Time Management

"Time = Life, therefore, waste your

time and waste of your life, or
master your time and master your
life.”
Alan Lakein
Objectives
 1. Explore the concept of time management
 2. Promote self-assessment of current use of time
 3. Discuss time management strategies related to:
 Defining Long Range Plans
 Defining Short Range Plans
 Controlling the Environment
 Setting Goals
 4. Assist students in exploring life management tools
that will support a successful college experience
Advantages of Time Management

 Gain time
 Motivates and initiates
 Reduces avoidance
 Promotes review
 Eliminates cramming
 Reduces anxiety
Time Management Survey
 Learning any new topic or concept usually begins by first
knowing and understanding what you already "know".

 A quick 31 question survey will ask you to think about how you
manage your time. Once you finish, you will be able to score
yourself and see what your scores suggest!

 For each of the survey statements, put an X by the one word

(agree, disagree, unsure”) that best describes your own
general experience and actions.
Time Management Survey Results
 Once you complete the questionnaire, look
only at the totals in the “Agree” column.
 For questions 1-8: Did you agree with more
than 4? (goals/long-range plans)
 For questions 9-20: Did you agree with more
than 6? (prioritize/short-range plans)
 For questions 21-31: Did you agree with more
than 6? (controlling your environment)
Goals and Long Range Plans
 Develop a “wish list” of all you would like to
accomplish in your life
 Evaluate your personal situation for what is
realistic for you
 Revise your wish list to reflect your current
reality
 Prioritize the list
 Estimate a time frame for completion
Short Range Plans and Priorities
 Break down the “big picture” into smaller pieces
 Apply “backwards thinking” to help prioritize
activities
 Plan and schedule (“to do” list) activities
 Distinguish between activities that are:
 Must do
 Should do
 Nice to do
Also from Alan Lakein…
“Planning is bringing the future into
the present so that you can do
something about it now”
Goal-Setting: Long or Short Term
 Be Realistic
 Goals should be based on your abilities and circumstances
 Be Practical
 Don’t establish constraints that make the realistic…unrealistic
 Be Flexible
 Anticipate bumps in the road and work around them
 Be Focused
 Have a target in mind so that you know when you have reached your
goal
 Be in Control
 Set goals based on your own values, interests, and desires
 Target things where you can control the outcome
Controlling Your Environment
 Remove yourself physically from the distraction
 Approach relatively unimportant things less thoroughly
 Handle paper only twice
 First to prioritize
 Second to manage
 Set boundaries – attempt to retrain others to interact with
you differently
 Reframe old habits – turning on the TV for example
Self Knowledge
 How do you spend
your time?
 Time Study
 Balancing your
Lifestyle
 Prioritizing your
Semester
Stress Producing Demons
 Worrying about the past & future
 Carrying it all in your head
 Wasted time/Procrastination
 Lack of preparation
 Failure to plan
 Inability to say no
 Failure to delegate
 Unlimited open door policy
 Lack of direction (unclear assignments)
 Repeated daily crises – “fighting fires”
 Unrelenting pressure
 Regular long hours
 Taking it home
 Lack of necessary skills
 Excessive socializing
Procrastination
 Your Procrastination Rating
“Not Enough Time…”
 Not a priority…

 Don’t want to do…

 Don’t know how to…

 Action Planning

 Stress Situation

 Stress Makers

 Stress Breakers

“You will never find the time for anything. If you want
the time, you must make it.” --- Charles Buxton
Stress Management
 Take care of yourself
 Develop a decompression routine
 Diet, hydration, sleep, spirituality
 Foster a positive self-concept
 Set realistic self-expectations
 Accept recognition and recognize your accomplishments
 Stop the negative monologue – emphasize the positives
 Reduce stress on the job
 Clarify expectations
 Care about and help one another
 Give positive feedback to coworkers
 Decompress at work
Questions and Other Shared Ideas