How Can It Be This Late? Time Management Tips

Do you ever look at the time and think? How'd that happen, it was only 1:00 ten minutes ago and now it's 4:30?

Time management can be a challenge, what with work, school, study, family, friends, and all the other things that gobble up time... but we found some tips that might help:

• Use. A. Planner. It can be in any form, a notebook will even work. You may have an app for your phone or computer, but it may be best for some to have an actual calendar on paper--a really, really big one. If you write in absolutely everything you need to do, you can keep it right where you'll see it every day, and follow along.

• Take the syllabus from each class and put important due dates on it. You can then plan to have parts of your assignments done in smaller chunks: If an assignment is due on the 20th of the month, then put in 'work on pages 10 to 30' one day, then 'work on pages 30 to 60,' etc. so by the 20th, you've covered everything.
• Make priorities in your days: What absolutely has to get done and by what date, and what can wait till the next week?

• Make your study space comfortable, even inviting. Nobody likes to try and work where there's too much noise, or no space, or no supplies. A stash of snacks in the area will avoid you getting up to find them and getting off task. Messy snacks? Have some hand wipes close so you don't get up to wash hands and wind up watching TV or playing a game.
• And be sure there's enough light!
• Know yourself, and your 'style' of working. Do you work best with no noise, or with headphones on (be honest here). What distracts you too much? What helps you concentrate? You might look for a quiet spot no  one has discovered and make it yours.

• Use even the smallest bits of time to do something. In 10 minutes, you can empty the wastebasket, wipe down a countertop, or clean a sink. You can grab a folder and put all the stuff for tomorrow's classes in there. You can take out your clothes for tomorrow. If you really hurry you could probably even take a shower in 10 minutes. Or, of course, study for 10 minutes on something you always put off.
• You can set a time limit for how long you're going to work on something, whether that's a chore or studying: I'll give this thing 1 hour of my day and no more. Then do it!
• Set timers! You can use a kitchen timer, or of course there are alarm 'clocks' on phones, laptops, tablets, and even watches, often. If you use your phone, put it out of your easy reach, but where you'll hear it. Set the alarm to go off in a certain amount of time, then get to work and wait till you hear it go off. Use timers to wake up in the morning or remind you that you have an appointment or a class.

• And of course, no social media while you're studying. That will all wait, it really will. Talk about a time-waster!
• If you are in a time crunch, and who isn't, don't be shy to tell people you simply do not have time for anything other than study this afternoon (or whenever), and don't feel guilty about it. Learn to say 'no' when you need to. You also need time to rest, and you can say so.
• If you find yourself studying into the wee hours of the night, put a stop to that and be sure you get enough sleep. You won't be absorbing information if you're barely awake.
• Eat some brain-power foods: Nuts, apples, berries, granola, yogurt, raw vegetables--graze away to give you some solid calories (as opposed to candy or chips)
• Drink plenty of water-always have a water bottle by your side.
• Get up and stretch once in a while. Do a simple exercise or walk for five minutes now and then.
• Sometimes, you'll need to be flexible. Situations will come up when you have to switch out your schedule, and that's OK, as long as you're usually following the plan.

How to set a reminder if you have an Iphone: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205890
Android: https://www.wikihow.tech/Create-Reminders-on-an-Android  There are 'outside apps' available as well.  Often the alarm lets you make a note, so you can say "one hour of studying English," or "Lunch break," in case you forget to eat!

A little planning can help you feel less stressed and more in control. Hopefully, some of these tips will be helpful.

 

 

Predicting the Future: Using a Planner

Have you been using a planner?


No????

 A planner can be your lifeline, your reminder, your answer, your organizer, and your watchman....and it's just a book of paper.

What's the purpose of a planner?

• To look ahead and see what's coming, and to break down how you want your world organized one step at a time.
•  If you look at your tasks spread out in a way that seems manageable, you're less likely to be overwhelmed
• Once you're in the habit of checking your planner several times every day, you won't be forgetting stuff like tests and studying for tests, when a bill is due, where you're supposed to be at a given time, how much longer till a certain due date, and even remembering peoples' birthdays.

Students, take the syllabus from each class and use it to fill in your planner with due dates and test dates. Then you need to figure out when to have parts of each task completed so you are ready before the due date. How long will a paper take you to write? How much time do you need for research? When will you begin studying for a test? Plot out the dates and write them in your planner.


