Why Effective Time Management Matters
 Success in school, and life in general, depends on one’s
ability to efficiently manage time.
 There are only 168 hours per week, but so many different
ways to spend it!
 Some ways clearly help achieve your goals.
 Others might seem productive but won’t help you in the
long run.
 Your own priorities (goals) determine whether your use of
time is efficient or inefficient.
How Do You Use Your Time?
 Efficient use of time means using your time to achieve
your most important goals.
 Check out how much time you spend on your daily
activities…and how it adds up over a week’s time.
 http://www.studygs.net/schedule/weekly.htm
 Evaluate: Are you spending enough quality time on your
priorities?
 Or do you study only after everything else is done?
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Make Quality Time for Your Priorities
 You can take control of your time, right now.
 Start by creating a realistic semester schedule for priority
activities that will help you reach your goals.
 Use Google’s on-line calendar.
 Once created, stick to your time schedule, understanding
that some flexibility is necessary.
 Unexpected demands will occur…but if you spend too
much time on non-priority tasks, your performance will
suffer and you may not meet your goals.
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.
Tips for Working Smart
 Use a prioritized “daily to-do” list:
 Write out your next day’s list the night before to help you
stay focused.
 Break major assignments into small chunks:
 Specific tasks that can be done in 15 or 20 minute
increments.
 Put those tasks at the top of your daily to-do list.
 Know and use your “prime” working times:
 Use this time to tackle big projects that you’ve broken
into smaller chunks.
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Tips for Working Smart, continued
 Understand studying is an active learning process that
includes different types of tasks.
 Different subjects need different types of preparation:
 Use your semester calendar of due dates to figure out
what needs to be done and when..
 Schedule study/learning sessions to fit your attention span
and available time.
 Chunk work into 15 to 30 minute increments.
 Vary the tasks to stay alert.
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Work & Live Smart: Use Your Wait Time
 Use all of your available time…each day presents small
opportunities to work on school-tasks.
 Think about class work you can do in a short period of time.
 Make a list of 5 things you can do in 10 minutes and also 5
things you can do in 20 minutes.
 Use this list whenever you are waiting or expect to wait for
something. Try to get some or all of those tasks done.
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Procrastination…Oh, I’ll do it Later
 Sooner or later most of us procrastinate.
 Procrastination is the process of avoiding a solitary, time
consuming task.
 One avoids the “pain” by doing something else.
 The longer we procrastinate, the more likely our
performance is going to suffer (poor grades, inability to
achieve long-term goals).
 How can you avoid rushing, cramming for tests, and pulling
all-nighters?
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.
Avoiding Procrastination

Break your project down into small, specific steps.
 Schedule these mini-blocks of project time on your daily todo list.

Do not strive for perfection of work, instead focus on
completing project steps.

Schedule small rewards, or alternative activities for each block
of time worked.
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.
Time Management Summary
Identify your core goals and organize your time around
them.
 Visualize yourself as successful.
 Make a semester calendar with all important due dates.
 Break big projects into specific, small tasks that can be
done in 15 to 30 minute chunks of time.
 Prioritize a daily to-do list, do important chunks FIRST.
 Schedule study time for when you are most alert…
 Also use your “wait time” to accomplish tasks.
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.
EMCC Learning Resources

Successful learners are efficient time managers, who know
when to ask for help, and proactively use the wide range
EMCC’s learning resources.
The College Counseling Center at Estrella Mountain
Community offers courses, workshops, and personalized
counseling to help students achieve academic and life
goals.
Take advantage of these important services by calling the
EMCC Counseling Center at 623-935-8809.
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.
Other EMCC Learning Resource Links
Information Commons
Learning Support Services
The Writing Center
Online Tutoring
The NASA Center for Success in Math & Science
Math Lab
All contents are copyright © 2012 Estrella Mountain Community College. All right reserved.