Study Skills Building the Habits of Good Organization & Time Management

Excerpt from Sean Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens:

Who am I? I am your constant companion. I am I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things I do you might just as well turn over to me & I will be able to do them quickly & correctly.

Who am I? I am easily managed-you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want with me. Show me exactly how you want something done & after a few lessons I will do them automatically. I am the servant of all great individuals and, alas, of all failures, as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures.

Who am I? I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin - it makes no difference to me.

Who am I? Take me, train me, be firm with me, & I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me & I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am Habit.

Organization What does it mean to be organized?

Characteristics of a well organized student They set goals and plan ways to reach them. They set goals and plan ways to reach them. They make schedules for finishing assignments & other projects on time. They make schedules for finishing assignments & other projects on time. They have time for the activities that they enjoy because they manage their time wisely They have time for the activities that they enjoy because they manage their time wisely What are some other characteristics?

Being organized can help you… Be a better student: Instead of cramming for tests or writing papers at the last minute, you’ll be able to take the time to do your best. Be a better student: Instead of cramming for tests or writing papers at the last minute, you’ll be able to take the time to do your best. Reduce stress: By learning to pace yourself, you won’t feel rushed all of the time. Reduce stress: By learning to pace yourself, you won’t feel rushed all of the time. Feel good about yourself: Once you’ve learned to manage your time, you’ll feel confident about how much you can accomplish. Feel good about yourself: Once you’ve learned to manage your time, you’ll feel confident about how much you can accomplish. Succeed in the future: Many of the skills that help you succeed in school will help you in future jobs, too. Succeed in the future: Many of the skills that help you succeed in school will help you in future jobs, too.

Organization begins with your good study skills. Organizing how & where you study can make the job a lot easier & faster.

Follow these guidelines Use a daily planner or agenda: Use it to schedule test dates, study time, appointments, deadlines, etc. Bring it to every class & enter assignments as you get them. Use a daily planner or agenda: Use it to schedule test dates, study time, appointments, deadlines, etc. Bring it to every class & enter assignments as you get them. Use color-coded notebooks or folders: Have one for each class. Write the name of the class on the cover. If you use a notebook, make separate sections for homework, notes, & handouts. Use color-coded notebooks or folders: Have one for each class. Write the name of the class on the cover. If you use a notebook, make separate sections for homework, notes, & handouts.

Guidelines…. continued Keep your book bag neat: If your book bag is neat & orderly you can find what you need without wasting time. Repack your bag at night to avoid rushing to find things in the morning. Don’t forget to pack your homework! Keep your book bag neat: If your book bag is neat & orderly you can find what you need without wasting time. Repack your bag at night to avoid rushing to find things in the morning. Don’t forget to pack your homework! Schedule a regular homework time: Ask your family members & friends not to interrupt you. Schedule a regular homework time: Ask your family members & friends not to interrupt you.

Guidelines…continued Set up a study area: A good study area is: QUIET, COMFORTABLE, NEAT, WELL LIT, & SUPPLIED WITH THE MATERIALS THAT YOU NEED Set up a study area: A good study area is: QUIET, COMFORTABLE, NEAT, WELL LIT, & SUPPLIED WITH THE MATERIALS THAT YOU NEED Avoid distractions: You should avoid LOUD MUSIC OR OTHER NOISE, TV, WINDOWS WITH ACTIVITY OUTSIDE, CELL PHONE, and OTHER PEOPLE. Avoid distractions: You should avoid LOUD MUSIC OR OTHER NOISE, TV, WINDOWS WITH ACTIVITY OUTSIDE, CELL PHONE, and OTHER PEOPLE.

Guidelines….continued Take breaks: Don’t wear yourself out. For example, have a snack, get up and stretch or take a short walk. Take breaks: Don’t wear yourself out. For example, have a snack, get up and stretch or take a short walk. Find out what works best for you. Find out what works best for you.

Organization & time management sprinkled with effort means that you can achieve ANY GOAL!

What is time management? Time management is making the best use of the time that you have. It is knowing: A system for helping you meet your goals. Practical tips for using your time effectively. How to succeed when facing stumbling blocks or procrastination. Yourself – your habits, goals, & times during the day when you are most alert & productive.

Time management is a tool that you need to succeed in high school & beyond.

Time management enables you to: Achieve more so you can get the most out of your academic career. Achieve more so you can get the most out of your academic career. Have more free time so you can participate in activities that are important to you. Have more free time so you can participate in activities that are important to you. Lead a balanced life so you can better enjoy both work & play. Lead a balanced life so you can better enjoy both work & play. Meet deadlines so you can be firmly in control of your life & work. Meet deadlines so you can be firmly in control of your life & work.

Putting first things first & organizing & prioritizing your time means that you can pack more into your life & reduce stress.

How do you manage your time now? Where can I improve? What am I doing now? Is it working? Keep a time log. Use your agenda book or day planner to write down what you do after school for one week. Note how you spend time on your weekends, too.

Examine how you spend your time. At the end of the week ask yourself: Examine how you spend your time. At the end of the week ask yourself: 1) What tasks do I spend the most time on? Why? 2)What activities do I enjoy most? 3) What can I change to make room for more important activities or goals?

Use your agenda book to schedule time to study, work, play, & rest. Use your agenda book to schedule time to study, work, play, & rest. Be realistic & set time for each activity. Pace yourself! Be realistic & set time for each activity. Pace yourself! 1) Set aside enough time for each activity. 2) Be careful not to over schedule. 3) Include time to get from one activity to another. another.

Don’t procrastinate. Sometimes you will just have to do the task you like the least just to get them done. Don’t just say, “Oh well, I will start the paper tomorrow.” Soon you will have procrastinated so much & be so stressed out that it will drain your energy level. Don’t procrastinate. Sometimes you will just have to do the task you like the least just to get them done. Don’t just say, “Oh well, I will start the paper tomorrow.” Soon you will have procrastinated so much & be so stressed out that it will drain your energy level.

Always plan ahead. Ask your teacher for any assignments he or she can provide ahead of time. By knowing what is coming, you will be better prepared – and have a head start! Always plan ahead. Ask your teacher for any assignments he or she can provide ahead of time. By knowing what is coming, you will be better prepared – and have a head start!

Organization & time management need to exist for all of us. High school students, college students, military workers, business owners, & professionals need to have these skills.

Start getting organized today: Practice good study habits to make the most of your time. Practice good study habits to make the most of your time. Plan ahead by scheduling your time in a daily planner & calendar. Plan ahead by scheduling your time in a daily planner & calendar. Take time to avoid burning out. Take time to avoid burning out. Always get help from others if you need it Always get help from others if you need it

Make a habit of being a ‘prioritizer’ & have balance & control of your life.

If you need help, you can get advice from your teachers, parents, other family members, your school counselors, friends, classmates, study groups, and others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It will show that you are serious about becoming a better student!

Thanks for a job well done!