Managing Your Time To Accomplish Goals
BUILDING A SCHEDULE
A map of time and activities to get you through your day, week, month, etc.
A. Keep a Date Book
1. Day-at-a-glance
2. Week-at-a-glance
B. Set Daily and Weekly Goals
1. Increases meaning of daily and weekly activities
2. Shapes your path toward long-term goal achievement
3. Provides a sense of order and progress
C. Link Daily and Weekly Goals with Long-Term Goals
1. This year: | a. Complete enough courses to graduate b. Improve my physical fitness |
2. This semester: | a. Complete my accounting class with a “B” average or higher b. Lose 10 pounds and exercise regularly |
3. This month: | a. Set up study-group schedule to coincide with quizzes b. Begin walking and weight lifting |
4. This week: | a. Meet with study group; go over Friday’s quiz b. Go for a fitness walk three times; go to weight room twice |
5. Today: | a. Go over chapter 3 in accounting text b. Walk for 40 minutes |
D. Prioritize Goal
1. Priority | 1. The most important activities in your life (attending class, paying bills, take child to day care, get gas in car) |
2. Priority | 2. Routine activities (grocery shopping, cleaning, working out) |
3. Priority | 3. Activities you would like to do but can be rescheduled (hair appointment, call a friend, shopping, a movie) |
E. Keep Track of Events
1. Due dates for papers, projects, presentations, tests
2. Important meetings, medical appointments, dates for bill payments
3. Birthdays, anniversaries, social events, holidays
4. Benchmarks for steps toward a goal, (e.g. due dates for sections of a project)
F. List Low-Priority Goals Separately
In place of rescheduling, list in a separate place in your date book.
ADDITIONAL TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
1. Plan your schedule each week.
2. Make and use to-do lists
3. Make thinking about time a priority.
4. Post monthly and yearly calendars at home.
5. Schedule down time.
6. Be flexible.
7. Leave unscheduled time in your schedule whenever possible.
PROCRASTINATION
Occurs when we put off something that needs to be done.
Strategies to fight procrastination
1. Weigh the benefits of completing the task versus the effects of procrastinating.
2. Set reasonable goals.
3. Get started.
4. Break the task into smaller parts.
5. Ask for help with tasks and projects at school, work, and home.
6. Don’t expect perfection.
7. Consider how you would operate if you were looking forward to something you really wanted to do.
OTHER “TIME TRAPS” TO AVOID
1. Saying “yes” when you really don’t have the time.
2. Studying at a bad time of day.
3. Studying in a distracting location.
4. Not thinking ahead.
5. Not curbing your social time.
6. Not delegating.
7. Pushing yourself too far.
For more information, contact the Academic Success Center at 860.773.1530 or [email protected].