time management: making the most of your time created by angela s. shores, m.a., lpc-be interim...

Time Management:Time Management: Making the Most of Your TimeMaking the Most of Your Time

Created byCreated byAngela S. Shores, M.A., LPC-BEAngela S. Shores, M.A., LPC-BE

Interim Director of Academic AdvisingInterim Director of Academic AdvisingMeredith CollegeMeredith College

Module InstructionsModule Instructions

You are encouraged to write You are encouraged to write down the answers to the down the answers to the questions you see throughout questions you see throughout the workshop.the workshop.

Complete the included Complete the included inventories and assessments.inventories and assessments.

Contact our office to schedule Contact our office to schedule an appointment if you need to an appointment if you need to discuss anything further with a discuss anything further with a staff member.staff member.

ObjectivesObjectives To define why time To define why time

management is importantmanagement is important To define what time To define what time

management is and involvesmanagement is and involves To identify what makes time To identify what makes time

management difficultmanagement difficult To identify useful strategies for To identify useful strategies for

managing your timemanaging your time

Why is Time Management Why is Time Management Important?Important?

Why is it important to you to Why is it important to you to manage or have control over manage or have control over your time? What do you hope to your time? What do you hope to accomplish by managing your accomplish by managing your time? In what situations or time? In what situations or areas of your life is it important areas of your life is it important to be able to manage your time?to be able to manage your time?

Importance of Time Importance of Time ManagementManagement

Time management is important to Time management is important to different individuals for different different individuals for different reasons.reasons. Make sure you have time for all your Make sure you have time for all your

important activitiesimportant activities Give structure to your days and Give structure to your days and

weeksweeks Assist in setting goalsAssist in setting goals Assist in planning for the semesterAssist in planning for the semester Assist in determining prioritiesAssist in determining priorities

What What isis Time Management? Time Management?

Awareness of your timeAwareness of your time Awareness of your time wastersAwareness of your time wasters Use of prioritiesUse of priorities Self-management or the Self-management or the

management of your personal management of your personal resourcesresources

Goal setting & achievementGoal setting & achievement PlanningPlanning

Personal Time ManagementPersonal Time Management

Time management is different for Time management is different for everyone. everyone.

How do you define time How do you define time management?management?

If you are managing your time If you are managing your time well, what does that look like for well, what does that look like for you? What does that mean?you? What does that mean?

What skills are required for you What skills are required for you to manage your time well?to manage your time well?

What makes time What makes time management difficult?management difficult?

Managing our time is not always easy.Managing our time is not always easy.There are a variety of things that makeThere are a variety of things that maketime management difficult. Below aretime management difficult. Below aresome of the things that often make itsome of the things that often make itchallenging for us to manage our time. challenging for us to manage our time. Review the following list of common Review the following list of common timetimewasterswasters and identify which ones areand identify which ones arechallenges for you.challenges for you.

Time WastersTime Wasters

Stress Stress AnxietyAnxiety BurnoutBurnout ProcrastinationProcrastination PerfectionismPerfectionism Lack of planningLack of planning Unexpected events (such as Unexpected events (such as

phone calls or drop-in visitors)phone calls or drop-in visitors)

Additional Time WastersAdditional Time Wasters DepressionDepression Being unorganizedBeing unorganized Working against your natural Working against your natural

tendenciestendencies Bad habitsBad habits Email or IMEmail or IM Loosing track of timeLoosing track of time TelevisionTelevision Ineffective studying (have to repeat Ineffective studying (have to repeat

what you studied or re-read material)what you studied or re-read material)

Let’s get personal…Let’s get personal…

Take a few moments to Take a few moments to complete the following complete the following assessments: assessments: “Self-Evaluation of Time Manage

ment” “My Time Wasters”

What did you learn about the What did you learn about the way you manage your time?way you manage your time?

What did you learn about your What did you learn about your time wasters?time wasters?

Take a 10 minute breakTake a 10 minute break

Study Tip

Take a short break each hour to refresh your mind and body.

You’ll do better.

