Daily Schedules
There are a variety of time schedules that can fit your
personality. These include engagement books, a piece of poster
board tacked to a wall, or 3 x 5 cards. Once you decide upon the
style, the next step is construction. It is best to allow spaces
for each hour, half-hours for a busy schedule. First, put down
all of the necessities; classes, work, meals, etc.
Now block in your study time (remember the study time formula
presented earlier). Schedule it
for a time when you are energized.
Also, it's best to review class notes soon after class. Make
sure to schedule in study breaks, about 10 minutes each hour. Be
realistic on how many courses to take. To succeed in your
courses you need to have the time to study. If you find you
don't have time to study and you're not socializing to an
extreme, you might want to consider lightening your load.
Tips for Saving Time Now that you know how you spend most of
your time, take a look at it. Think about what your most
important things are. Do you have enough time? Chances are that
you do not. Below are some tips on how to schedule and budget
your time when it seems you just don't have enough.
Don't be a Perfectionist
Trying to be a perfect person sets you up for defeat. Nobody can
be perfect. Difficult tasks usually result in avoidance and
procrastination. You need to set achievable goals, but they
should also be challenging. There will always be people both
weaker and stronger than you.
Learn to Say No
For example, an acquaintance of yours would like you to see a
movie with him tonight. You made social plans for tomorrow with
your friends and tonight you were going to study and do laundry.
You really are not interested. You want to say no, but you hate
turning people down. Politely saying no should become a habit.
Saying no frees up time for the things that are most important.
Learn to Prioritize
Prioritizing your responsibilities and engagements is very
important. Some people do not know how to prioritize and become
procrastinators. A "to do list" places items in order of
importance. One method is the ABC list. This list is divided
into three sections; a, b, or c. The items placed in the A
section are those needed to be done that day. The items placed
in the B section need completion within the week. The C section
items are those things that need to be done within the month. As
the B, C items become more pertinent they are bumped up to the A
or B list. Try it or come up with your own method, but do it.
Combine Several Activities
Another suggestion is to combine several activities into one
time spot. While commuting to school, listen to taped notes.
This allows up to an hour or two a day of good study review.
While showering make a mental list of the things that need to be
done. When you watch a sit-com, laugh as you pay your bills.
These are just suggestions of what you can do to combine your
time, but there are many others, above all be creative, and let
it work for you.
Conclusion
After scheduling becomes a habit, then you can adjust it. It's
better to be precise at first. It is easier to find something to
do with extra time then to find extra time to do something. Most
importantly, make it work for you. A time schedule that is not
personalized and honest is not a time schedule at all. |
