|
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Excerpt from "Making Your Mark", 5th Edition by Lisa
Fraser
Do your work. It's as simple as that.
Complete assignment on time, study for your tests, and do your
homework. That's the secret of time management - getting your work
done. The difference between knowing about commitments, and actually
getting around to doing them is the difference between a poor time manager
and a good one. And the secret of a great time manager is somone who
gets work done early, so they're got time to do a quality job.
We believe that if, at the very least, you keep up with your
assigned work, you'll probably make it through successfully.
Why? It seems that once the work piles up and up and you get too far
behind, it's almost impossible to catch up. In fact, unsuccessful
students pinpoint falling behind as their largest contributing factor to
their failure.
The advantages to staying ahead of your workload are many:
you enjoy your work more, you learn more, you don't get stressed out, you
have time for quality, you get better grades, your overall college
experience is more fulfilling. Many people use schedules to help
them with their balancing act.
Staying on top of it all
It may sound obvious, but keeping track of what you have to do
ensures that you don't forget to study for a test or keep a
commitment. We recommend using schedules to give you a visual
picture of how much work is building up. This will help you spread
out your workload, so you'll be less likely to hit a crunch time and have
to pull all-nighters to get everything done. Three different types
of schedules will help you stay on top of it all.
Semester Schedules
A calender that displays one semester at a time will allow you to
keep track of important dates and deadlines. If you keep your
semester schedule out where you can see it, you'll always be aware of
what's upcoming, so you can plan how and where to spend your
time.
Weekly Schedules
This type of schedule will give you a detailed picture of your
week's activities. Start by filling in your 'must do's' - classes,
study hours, and then leisure time.
Regular Study Hours?!
Scheduling
regular study periods is a practice that is foreign to most
students. While we acknowledge that there are more exciting things
to do than study, we can offer three reasons why you may consider giving
it a try.
1. Practice makes perfect.
Think back
to when you were first learning your multiplication tables. Your
elementary school teacher probably had the whole class recite each times
table until you had them memorized. Repetition and review are two
core principles of learning; the more you practice, the faster and better
you learn. Study periods give you the opportunity to look over your
notes regularly, so that studying for a test is a quick review, not a
monumental task.
2. Get more done.
Most students limit
their study time to completing homework assignments. We're not
knocking that - it's certainly important to do your homework. But on
a light homework day, you could get a lot more done. Let's say
you've set aside 2 hours to study on a given evening, and your homework
only takes 45 minutes. You could use the remaining hour and 15
minutes to work on a major report or to review the day's notes. Your
workload later in the semester will be lighter, when you'll probably need
and appreciate the extra time.
3. Become a more efficient
learner.
It's been proven that if you study at the same time in the
same place on regular days, you become conditioned to study. In
other words, when you sit down at your desk and open your books, your
brain knows what you're there for. You don't have to sit around for
20 minutes trying to get into the right frame of mind. It becomes
automatic.
Be Realistic
However you decide to
schedule your time, be realistic about yourself. If you know you're
not going to sit down for 4 hours every Tuesday night and study, don't
schedule it. Far better to set aside 2 hours and follow it
through. And if you can't live without watching your favorite weekly
sports telecasy, don't try to make yourself study then. A schedule
is only effective if it suits your individual personality.
Daily Schedules
A
'to do' list will remind you of what you have to do each day.
Prioritize each item on your list, labelling the most important items 'A',
the less important items 'B', and the 'nice to do' items 'C'. Start
with your A's so that you finish your most important tasks first, and then
work through your B's and C's.
Time Wise
Scheduling can help you manage your time, but there are other ways
of getting the most out of a day. We've compiled a list of time
management techniques that have proven useful to other
students.
1. Do it now.
It's a simple concept,
but if you decide to tackle one of the items on your 'to do' list right
now, your list will disappear before you know it.
2. Say no.
There's nothing more
tempting than an invitation to go out with a group of friends, and
sometimes you really need a break from your books. However, if you
can put a higher priority on studying for a term test, for example, the
results will be worth the effort. If you can't say no, see if you
can't force yourself to fit in your study period before you go
out.
