Chapter 6 Time Management © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Agenda Learning Objectives Time Management vs. Procrastination Covey’s 4 Quadrants Time Management Strategies Procrastination Causes of Procrastination Elimination Strategies Discussion Chapter 7 Preview © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Learning Objectives Identify key differences between time management and procrastination. Use Covey’s 4 Quadrants to determine your level of time management. Evaluate your strengths and challenges with time management and identify appropriate, effective time management strategies that you will implement. Understand the root causes of procrastination. Evaluate your challenges with procrastination and identify appropriate procrastination elimination strategies that you will implement. © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Time Management vs. Procrastination Skill Do you understand how to organize your time? Knowledge Do you need to learn how to manage your time to accomplish all of your work? Manage tasks Do you know how to prioritize your responsibilities? Will Do you not feel like dedicating the adequate amount of time to a task? Motivation Do you need motivation to start the tasks you set aside time for? Manage affect Do you feel overwhelmed with the number of tasks you have to accomplish? © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016 4

Prioritizing Tasks NOT Urgent Urgent Important NOT Important Quadrant 1: Projects due immediately Exam tomorrow Quadrant 2: Essay due in a week Exercise Goal setting Quadrant 3: Other people’s small problems Peer pressure Quadrant 4: Too much screen time Too many naps © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Prioritizing Tasks Urgent NOT Urgent Important NOT Important Q1: Q2: The Procrastinator Stressed out Burned out Q2: The Prioritizer Vision Balance Control Q3: The Yes-Person Resentment Feels Used Q4: The Slacker © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Time Management Strategies Create an environment that is relatively free of distractions and interruptions. Take short breaks. Be specific in identifying how you plan to use your time. Alternate subjects when you have a long time block available for study. Estimate the time needed for each assignment. Prioritize tasks. Schedule tasks so they can be accomplished in 30- to 60- minute blocks of time. Do the assignments for the course you dislike first. Work ahead of your assignments when possible. Take down any appointments as soon as you make them in your smart phone or calendar. Use technology to manage your time. © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Developing a System of Time Planning and Management Semester Calendar Weekly Priority Tasks List Weekly Schedule © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Are you a procrastinator? Procrastinators: Overestimate the time they have left to perform tasks Underestimate the time it takes to complete tasks Overestimate how motivated they will feel the next day, the next week, the next month, etc. Think that succeeding at a task requires that they feel like doing it Believe that working when not in the mood is suboptimal

What is procrastination? The voluntary delay of an intended course of action past the time most likely to produce the desired performance (Steel, 2007). Can result in poor academic performance, negative emotions such as shame and guilt, and depression (Steel, 2007). 47% of the time that anyone spends online may involve procrastination (Lavoie & Pychyl, 2001). © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

What are the causes of procrastination? Lack of conscientiousness associated with poor time management, work discipline, self-control, and responsibility Avoidance associated with fear of failure and anxiety (Ferrari, Johnson, & McCown, 1995) © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Procrastination Elimination Strategies Time-telling Prompts: reminder notes Reinforcement The bits-and-pieces approach The 5-minute plan The 80% success rule Social support for task completion Establish a set time for a routine Modify the environment Challenging and changing beliefs and misperceptions. Exercise 6.3: Challenge Irrational Beliefs © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Discussion Questions How well do you manage your time/tasks? What time management strategies could you implement to hone your time management skills? What are the key differences between time management and procrastination? How is procrastination related to self-worth? How is it related to perfectionism? On what tasks do you tend to procrastinate? What may be the underlying cause? What procrastination elimination strategies could you implement to combat procrastination tendencies? © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016

Preview of Chapter 7: Self-Regulation of the Physical & Social Environment After studying Chapter 7 you will be able to: improve your attention and concentration; select or modify study environments; work more effectively in groups; prepare for and benefit from meetings with tutors and instructors. Giving students a preview of the next unit/chapter is a great way to get them engaged in learning and support them in self-regulating. NOTE: If you are using this book out of order (as recommended), you can find the preview of other chapters at the end of the PowerPoint for the previous chapter. © Routledge/Taylor & Francis 2016