Principles of Time Management

1.  The more time you give to work, the more work you will have to do!  

2.  Being organized is very important: Use your school agenda or a calendar to keep track of assignments/tests and check it every day!

3.  People find it difficult to start working. In order to encourage you to get started, set a goal and a reward for your self. Once you start, keep going!

4.  Avoid wasting time. It is ok to take a break, but don't get in the habit of spending more time on your break, and less on your work!

5.  Make time management an important goal for you to achieve. Planning what you have to do every day is a set of habits.  They can be good or bad habits, and when you try to change these habits, it can be hard or uncomfortable for a little while, but the results worth it!

6. Make a list of things you have to do, and then put them in order of importance. When you begin work, start at the top of the list!

7.  Set your own deadlines, and attempt to stick to them. 

8.  Concentrate fully on the task at hand (this makes time spent much more efficient)

Things to do (to improve your time management skills)

Reward yourself.  Make goals, and designate rewards you wouldn't otherwise give to yourself.  Then don't let yourself have the reward if you don't make the goal!

Learn how to say "No."

Balance your time:  sometimes socializing needs to be cut short.

Study difficult subjects first.

Don't go to bed disorganized; plan and set out what you'll need for tomorrow, and then you can press the snooze button with a clear conscience.

Work with a tutor on time management.  Sometimes it helps to have someone around to help you make a commitment to your schedule.

Make a task list or time commitment list for each week.
For example: 

• Quiz Wednesday

• French assignment Tuesday

• Ball game Tuesday night

• Finish 40 pages of Novel by Tuesday

• Finish 10 pages in History by Friday

• Call friend

• Shower Friday

• Paint self blue for Basketball Game

• Work out and get ice cream

• do chores

Figure out where time is hidden.  For example:  

• sitting in a waiting room

• waiting to pick someone up

• riding the bus

• stuck in traffic

• in the car/on your commute (listen to tapes you've made, foreign language tapes, lectures, etc.)

• waiting in line

• doing laundry

• on hold

• between classes

Take advantage of quick breaks and hidden time.  Some things you can do in 10-15 minutes are:

• reread directions/questions for your next paper or other assignment

• survey the next reading assignment

• read one section of a reading assignment

• list the main points of what you just read, or of the lecture you just heard

• list today's TO DO items

• write out some questions to ask in class

• tidy up your room or study space

• review your vocabulary or other memorization list

Review regularly.  You will save yourself a lot of time for tests, and reduce your total time spent, especially compared to all the wisdom and knowledge you have gained.

Identify Black Holes (no this is not astronomy 101):  Make a Time Log—How did you spend your time today? Make a log for one week and see where the time all went.  Did you waste 2 1/2 hours Thursday playing video games?  That's a black hole--work to reduce it!

Figure out who steals your time.  Gently remind people that your time is valuable!

Identify your "Prime Time": are you a morning or a night person? Choose your most aware time to do your studying (even if it is 7-9 PM during your favourite TV shows!--that's what VCR's are for!)

Get away from it all with your books (to the library or other place without interruptions)