Set an alarm clock or timer and come back!

exit

Knowing is Half the Knowing is Half the BattleBattle

Understanding what time managementUnderstanding what time management

is and what your time managementis and what your time management

strengths and challenges are canstrengths and challenges are can

assist you in determining whatassist you in determining what

strategies will be most useful as youstrategies will be most useful as you

develop your time management skills.develop your time management skills.

The following slides offer some timeThe following slides offer some time

management tips and strategies thatmanagement tips and strategies that

you may find useful. you may find useful.

Strategies: Strategies: Define your values and Define your values and determine your priorities.determine your priorities.

Knowing what is important to you (whatKnowing what is important to you (what

you value) and what your priorities areyou value) and what your priorities are

allows you to put those things first asallows you to put those things first as

you schedule your time, thereforeyou schedule your time, therefore

guiding the way you manage your time.guiding the way you manage your time.

ValuesValues

Complete the attached Complete the attached Values Assessment to identify your to identify your values.values.

Prioritizing, or determining your priorities, is Prioritizing, or determining your priorities, is a process of deciding which of several a process of deciding which of several options or tasks is most important. options or tasks is most important.

Prioritizing involves deciding that Activity A Prioritizing involves deciding that Activity A is more important than Activity B.is more important than Activity B.

Priorities change over time. Priorities change over time. Priorities are influenced by your values and Priorities are influenced by your values and

your goals.your goals. Your priorities may not be the same as Your priorities may not be the same as

important others (family or friends) in your important others (family or friends) in your life.life.

PrioritiesPriorities

Guiding questions for determining Guiding questions for determining priorities:priorities:

What are the costs vs. the benefits of doing What are the costs vs. the benefits of doing this activity?this activity?

How well does this activity fit into my goals?How well does this activity fit into my goals? Does this activity have a deadline for Does this activity have a deadline for

completion?completion? How much do I enjoy doing this activity?How much do I enjoy doing this activity? Have I promised or agreed to do this Have I promised or agreed to do this

activity?activity? What needs of mine will be satisfied by doing What needs of mine will be satisfied by doing

this activity?this activity? How much time does this activity require?How much time does this activity require?

Determining Your PrioritiesDetermining Your Priorities

Priority activities can include Priority activities can include studying, attending class, studying, attending class, worship, meditation, exercising, worship, meditation, exercising, spending one day a week with spending one day a week with family, or other activities family, or other activities important to you.important to you.

With this in mind, take a few With this in mind, take a few minutes and write down your minutes and write down your answers to the questions on the answers to the questions on the previous slide.previous slide.

What are What are your your priorities?priorities?

Strategies:Strategies: Set goals & make action plansSet goals & make action plans Use the system SMART when Use the system SMART when

setting your goalssetting your goals S = SpecificS = Specific M = MeasurableM = Measurable A = Action-orientedA = Action-oriented R = Realistic or ReasonableR = Realistic or Reasonable T = Time PhasedT = Time Phased

It is okay, and often helpful, to re-It is okay, and often helpful, to re-evaluate your goals periodically and evaluate your goals periodically and change or update them or re-set change or update them or re-set themthem

Action plans are step by step Action plans are step by step plans of how you are going to plans of how you are going to accomplish your goal – what are accomplish your goal – what are you going to do to reach your you going to do to reach your goalgoal

Action plans allow you to break Action plans allow you to break the goal down into smaller, more the goal down into smaller, more manageable portions and give manageable portions and give you the chance to make and you the chance to make and record progress towards your record progress towards your goalsgoals

Your TurnYour Turn

Using the Course Goal Setting Using the Course Goal Setting Worksheet, create goals for Worksheet, create goals for yourself for each class you have yourself for each class you have this semester.this semester.

Additional resources for goal Additional resources for goal setting can be helpful to you setting can be helpful to you also.also.

