Peak Performance:
Success in College and Beyond
Chapter 3
Manage Your Time
Chapter
Objectives
n
Determine how you use your time
n
Determine how you should use your time
n
Use personal goals to identify priorities
n
List time-management strategies
n
Assess your energy level and time wasters
Chapter
Objectives
n
Work in alignment with your learning style
n
Overcome procrastination
n
Handle interruptions
n
Juggle family, school, and job commitments
Success Principle 3
Focus on PRIORITIES, not tasks.
Use
Time Effectively
n
Where Does Your Time Go?
n
Committed Time
n
Maintenance Time
n
Discretionary Time
n
Where Should Your Time Go?
Setting
Priorities
n
Urgent priorities
n
Important priorities
n
Ongoing activities
n
Trivial activities
Time-Management
Strategies
•
Keep a calendar
•
Create a daily to-do
list
•
Do the tough tasks first
•
Break projects down into smaller tasks
•
Consolidate similar tasks
•
Study at your high-energy time
Time-Management
Strategies
•
Study everywhere and anywhere
•
Study in short segments throughout the day
•
Get organized
•
Be flexible, patient, and persistent
•
Realize that you can’t do it all (or at least
right now)
Eight Strategies for Success
n
1. Focus first on high priority items.
n
2. Group related tasks together.
n
3. Get organized.
n
4. Break it into do-able chunks.
n
5. Develop and use timetables.
n
6. Focus on one thing at a time.
n
7. Finish it fully.
n
8. Do it when you think of it.
Develop
and use timetables
n
Get articles from
library 2 hours
n
Do internet
search 2 hours
n
Read and choose
relevant information 4 hours
n
Organize report
into sections 1 hour
n
Write
introductory paragraph ½ hour
n
Write section one 2hours
n
Write section two
2 hours
n
Write section
three 1 hour
n
Proofread 1 hour
Goal
Setting, Short and Long
Time
Wasters and Antidotes
n
Slow decision making
n
Worrying
n
Attempting to do things perfectly
n
Working against your body rhythms
n
Failing to recharge your batteries
n
Feeling you are responsible for everything
n
Getting stuck waiting
n
Starting your day off on the wrong foot
Four Generations of Time Management
n
Notes and checklists
n
Use of tools like appointment books
n
Goal setting, planning
n
The fourth generation is Effectiveness and
priorities rather then focusing on schedules.
URGENCY
VS. IMPORTANCE
n
Urgent and
Important
n
Crises
n
Pressing problems
n
Deadlines, some
meetings
n
Time-Management and Learning Style
n
Left-brain
(convergent thinkers)
n
Routine,
structure, deadlines
n
Right-brain
(divergent thinkers)
n
Variety,
flexibility, creativity, innovation
n Focus on a few tasks
n Write it down
n Use visuals
n Integrate learning styles
The
Effective Student
n
Improving Memory Retention
n
Pay attention
n
Overlearn the material
n
Organize the material
n
Use rehearsal
n
Minimize rote memorization
n
Write it down
n
Use memory aids
n
Reduce interference and distractions
n
Retroactive and Proactive
n
Sleep on it
n
Distribute learning sessions
n
Exercise
n
Test yourself
n
Be aware of learning contexts
SQ3R
n
Survey
n
Question
n
Read
n
Recite
n
Review
Overcome
Obstacles
Stop Procrastinating
–
Set daily priorities
–
Break the project into
–
small tasks
–
Gather everything you’ll need to start your
project
–
Focus for short spurts
–
Surround yourself with supportive people
Overcoming
Obstacles
–
Tackle difficult tasks during your high-energy
time
–
Develop a positive attitude
–
Reward yourself
–
Don’t expect perfection
PROCRASTINATION
n
Low Frustration tolerance
n
Miserable the whole time of the task
n
Can’t bear the torture of this task
n
Unfair to have to do it
n
Can’t enjoy any of it
n
Will fail horribly at the task
n
If you rebel you will get a hero’s acclaim later
n
Substitute Statements
n
You can choose not to be miserable
n
You won’t die from this task, so it is doable
n
Your boss isn’t trying to ruin your life, but to
have the business succeed
n
Some aspect of the work may be interesting
n
No guarantee of failure, no big deal if you do
n
You only hurt yourself by delaying
SIX STEPS TO OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
n
The Bits and Pieces Approach
n
Getting Organized
n
To do lists
n
Realistic schedule
n
Do it when you think of it
n
Modify your work environment
n
Block off escape routes
n
The Five Minute Method
n
Don’t Wait for Inspiration
n
Reward Yourself
n
Profit-Penalty System
n
Viewing Mistakes as Feedback
Overcoming
Obstacles
Control Interruptions
–
Create an organized place to study
–
Determine your optimal time to study
–
Create quiet time
–
Study in the library
–
Do first things first
–
Just say no
Overcoming
Obstacles
Juggling Family, School, and
Job
–
Be flexible
–
Communicate with your family
–
Delegate and develop
–
Find good day care
–
Prepare the night before
Overcoming
Obstacles
–
Use your school’s resources
–
Communicate with your employer
–
Look into online options
–
Increase your energy—both physically and
emotionally
–
Create positive time
–
Model successful behavior
–
Balance your life
Peak Performance:
Success in College and Beyond
Chapter 3
Manage Your Time