie
W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie
Learning Objectives
• Become aware of importance of selfmanagement
• Learn about goal setting, time
management and procrastination
• Controlling distractions and overcoming
procrastination
• Practice strategies
Self-Management
Effectively managing yourself
and your resources by:
• Planning
• Monitoring
• Evaluating
Self-Assessment
• What study goals have you done this
week?
• If you didn’t achieve them why not?
• What do you hope to do the rest of the
week?
• What have you done to get organised?
Environment
Routine
Notes
Mind
Goal Setting
• Goals help us focus, stay in control
• Goals are motivating
• Different types:
– Long term goals
– Medium term goals
– Short term goals
SMART Goal Setting
• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Action
• R = Realistic
• T = Time-based
EXERCISE
Discuss the various techniques or things
you do to help manage your time and
resources
• What works?
• What doesn’t work?
Time Management Strategies
• Prioritise your tasks
• How?
Setting Priorities
High Urgency
Low
Urgency
High
Importance
1
Do it now
2
Plan to do it
Low
Importance
3
4
Resist giving it high Time Wasters
priority
Busy work
Time Management Strategies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prioritise
Specificity
Small bite-size pieces
Use all available time
Structure the environment
Establish a routine
Scheduling
Scheduling – use a system
• Diary and/or
• Term Planner
• Time Tables
• To do lists – weekly or daily
• Relaxation time
• Monitor, evaluate, reward
Get a diary
• Everything
• Check daily
• Dates, meetings,
lectures, timetable
• Social / Relaxation
• Rewards
www.printfree.com
Plan Weekly – short term tasks
An example timetable
Before 9.00
9.00-11.00
11.00-13.00
14.00-15.00
15.00-17.00
After 19.00
Lecture: Myth
10-11 PB 101
Work in library
11-12
Lecture: Rome
12-1 HUM44
Keep free
Seminar: Myth
3-4 URS21
Independent
study
Independent
study
Independent
study
Seminar: Rome
9-10 HUM15
Independent
study 10-11
Independent
study
Badminton 2-3
Badminton 3-4
(Union night)
Independent
study
Independent
study
Lecture: Myth
2-3 PB101
Work in library
3-4
Lecture: Rome
4-5 HUM44
Film soc
Fri
Lecture: Epic
9-10 PB 105
Seminar: Epic
10-11 URS21
Independent
study
Independent
study
(Out with
friends)
Sat
Paid work
Paid work
Paid work
(Out with
friends)
Independent
study
Make to-do list
for next week
Mon
Tues
Swim
Wed
Thurs
Sun
Swim
Lecture: Epic
4-5 PB105
Paid work
Lists
“The best thing I did was to make lists of
things that I needed to do and prioritize
them. It helped me to become more
organized and efficient.
It really helps me to keep on top of things
and also not to procrastinate.
Procrastination is the easiest thing to do
and the hardest thing to get away from.”
Joanna
To-do list
• Make a list of all tasks
• If it can be done in 2 mins
do it now
• If not, add it to your list
• Prioritise
Options:
www.rememberthemilk.com
Mobile Phone
Notepad
Diary
www.mindtools.com
Distractions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Emails
Phone calls & texts
Facebook/Twitter/Bebo
Surfing the net
Computer games
Television
Food & Drink
Tidying/Housework
Family commitments
PROCRASTINATION
Is to delay needlessly
something that we believe
would be to our benefit!
Patterns of Procrastination
• Perfectionist – Focused on excellence at the expense of
getting tasks completed on time. (Focused on the future)
• Postponer – Focused on having fun and avoiding difficult
tasks. (Focused on the immediate present)
• Politician – Focused on social commitments and others
needs – can’t say no. (Focused on externals)
• Punisher – Focused on own perceived shortcomings and
failures. (Focused on the past)
Patterns of Procrastination (Schubert Walker, 2004 in Counseling the
Procrastinator in Academic Settings)
Overcoming Procrastination
• Take Action
• Worst first
• Salami Technique • Make Commitments
• Five Minutes
• Related Tasks
Organise your learning
• PURPOSE
• STRATEGY
• REVIEW
Making sense of the mess!
Setting up a filing system
• Make it simple – if it’s complicated, you won’t use it
• Aim to be able to file it quickly and find it quickly
• Use box files or magazine holders to store
documents, notes, small books etc – label clearly
• Use document folders to transport what you need
each day - empty and repack these regularly!
Organise your mind!
•
•
•
•
Positive attitude
Positive language
Self-efficacy
Goals and wants
Some work for you
Stop doing
Continue doing
Start doing
Signed ----------------------------------------------- Date:----------------------------------
Summary
• Plan, monitor and evaluate how you
manage yourself and your time
• Set and achieve SMART goals
• Use a time management system and
effective strategies
• Get things started and finished – beat
procrastination
• Maintain balance
Further information
• W: http://student-learning.tcd.ie
• P: 896-1407
• E: student.learning@tcd.ie