Additional Strategies for Additional Strategies for Time ManagementTime Management

Use a system that works for youUse a system that works for you Learn to say noLearn to say no Plan to do the biggest projects Plan to do the biggest projects

during your most energized during your most energized times times

Be proactive not reactiveBe proactive not reactive

More Strategies & TipsMore Strategies & Tips Tackle the big projects first, even if it Tackle the big projects first, even if it

is step by step (don’t get lost in the is step by step (don’t get lost in the little things)little things)

Use an A-B-C system to plan your Use an A-B-C system to plan your dayday

Handle papers only onceHandle papers only once Make use of “waiting” timeMake use of “waiting” time Make “want to do” lists not “have to Make “want to do” lists not “have to

do” lists do” lists (“have to do” lists can often (“have to do” lists can often cause pressure and lead to guilt if items cause pressure and lead to guilt if items are left undone)are left undone)

Strategies & Tips continued…Strategies & Tips continued…

Focus on one thing at a timeFocus on one thing at a time Assess the BIG PICTURE – what’s Assess the BIG PICTURE – what’s

most important overallmost important overall Get & stayed organizedGet & stayed organized Set time limits and mini-deadlinesSet time limits and mini-deadlines Practice positive self-talkPractice positive self-talk Know your learning style & use study Know your learning style & use study

techniques that fit that styletechniques that fit that style

ReferencesReferences Academic Advising Office at Meredith College. Academic Advising Office at Meredith College.

Various Various printed materials and handouts.printed materials and handouts. De Brand, R. (2003). De Brand, R. (2003). Stress ManagementStress Management and and Time Time

Management Management handouts for Pastoral handouts for Pastoral Leadership Leadership lecture (January 30, 2003).lecture (January 30, 2003).

Deckro, G.R., Ballinger, K.M., Hoyt, M., Wilcher, M., Deckro, G.R., Ballinger, K.M., Hoyt, M., Wilcher, M., Dusek, J., Myers, P., Greenberg, B., Dusek, J., Myers, P., Greenberg, B.,

Rosenthal, Rosenthal, D.S., & Benson, H. (2002). The D.S., & Benson, H. (2002). The evaluation of a evaluation of a mind/body intervention to reduce mind/body intervention to reduce psychological psychological distress and perceived stress in distress and perceived stress in college students. college students. Journal of American College Journal of American College Health, 50, 281–Health, 50, 281– 287.287.

Helmstetter, S. (2003). Helmstetter, S. (2003). Who Are You Really and What Who Are You Really and What Do You Want?Do You Want? Park Avenue Press: USA Park Avenue Press: USA

Kelly, W.E. & Johnson, J.L. (2005). Time use Kelly, W.E. & Johnson, J.L. (2005). Time use efficiency and the five-factor model of efficiency and the five-factor model of personality. personality. Education, 125Education, 125, 511-515., 511-515.

Mental Health Association in Durham County (1996). Mental Health Association in Durham County (1996). How Do You Cope?How Do You Cope? (self-inventory). (self-inventory).

Misra, R., McKean, M., West, S., & Russo, T. (2000). Misra, R., McKean, M., West, S., & Russo, T. (2000). Academic stress of college students: Academic stress of college students:

Comparison Comparison of student and faculty perceptions. of student and faculty perceptions. College College Student Journal, 34Student Journal, 34, 236-245. , 236-245.

Struthers, C.W., Perry, R.P., & Menec, V.H. (2000). Struthers, C.W., Perry, R.P., & Menec, V.H. (2000). An examination of the relationship among An examination of the relationship among

academic stress, coping, motivation, and academic stress, coping, motivation, and performance in college. performance in college. Research in Higher Research in Higher Education, 41Education, 41, 581-592., 581-592.

Tracy, B. (2002). Tracy, B. (2002). Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less TimeLess Time. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.: . Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.: San Francisco, CA.San Francisco, CA.

Trockel, M.C., Barnes, M.D., & Egget, D.L. (2000). Trockel, M.C., Barnes, M.D., & Egget, D.L. (2000). Health-related variables and academic Health-related variables and academic

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Wellness Resource Center, Division of Student Affairs, Wellness Resource Center, Division of Student Affairs, UNC Chapel Hill printed resources (1996).UNC Chapel Hill printed resources (1996).