Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 1 By Mona J Casady Chapter Three Setting Priorities and Managing Time By Mona J Casady Chapter Three Setting Priorities and Managing Time

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 2 This chapter offers you guides to : Prioritize goals Identify activities and time requirements Establish a calendar system and organizer Prepare a weekly schedule Improve time management skills

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 3 Prioritize Goals Begin with long-term goals – what you want to be doing five or six years from now. Then identify and rank your short-term goals – what you want to accomplish this term. Keep your priorities in mind as you make decisions about how to spend your time.

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 4 Do your activities and time requirements support your goals ? Academic Work Attend all classes. Devote 2-3 hours outside class for each hour in class Employment Up to 20 hours a week can parallel a fulltime academic load. If you must work more hours, take fewer credit hours Health Eat three meals a day, get 7- 8 hours of sleep a night, and exercise at least three times a week

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 5 Establishing a Calendar System Begin with the overall picture – the entire term. On a Term-at-a-Glance Calendar, mark the dates of: Projects due Presentations Exams (including finals) Standard meetings Holidays Personal events

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 6 Prepare a Weekly Schedule the days and times of: Include the days and times of: Attending classes Eating Getting ready Sleeping Commuting Studying Working at a job

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 7 Prepare a Weekly Schedule (cont’d) Include the days and times of: Exercising Attending meetings and extracurricular activities Doing personal tasks Socializing with family and friends Participating in recreation and leisure

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 8 Each Day Is a New Account If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400, that carried over no balance from day to day, and each night canceled whatever amount you had not used during the day, what would you do?

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 9 Of course, you would draw out every cent every day and use it to your advantage! You have such a bank; it is called TIME. Of course, you would draw out every cent every day and use it to your advantage! You have such a bank; it is called TIME.

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 10 Each Day Is a New Account (cont’d) Each day it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Each night it rules off as lost the tmie you did not invest to good purpose. It carries over no balances and allows no overdrafts.

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 11 Each Day Is a New Account (cont’d) Each day it opens a new account with you. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. You cannot go back or draw against tomorrow. The responsibility is yours to invest this precious fund of hours and minutes for a return of maximum happiness and success.

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 12 Use a Planner A planner helps to keep you organized, to remember appointments, and to meet deadlines.

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 13 Use a Planner (cont’d) Fill in the month-at-a-glance page Transfer items to respective day pages Highlight items of greatest urgency Mark the current day (by a tab or bookmark) so you can access it quickly Carry planner with you at all times

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 14 Managing Large Projects Large projects need not be overwhelming. You can manage them effectively with the least amount of stress by:  Observing deadlines - posting reminders and highlighting due dates on your calendar  Being organized - gathering materials before you begin

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 15 Managing Large Projects (cont’d)  Breaking down the project into manageable parts  Overestimating the time needed to complete the project  Setting your deadline a day or two ahead to allow for last-minute problems  Establishing a reward for yourself upon completing the project

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 16 How to Avoid Procrastination You can avoid procrastination by: Establishing a routine and sticking to it Set up reminders - Post-it® notes and “To Do” lists Eliminate distractions Discipline yourself to stay focused on deadlines

Chapter 3Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 17 How to Avoid Procrastination (cont’d) Hang a “Please do not disturb” sign on your door Learning to say “No” when an invitation would put you off course Break down big projects into small steps Doing homework daily Find a study partner who is a role model