Danielle HandsorEducational Development Centre, Dillon Hall

Pickle Jar TheoryHow to Manage your TimeOvercoming Procrastination

Pickle Jar TheoryImagine you have a HUGE empty pickle jar Now imagine seeing 6 of the largest pickles

you have ever seen inside of the jar!

Pickle Jar TheoryNow imagine filling the jar with golf ballsWhen you think you cannot fit another golf

ball, try adding another…

Pickle Jar TheoryEven though it seems full, you're not done yetTry to squeeze a handful of marblesGive your pickle jar a shake and the golf balls

and marbles will begin to settle and create more room

Pickle Jar TheoryNow add some sandFill your pickle jar to the top by adding some

water

Pickle Jar TheoryWhat is the moral of the story when it comes to Time

Management?The first response is often “We can always fit more things into

our day”But the real moral of the story is…

We had to put the big pickles in first! So what are the “Big Pickles” in your life? What are the things

you truly value and want to make sure you make time for?

Pickle Jar TheoryPossible “Big Pickles” in your life:

Academics (assignments, projects, exams)Physical Wellness (sleep, exercise, eating healthy)Emotional Wellness (learning how to process

feelings, concerns and conflicts)Social Wellness (time to enjoy friends and family)

Effective Time Management assures that we structure our lives so that we complete the “Big Pickles” first

Priorities keep us in balance and on track

Time ManagementIndividuals who are good at time

management are proactive. They decide to take charge of their time and choose not to react to the distractions that confront them daily.

How do you go about taking charge of your time?

Time ManagementHow can you take charge of your time?

Set goals and allow yourself to dream!Integrate efficient time management and

organizational tools

Time ManagementSet goals and allow yourself to dream!

Start with your life long goals and then go backwards. Your ten year goals will depend on your life long goals. Your goals for today will determine whether you reach your goals for this year.

This is how big dreams are accomplished– one day at a time

Time ManagementIntegrate efficient time management and

organizational toolsTime management and organizational tools:

Day planner (e.g. Palm Pilot) Week calendar Semester-at-a glance calendar Month-at-a glance Prioritized to-do list Activity log

Be sure to sit down at least once a week and budget your time to complete your goals

ProcrastinationWhat is procrastination?

When you put off things that you should be focusing on, usually in favor of doing something that is more enjoyable or that you’re more comfortable doing

Sometimes procrastination can prevent individuals from achieving things that they are capable of

Why do people procrastinate?Invest their time in the wrong tasks. As a result

they have little or no time for important tasks.Feeling overwhelmed by the taskFear of failure Perfectionism

ProcrastinationAvoid Procrastination:

TelephoneFacebookTextingMSNYou TubeTelevision

Only engage in tasks that you have control over!

ProcrastinationThree steps in overcome procrastination:

1.) Recognized when you start procrastinating

2.) Understand why your procrastinate3.) Take active steps to better manage you

time

ProcrastinationStep 1: Recognize when you start

procrastinatingKnow your priorities. Putting off an unimportant task is

not procrastination.Some indictors include:

Filling your day with low priority tasks Sitting down to start a high-priority task and getting

distracted (e.g. check your Facebook, flipping through the TV channels)

Leaving an item on your to-do list for a long time, when you know it’s important

Saying “yes” to unimportant tasks

Procrastination Step 2: Understand why you procrastinateIt is important to understand why you are

procrastinating so that you can select the best approach for overcoming your reluctance to get going

2 main reasons for procrastination:You find the task unpleasantYou find the task overwhelming

Procrastination Step 3: Get over it!You need to find ways to motivate yourself

Make up your own rewardsAsk someone else to check up on youIdentify the unpleasant consequences

If you are putting off starting a project because you find it overwhelming you need to take a different approachBreak the project into a set of smaller, more

manageable tasksStart with some quick, small tasks

The End!