An example: There will be a test on February 17. What chapters will it cover? You might write in your planner
 January 18: review Chapter 3.
 January 25: Review Chapter 4.
February 1: Go over Chapters 3 and 4.
February 10: Review again for test.
February 16: Recheck your 'trouble spots.'


Although the bottom example is for finals, it's a good way to plan out your studying any time.

                                      Notice lunch, time for exercise, and bedtime are also on the planner....

 

What kind of planner is right for you?
First let's establish that we're talking about a planner made of paper, not a reminder app you can use on your phone. Apps are great--some are greater than others--but (A) you have lots to keep track of and (B) phone batteries wear out and phones die, not to mention they get lost or left behind, and (C) it actually probably takes longer to 'text in' your tasks than to simply write them in with a pen or pencil. Use your planner with an app, and you'll really have it covered. 

• One kind of planner is about 5 x 7" give or take, often zips shut, and may also have a strap to keep it together.
• Most planners are usually in the form of a notebook, which can be any size. It could be that you prefer something the size of a traditional notebook. The idea is to be able to take it with you so you can refer to it often. It may have holes punched in it so that you can put it in a binder. Spiral-bound planners are easy to use, as they lay flat or can be 'folded back' to a particular day.
• You can also make one yourself using a calendar, a plain notebook, or anything else that works for you.
• Look at planners available in the stores; they're usually found by other notebooks and/or calendars.. What kind looks like it would be your best 'companion'? Do you like things to be horizontal or vertical? Days, or hour by hour? Big squares or smaller ones?

What will your planner look like?
Here's one that has not only assignment lists, but an hour by hour plan for your day. Does this kind work for you?

 Here's an example of using different colored highlighters: The person has crossed out completed tasks.

Again, this one has the times of day. You can schedule your classes and time for studying as the week goes by.

 

 

If you prefer, you can mark off different classes or tasks using stickers. Color-coding is still the best way to notice different things on your schedule.

 

 

 

 

Try blank stickers that you can write on, so that your planner is tailored for you.

 

You can download templates for a number of different planners and print your own, you don't have to purchase one. Try these sites for ideas--see which one seems like it would work for you:

 

http://scatteredsquirrel.com/printable/personal-planner/

http://www.officetemplates.org/free-franklin-planner-templates.html

 

What do you write in your planner?

• Answer: Everything.
• Sub-answer: It's really up to you. How organized do you need to be? Should it include everything you do, including sleep time, eating, activities outside of school?
• It won't hurt to write everything in your planner even if you think it's not necessary. If nothing else you get the satisfaction of crossing something off your list.
• Color coding is SO important. Simply using different colored highlighters can do the trick. This might be by subject or by importance or both. Put in your class schedule first, then go back and fill in when papers are due and when tests will occur. Now you have a clearer picture of when studying has to happen in each subject.
• Expecting a day off for some reason? Write it in.
• Dental or doctor appointments? Write them in.
• Car maintenance such as when an oil change is due? Write it in.
• Birthdays or family occasions? Write them in.
• Attending an event such as a concert? Write it in.
• Is it your week to do a certain chore? Write it in.
• Library book due dates? Write them in.
• Miss a day because you're sick? Write it in.
• Tutoring appointments or hope to have tutoring? Write it in.
• Study groups? Write in the day and time you are to meet.
• At the front inside the cover, you can put a copy of your class schedule and instructors' office hours and places, in case you need it.

You're getting the idea by now. The trick is to get in the habit of checking your planner all the time, depending on it, and knowing that if you do you will not miss important dates and times.

 You can always ask your advisor for help in setting up and using your planner.

Here are three tasks to start with:

1. Obtain a planner somehow: buy one, make one, print one.
2. Put it into a folder or binder where it's easy to look at,
3. The most important thing: Start a new habit: When you get up every morning, you check your planner first thing. You're probably in the habit of checking your phone first thing, just do this as well. What does your day look like today? Is it busy or less busy? Start to check every day first thing, then several more times in a day. If you can glance at your phone, you can glance at a planner, too.

Let's start this semester by at least trying a planner. It may turn out to be a great help!