Managing your time

Managing your time.Managing your time.

Adam Segal, Learning Skills ProgramAdam Segal, Learning Skills Program

www.yorku.ca/cdcwww.yorku.ca/cdc

2

Time Management Time Management DefinedDefined

Time management is best thought Time management is best thought of as “self-management”, the skill of as “self-management”, the skill of making smart decisions about of making smart decisions about how to allocate one’s time and how to allocate one’s time and energy to articulated goals.energy to articulated goals.

3

Time awarenessTime awarenessLet’s look at the Let’s look at the

numbers…numbers…

The term is 2184 hours long..The term is 2184 hours long.. Each week is 168 hours long. Each week is 168 hours long. Each day is 24 hours long. Each day is 24 hours long.

This deceptively seems like a lot of This deceptively seems like a lot of time.time.

Let’s breakdown these hours…Let’s breakdown these hours…

4

WARNING!WARNING!

HalfHalf of our time goes to 4 things: of our time goes to 4 things:

sleeping, sleeping,

eating, eating,

commuting, commuting,

personal grooming personal grooming

(None of these things are majors at (None of these things are majors at York!)York!)

5

Time awarenessTime awareness

After the basicsAfter the basics, there are 1092 , there are 1092 hours available for use in pursuing hours available for use in pursuing your goals. your goals.

Full course loads require 15-20 hours of Full course loads require 15-20 hours of classroom, tutorial, lab, and studio timeclassroom, tutorial, lab, and studio time

(Going to class is essential, but it isn’t (Going to class is essential, but it isn’t enough by itself.)enough by itself.)

6


So, after the basics, classes and So, after the basics, classes and tutorialstutorials, there are 897 hours available , there are 897 hours available per term for use in pursuing your goals. per term for use in pursuing your goals.

Which translates into roughly 69 hoursWhich translates into roughly 69 hours per week to manageper week to manage

Therefore, only 10 hours a day are Therefore, only 10 hours a day are really yours to manage. really yours to manage.

7

WARNING!WARNING!

For every lecture and tutorial hour, For every lecture and tutorial hour, you’ll need to schedule approximately 2 you’ll need to schedule approximately 2 hours for homework if you intend on hours for homework if you intend on completing the work. completing the work.

(A recent York study found that (A recent York study found that students spend 5.7 hours per week per students spend 5.7 hours per week per course doing homework.) course doing homework.)

8


So, after the basics, classes and So, after the basics, classes and tutorials, and homeworktutorials, and homework, there are 507 , there are 507 hours available per termhours available per term

You’ll have 39 hours each week with You’ll have 39 hours each week with which to pursue outside tasks. which to pursue outside tasks.

On average, only 5.5 hours a day are On average, only 5.5 hours a day are really yours to use in other ways. really yours to use in other ways.

9

WARNING!WARNING!

And, keep in mind that you lose about 1 And, keep in mind that you lose about 1 hour’s time daily to fatigue, stress, hour’s time daily to fatigue, stress, disorganization, not knowing what to do disorganization, not knowing what to do next, and avoidance of stressful tasksnext, and avoidance of stressful tasks

10

The Point!The Point!

There are many fewer hours than you There are many fewer hours than you think there are! think there are!

Students need to have a strategy in placeStudents need to have a strategy in place

to help them use this time productivelyto help them use this time productively Stress is one of the main inhibitors ofStress is one of the main inhibitors of

success.success.

-- Having a PLAN helps us feel in control,Having a PLAN helps us feel in control,

relaxed and motivated! relaxed and motivated!

11

Setting Realistic GoalsSetting Realistic Goals

Be Committed – it’s ok to not “like” theBe Committed – it’s ok to not “like” the

task – but still do it!task – but still do it!

-Be Specific, Realistic and Precise-Be Specific, Realistic and Precise

with details of goal <when, for how longwith details of goal <when, for how long

etc.>etc.>- A big “chunk of time” is not necessarilyA big “chunk of time” is not necessarily

a good thing – Structure your time!a good thing – Structure your time!

12

Some tips on using time...Some tips on using time...

Take on fewer tasks Take on fewer tasks or goals than you or goals than you think will fill your think will fill your time because tasks time because tasks tend to expand tend to expand beyond the limits beyond the limits planned for themplanned for them

13


Create more Create more accurate, workable accurate, workable plans by subdividing plans by subdividing larger tasks into larger tasks into smaller, more smaller, more manageable ones.manageable ones.

14

Some tips on organizing Some tips on organizing your study time...your study time...

– Organize course notesOrganize course notes– Identify key Identify key

informationinformation– Build course ideas Build course ideas

togethertogether– Rehearse/reviewRehearse/review– Self-testSelf-test

15


Set interim deadlines.Set interim deadlines.

They provide ongoing They provide ongoing feedback and motivation.feedback and motivation.

They can tell you when They can tell you when you need to adjust your you need to adjust your plan. plan.

16

Some tips on using time...Some tips on using time... Learn to get value from using small blocks of Learn to get value from using small blocks of

time effectively. Just a half hour a day can add time effectively. Just a half hour a day can add up to weeks of productive time every year.up to weeks of productive time every year.

- What are your What are your EXPECTATIONS?EXPECTATIONS?

17


Aim to keep a Aim to keep a balance of school, balance of school, work, social life, work, social life, exercise, and exercise, and personal time…but personal time…but don’t forget to don’t forget to study!study!

18

The Point!The Point!

Even though there are common Even though there are common statements we can make about students’ statements we can make about students’ time use, time management is a very time use, time management is a very personal activity.personal activity.

– Manage your own time: compare Manage your own time: compare you you with with youyou! !

– Think: how long does it take Think: how long does it take meme to do this kind to do this kind of task? How long will of task? How long will II spend doing this task? spend doing this task? What priority will What priority will II assign to this task? assign to this task?

19

Using a Weekly PlannerUsing a Weekly Planner

It is important to use a weekly It is important to use a weekly plannerplanner

Many students purchase a planner Many students purchase a planner butbut

have difficulty using the planner in a have difficulty using the planner in a

helpful and constructive wayhelpful and constructive way- A lot of us think we can have it allA lot of us think we can have it all

planned “in our head”…planned “in our head”…

20

Do the tasks in your Do the tasks in your ScheduleSchedule

Take breaks but watch for the Take breaks but watch for the

““Never Ending Break”Never Ending Break”

- Take breaks that use a different Take breaks that use a different

part of your brainpart of your brain- Vary your study tasksVary your study tasks- Plan flex and buffer timePlan flex and buffer time

21

Doing the tasks cont.Doing the tasks cont.

Reward yourselfReward yourself

<e.g. With breaks, nights off etc.><e.g. With breaks, nights off etc.>

- Be realistic when you set up yourBe realistic when you set up your

Weekly scheduleWeekly schedule- Get to know your “Best Study Time”Get to know your “Best Study Time”- Part-time Jobs – BEWARE!Part-time Jobs – BEWARE!

Further ResourcesFurther Resources

•Learning Skills Program

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp

Phone: 416-736-5297

•College Academic Advisors

Documents

Managing your time