Time/Task Management

Presented by the Tomás Rivera Center Arranged by Dionne S. Dávila

QUIZ1. Do you estimate how many hours you will need

to study each week?2. Do you meet assignment deadlines?3. Do you begin working on semester long projects

early in the semester?4. Do you write a daily “to do” list?5. Do you prevent social activities from interfering

with your study time?6. Do you have a job that requires fewer than 10

hours a week?

QUIZ continued…

7. Do you set specific goals for each study period?8. Do you begin your study time with your most

difficult subject/assignment?9. Do you complete most of your studying during

your most productive hours of each day?10. Do you treat being a full-time student like a full

time job?For every “Yes” you responded give yourself 1point.Tally the total number of points you received.

Results• If you scored 8-10 you are doing well managing

your time. Maybe you need to change one or two things.

• If you scored 5-7 you are average and have some good time management skills, but clearly need some more help.

• If you scored 1-4 you should get a plan together for how you want to address these issues. Good thing for you the TRC can help you with that. Please schedule an appointment with an academic coach!

The goal of time management The goal of time management is to find a is to find a balancebalance among among all the things you all the things you needneed and and

wantwant to do. to do.

What’s the 1st step in managing your time?

Types of events worth noting in your planner:

Classes Professors office hours and contact info Due dates for papers, projects, presentations, etc. Test and quiz dates Meetings:

Advising or mentor meetings SI or Tutoring

The most important word in our Time Management

vocabulary is…

“NO”

Before Setting Goals Have to determine what you value

(What is important to you?)

Set priorities Decide what is most important What needs to be accomplished first

Set Goals• Setting time/task goals will

help you define how you want to live and what you want to achieve.

• Define for yourself what will be long term and short term goals

Making Your Schedule Work• Identify your best time of the day.• Study difficult or boring subjects first.• Use the same place to study every time.• Use the library or a location with very little

distractions.• Avoid distractions• Use “waiting time” to study• Treat school as a full-time job-www.ucc.vt.edu/lynch/TMTips.htm

Adjust Your Schedule Every Day

• Write out a daily schedule at the beginning of each day.

• As you write out your daily schedule, assess your priorities.

Evaluate Your Schedule

• Evaluate schedule in the morning• Again at the end of the day• Re-Assess: a) Is what I’m doing working? If not what

do I need to change? b) Divide larger tasks or projects into

smaller parts or steps.

• Avoidance of doing a task that needs to be done

• Can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt

• Interferes with academic and personal success

• Not a good indicator of what you are truly capable of

• So…..don’t put things off…

It’s a misnomer that our talents make us a

success. They help, but it’s not what we do well

that enables us to achieve in the long run. It’s what we do wrong and how we correct it that ensures our long-

lasting success. -Bernie Marcus Founder

of Home Depot