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Young People - Time Management

Time management advice

Do you ever think there aren't enough hours in the day to fit in all you need to do?

Do you find yourself putting off important tasks and concentrating on things that don't matter?

Do you wonder how you will fit in all your course work, meet deadlines, revise for exams, do a part-time job and still have time for yourself?

If you can answer "yes" to some or all of these questions, you may benefit from some advice about time management. This web page aims to point out some of the major pitfalls when it comes to using your time wisely and to identify common time wasters.

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Time wasters

• Failure to set deadlines or to prioritise tasks
• Constantly switching between priorities
• Lack of clear objectives
• Delaying tactics, such as making coffee, tidying up, making unnecessary phone calls, instead of getting on with the task in hand.
• Interruptions, drop-in visitors, unplanned conversations
• Taking on too much at once
• Underestimating how long something will take to complete
• Putting things off, being indecisive
• Jumping from one task to another or leaving tasks unfinished
• Watching television, listening to music, playing games, surfing the net - make time for these activities when you've finished your work.
• The inability to say "no" to non-essential requests.
• Lack of self-discipline - failing to make a plan and sticking to it!

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Time management tips

How many of the common time wasters can you identify with? Even if it's only two or three, you still might like to think about some of the following ideas for using your time more productively. There are probably about ten out of every 24 hours in which you can decide how to use your time, so choose wisely.

• Draw up a schedule and stick to it. Start by making a note of your fixed activities, such as classes, mealtimes, work and meetings.
• Constantly switching between priorities
• Note down the dates when coursework is due, tests are taking place and exams are being held.
• Delaying tactics, such as making coffee, tidying up, making unnecessary phone calls, instead of getting on with the task in hand.
• Decide when you are going to study and put those times in your schedule.
• Break your time up into small chunks - you're more likely to complete a task if you have a manageable amount of time in which to do it.
• Make a "to do" list and prioritise the items on the list.
• Tick off tasks on your list as they are completed - this will give you a sense of achievement and motivate you to move on to the next items.
• Try to do something each day - this way you'll avoid things piling up.
• Use aids such as your outlook calendar, diary and wall planner to help you organise your time
• Have an effective filing system, with plenty of paper, pens, folders and boxes; a tidy environment will help you focus on what you need to achieve.
• Schedule in the more difficult tasks for when you are most alert and best able to concentrate - don't always start with the easiest and never get around to the harder tasks!
• Involve other family members in your timetable, so they can help by organising some things around you.
• Be realistic about how much you are likely to achieve in a given period of time.
• Get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat healthily.
• Last but not least, schedule in some time for yourself and the things you enjoy - there's more to life than non-stop work!

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Useful web sites

• www.time-management-guide.com
• www.cob.sjsu.edu
• www.wisegeek.com

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