Time Management

Seminar Overview
• Most of us spend 80% of our time on trivial things, and
use 20% of our time to accomplish everything
important. How can we learn to be better organized?
• In this seminar, we’ll discuss the importance of
balancing the various aspects of your life as you make
the transition to University studies.
• Specifically, the seminar will cover
– Goal Setting: long-term, mid-range, short-term
– Finding the Balance
– Time Management Tools
– Time Management Tips
– Take Home Points
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 Long-Term Goals: Plan with a
Purpose
• Are you happy with the way you manage
your time currently?
• Changing the way you do things means
you recognize you could improve yourself.
• First, you want to establish your goals:
– What do you want out of life?
– What do you want out of your studies?

It may take 4 to 20 years to achieve your Long Term Goals.

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 Mid-Range Goals: Looking Ahead
• What do you want to achieve this year?
• Are your goals attainable/realistic?

Short-Term Goals: Breaking it Down

• What must happen/ be done for you to
achieve these mid-range and long term
goals?
Taking care of today’s details ensures you
are preventing tomorrow’s problems.

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 Finding the Balance
• One week = 168 hours
– 56 hours a week: sleeping
– 56 hours for academics
– 56 hours for ‘life’

The big enemy to finding balance?

PROCRASTINATION

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 Reasons Students
Procrastinate
• Waiting for the “right mood” or “right time”
• Believing that best work is done under
pressure
• Misjudging how long a task will take
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Misinterpreting/misunderstanding assignment
• Feeling shy about asking for help
• Any other ideas?

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 Time Management Tools

Term
Daily ‘To Do’ Schedule
List

Fixed
Weekly ‘To
Commitment
Do’ List
Schedule

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 Tool #1: Term Schedule
• Use course syllabus, and a different
coloured marker for each course, to put
this information on the calendar:
– All assignments
– All tests
– All exams
• use CAPITALS for exams or colour
differently

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 Tool #2: Fixed Commitment
Calendar
• Classes
• Meals
• Study
• Sleep
• Work (unless hours vary)
• Extra-curricular activities: sports, clubs,
volunteering

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 How much time do you need to
study?
• 2 hours of study for each hour in class.
• More difficult classes may need 3 or more
hours of study for each hour in class.
• If you have 5 classes per term, you will spend
at least 9 hours per week per class,
equivalent to having more than a full time job

A full schedule of 5 classes per term equals a minimum of 45 hours of study

commitments per week.

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Time Management
 Tool #3: Weekly ‘To Do’
Lists
On Sunday Night:
• List assignments due that week
• Every night check this list to see if
you are on top of everything

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 Tool #4: Daily ‘To Do’
Lists
Each morning:
• Prioritize tasks
 A for high priority tasks
 B for medium priority tasks
 C for low priority tasks
• Add tasks left over from previous day
• Put academic goals at top of page
• Put personal goals at bottom
• Check off completed tasks
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 Sample Daily ‘To Do’ Lists

Academic:
History: Read text pp. 177-187
Sociology: Select essay topic
 Biology: Prepare study cards for Chapter 2
 Psychology: Read text pp. 34-44
 Statistics: Book tutoring session
Personal:
 Go to Office of Student Awards & Financial Aid
 Do Laundry

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 Time Management Tips
80/20 Rule
• We spend 80% of our time on the trivial things.
• We spend 20% of our time on the vital things.

• Concentrate on the activities of value.

– Ask yourself: Is this the best use of my time
right now?
– If it’s not …

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 The Power of 10
• Overwhelmed? Anxious?
– Make a plan, break the task into steps, write them down
and cross them off as you do them.
– Use academic supports such as the Writing Centre, see
the GA for the class or the prof. Ask questions!
• Take control of your study environment.
– Find a spot that you associate with schoolwork
– Remove/tidy 10 things from your workspace
• The ‘Swiss Cheese’ Approach
– 10 Minute Ticker – use short periods of time to work
away at the assignment

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 Time Management Take Home
Points
1. Be realistic about how much time you have.
2. Start assignments and papers as soon as you can.
3. Break large tasks into small, manageable chunks.
4. Schedule time to complete each study task, and
build in breaks.
5. Tackle difficult courses first.
6. Learn to say no. Use a “Do not Disturb” sign.
7. Use the ‘Swiss Cheese’ approach.
8. Concentrate! Give 100% of your attention to the
task.
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 References
Academic Success Press Study Guides and Strategies. (1996)
http://www.studygs.net/
Ban Blerkon, D. (2003) College Study Skills
Fleet, J. et al (1999) Learning for Success
Fry, R. (2000) How to Study
Longman, D. Atkinson, R. (2002) College Learning and Study
Skills

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 Thank you for your participation!
http://ssc.lakeheadu.ca
ssc@lakeheadu.ca
807-343-8018
SC 0008
•Seminar content and handouts are available on our
website under: Skills for Success Seminars
•Keep an eye out for posters advertising our upcoming
events and seminars!

Time Management