Time Management Managing your time between family, friends, work, and school can be very challenging. It seems that there are always too many papers to write, too many errands to run and not enough time to get it all accomplished. To avoid unnecessary stress, you must learn to manage your time between all of these activities and save some time for quiet relaxation. Procrastination is the biggest problem most people have when trying to manage their time. There are several techniques that can be used to avoid procrastination:
- Make a Schedule -
o Each week make a schedule of your days to plan out your time and activities. Include social obligations, routine activities, work hours, sleep time, and what hours you will set aside for school work. It is important to set aside some time to do school work each day.- If you have a big assignment, divide it into smaller pieces -
o Research papers and projects are too big and time consuming to attempt in one sitting. Plan how you will approach the assignment and break it into manageable parts. Each week devote time to each project.- Set Reasonable Goals -
o Set goals for your week.
o Set personal life goals for yourself.- Study Environment -
o Find a spot to study that is comfortable for you. Different people need different situations for studying. Some people like very quiet areas; others enjoy being outside to study; some like places with activity, like coffee shops. Find a place that suits you and a place where you can get your work accomplished.- Focusing and Avoiding Interruptions -
o When choosing your study location find some place where you can avoid distractions and interruptions. Focus on the task at hand.- Stress Management -
o Not all stress is negative stress. However, there are plenty of negative stressors out there and becoming overwhelmed and overstressed can make you sick and tired. Stress can expose itself in the physical and emotional forms. Understanding how your body reacts to stress is important. Properly managing your time can reduce your stress. Exercising and relaxing can also help.- Study Tips and Test Preparation -
o Take good notes and do not cram for a test, review your notes, highlighting important points regularly. Take breaks to avoid getting tired when studying. Ask your professor if you have any questions or if you are confused about any aspects of the lectures. Form study groups and work with your peers.
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