Time Management For College Students

DeLandra Hunter, Associate Director

EXCEL: Center for Academic Success

University of West Georgia

You will learn

Time Wasters Personal and Study Time Goals and Priorities Planning The Schedules Procrastination

Why Time Management is Important

Bad time management = stress Your are able to accomplish more

daily This is life advice

Time Wasters

The Problem is Severe

By some estimates, people waste about 2 hours per day.

Signs of time wasting: Can’t find things Miss appointments/unprepared for

class/late for class Tired/unable to concentrate Messy desk/dorm room

Hear me now, Believe me Later…

Being successful doesn’t make you manage your time well.

Managing your time well makes you successful.

Think About it

1) 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 more than 10 hours a week?

7) Do you set specific goals for each study period?

8) Do you begin your study time with your most difficult assignment?

9) Do you complete most of your studying during your most productive hours each day?

10) Do you think of being a full-time student as you would a full time job?

Think About It Con’t

Goals and Priorities

Why am I doing this? What is the goal? Why will I succeed? What happens if I choose not to do it?

Inspiration

“If you can dream it, you can do it”Walt Disney

Disneyland was built in 366 days, from ground-breaking to first day open to the public.

Planning Failing to plan is planning to fail Plan Each Day, Each Week, Each

Semester You can always change your plan, but

only once you have one!

Create a Semester Schedule

Record known class assignments, including quizzes, tests, and papers

Record co-curricular activities including work hours, meetings, social commitments, and out of town weekends

Create a Weekly Schedule Make a list of what you have to accomplish

during the coming week, including class assignments and class attendance.

Include co-curricular activities, work hours, errands, exercise, meals and time with friends on your list of things to do for the week.

Estimate how long each task will take. Identify the day on which you will accomplish

each task, keeping in mind the amount of time the task will take and other things you must also do that day.

ADJUST YOUR SCHEDULE EVERYDAY

Use an index card or a daily planner.  As you write out your daily schedule,

assess your priorities.

TO DO Lists

Break things down into small steps Like a child cleaning his/her room Do the ugliest thing first

Procrastination

“Procrastination is the thief of time”

Edward YoungNights Thoughts, 1972

Balancing Act

“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”

Parkinson’s LawCyril Parkinson, 1957

Avoiding Procrastination

Doing things at the last minute is much more expensive than just before the last minute

Deadlines are really important: establish them yourself!

EVALUATE YOUR SCHEDULE

Evaluate your schedule in the morning

Evaluate your schedule in the evening.

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 Avoid distractions Use waiting time Treat school as a full-time job

Avoid Time Wasters

Balance Personal and Study Time

Set Goals and Rank Priorities

Planning: It’s a Must

Prepare Your Schedules

Be Aware of Procrastination

Review

Resources

If you additional assistance, contact

The EXCEL Center for Academic Success

678-839-6280