Leisure Studies Aim Higher Time Management and Motivating yourself

At the heart of time management is an important shift in focus:time management Concentrate on results, not on being busy. Many people spend their days in a frenzy of activity, but achieve very little because they are not concentrating on the right things.

The next few months are going to be both very busy and very important. It is essential that you are organised and motivated to achieve the best possible marks in your coursework and exams.

Why is time management important?

To do list To-Do Lists are prioritised lists of all the tasks that you need to carry out. They list everything that you have to do, with the most important tasks at the top of the list, and the least important tasks at the bottom. By prioritising work, you plan the order in which you'll do things, so you can tell what needs your immediate attention, and what you can quietly forget about until much, much later.

Using Your To-Do Lists Start by writing down the tasks that face you, and if they are large, break them down into their component elements. Once you have done this, run through these jobs allocating priorities from A (very important) to C (unimportant). If too many tasks have a high priority, run through the list again and demote the less important ones.

Working on your own You will spend most of your time working on your own at University. This offers wonderful opportunities for using the bulk of your time in ways that suit your personal preferences. Some people prefer to study early in the morning or in the middle of the night.

The main risks are: Feeling there is more time available than there is. Not developing sufficient structure to your time to ensure you get everything done. Missing deadlines. Drifting - not being sure where you are in time if you have few regular appointments to mark out the time.

Five tips for managing your time Keep one diary - write everything in it - take it everywhere. Keep a time planner so you can see easily what you need to do. Write all deadlines in your diary on the right date. Also, write the assessment deadline in your diary, on the date you must begin working towards the deadline.

Motivation Motivation can increase and decrease over time. When you are strongly motivated, it is easier to stay focused, to keep to the task, to work long hours. However, it is natural to lose some of your motivation when a project lasts as long as a degree. This is not something to worry about but it does need to be addressed. It is important to review your goals and reasons for study at regular intervals, reminding yourself of what you have to gain.

Motivational spurs; you can boost your motivation by: Being clear why you started the A-levels/degree. Reminding yourself of the benefits of gaining the qualifications. Writing the benefits down and put these where you can see them. Setting yourself manageable short-term goals. Finding a source of inspiration: who or what could inspire you to complete your goals?

Celebrate success When you achieve a target or goal, give yourself a reward. Set rewards that are likely to motivate you. This will vary depending on what you deprive yourself of whilst studying. Congratulate yourself for meeting targets

Activity Write a list of all the things you hope to achieve by gaining your predicted grades. What one thing is likely to motivate you the most to keep going with your A-Level studies? Identify one target you want to achieve in the next six weeks. Identify one target you want to achieve in the next week.