3. Use your class time
well.
Attend. There's no real substitute for being
there. Information is better retained if you hear it
firsthand. When it's time to study for a test, you'll remember more
than if you had copied someone's notes (and you'll be taking the chance
that his notes are complete and easy to understand). Your study time
should therefore be shorter and easier. Listen carefully. The more
you absorb in class, the less you have to relearn on your own. Take
notes. If you keep a good set of notes, studying for tests and exams
will be easier.
4. Start projects as soon as they are
assigned.
Many people have the best of intentions, but few ever
follow through on this concept. It's probably one of the most
important, though, since the reason for most D papers is the fact that
they were written the night before they were due. Assignments always
seem to pile up, and you may find that 3 or 4 major papers are due at the
same time. A little work on a report every week will allow you time
to add quality to your work.
5. Divide each task into small, manageable
chunks.
When schoolwork piles up, it's often hard to know where to
start. Sometimes it seems as if you'll never get everything
done. Break each task into smaller parts, and the work won't seem as
overwhelming. For example, instead of facing a whole chapter of your
business administration text, set a goal of reading 8 pages.
6. Use small pockets of time
well.
Many students feel it's not worth doing schoolwork between
classes because they won't have time to complete it. If you've
broken your homework and assignments into smaller chunks, though, you'll
be able to complete one or two of them in that time. You may even
find yourself with a free evening.
7. Use your best time
well.
Some people are 'morning' people, so they should do as much
work as possible early in the day. Nighthawks are better to save
their work until the evening, when they are most effective.
8. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can
do today.
Before the day is over, do one more thing that you were
saving for 'tomorrow'. In time, you'll find that you aren't
procrastinating as much. Moreover, your workload will be
lighter.
9. Turn off the
television.
M*A*S*H reruns are a great way to relax, but
when you add Oprah Winfrey, Wheel of Fortune, and
America's Funniest Home Videos to the list, you may look back at
your day and wonder where its' gone. Unless it's a 'can't miss'
show, try to save television until you've finished your
homework.
10. Try the ten minute ticker.
If
you've got a 'to do' on your list that you find particular unpleasant, try
working hard on it for 10 minutes. You may find you don't mind
continuing beyond the 10 minutes; at the very least, you'll have more of
it done.
11. Stop studying.
Some people get
carried away with trying to do too much. Make sure that your studies
don't take over your whole life. It's important to balance a variety
of leisure activities activities with college work.
Students with Part Time
Jobs
Balancing school, homework and your
personal life takes careful time management. When you take on a
part-time job as well, it can be a challenge not to burn out. If
money isn't a survival issue, try to limit your work hours. It's
tough to be effective at anything when you're exhausted. However, if
your job is essential to your finances, you may want to consider the
following:
1. Don't waste your time.
You
probably won't have much free time, so it will be important to use every
minute well. If you've got a free hour between classes, try to get
as much homework done as possible. If you finish lunch early, you
could read a chapter of your text.
2. Don't try to stick to a set
schedule.
Many students find it more effective to keep a 'to do'
list, and then use each pocket of free time in their day to complete each
item, in order of priority.
3. Take care of yourself.
You can't
afford to let yourself get run down, so eat well and try to get as much
rest as you can.
Non-Traditional
Students
If you're a non-traditional student,
you face an added number of concerns. Will I fit in? Am I too
old? Will I remember how to write an exam? How will I handle
school and a family?
What's important for you to remember is that
you've developed time management and organizational skills during your
working years and while raising your family. These skills will help
you manage your life your life during college years. Faculty and
administration are aware of your additional responsibilities, and are
supportive of the individual needs you may need.
Non-traditional students generally do well
because they have a clear purpose for attending college - a change in
career, for example - so they are motivated and commited to their
studies. The downside to this is that they often strive for
excellence, placing yet another demand on themselves. Considering
family, financial, and academic pressures, it's important to realize that
you can't do it all. It's okay to be satisfied with 'good
enough'. | 