Time Management
...gs and/or homework for classes, whereas monthly planning is beneficial for keeping track of voluntary withdrawal dates, exam dates, due dates and out of school context, birthdays, anniversaries etc. Write out everything that you intend do to, including sleeping, eating and personal hygiene time. The final step is to act on the schedule you’ve created. Be cautious as to stray from it because once you fall off of it, it is more difficult to climb back on top. The steps previously listed aren’t the only factors effecting time management. There are many “what to do and what not to do’s” that will affect the results of our time management. First, the “what to do’s” are beneficial and will increase our use in, and results out of time management. Goals play a major part in how we organize and prioritize what needs to be done. They are motivators for us to stay on the task at hand, and since we set our own goals it provides us with more reason to accomplish the task well and on time. (York University). The University of Manitoba’s Maureen Robinson, director of counseling Services, also emphasis a few important things we must not forget that will positively affect our time management skills. Robinson stresses that allocating time for relaxation will benefit the student. Time for family, friends, exercise, rewarding yourself after an accomplished task and other events that will motivate the social self will in turn fill you with energy and help you to stay concentrated. Robinson continues and provides us with a series of key “R’s”. Aside from Relaxation, are Reality, Responsibility, Review, Re-evaluate, and Reschedule. Keeping these six “R’s” in mind will positively affect your time managing process. On the other hand, there are factors that will become obstacles which you should avoid if possible, and overcome. According to Michael J. Saxton and Karen Dawn Dill Switzer, the first rule of time management is to avoid time wasting habits. These include extended or unnecessary conversations, trying to do too much, and procrastination. Success Secrets of University Students builds onto the list of “what not to do’s” in time management. Walker and Schönwetter indicate that procrastination is one of the “counter productive patterns that interfere with success” (pg 122). As a first year university student, I found out very quickly the importance of allotting time to activities in order to meet the demands of school, work, family, and staying a healthy, happy student. After keeping a time log for a one week period, I can visually see what I spend all my time doing. Time Log, Duration: 1 Week After converting my time log into a pie chart I realized how I can better manage my time to be a more efficient student. With a quick glance at the pie chart, my activities seem relevantly equal in the amount of time I spend on each. However, “sleep” exceeds the others by a small amount. Generally, I am satisfied with how I currently manage my time, but there is always room for improvement. Especially after doing the research I have applied some of the strategies and taken some of the advice I have come across a...