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