Time management

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Alright peeps, I need help from you all, especially you fellow students! I'm having trouble managing my time recently, I got dumped with three massive essays and i've been having trouble getting them all done for my deadlines. I'm gonna have even more to do when I start my show, so tips please for fitting in line learning/rehersals/essays, work, gym and Ceroc which i'm gonna have to miss this week because I don't have time to go!

Thank you in advance 'cause I know you all love me and will answer back












Jazz

[Lynn]

Here's one solution - one I tend to use (I spend a lot of time juggling roles and commitments!)

• Write a list of all the things you have to do and their deadline dates.
• Make a realistic estimate of the amount of time needed to complete the individual tasks. Its really important to be realistic and not optimistic!
• Draw up a weekly schedule and fill in all the things you have to do this week, next week etc(eg classes you need to be at).
• Then fill in all the things you need to get done aiming to complete them a few days before their deadline to allow for unforeseen delays.
• Then you can add in all the 'extra' things like gym, ceroc, seeing friends etc.*
• The key thing is to priortise and allow yourself enough time to get everything done without putting yourself under too much stress - though a little stress is usually a good thing.

I tend to be even more detailed and have things that are urgent or that can be done this week or next week, and preferred times to complete things and absolute deadlines...sort of a multi level list which I find allows me to be more flexible and adapt to changing circumstances more easily.

Hope this helps.

*Of course socialising is a vital part of student life so needs to be included!

[TheTramp]

My solution is much simpler, but works....

Wait until the night before the essays are due. Then panic.

Fear helps to focus the mind. By the next morning, my essays are complete. So far!

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by TheTramp

My solution is much simpler, but works....

Wait until the night before the essays are due. Then panic.

Fear helps to focus the mind. By the next morning, my essays are complete. So far!

Well I was trying to give a sensible 'experienced student' answer!

But I have used that method too - well OK not the night before (at least not since I was an undergraduate, I do recall working through the night on my electric typewriter ) but I find I do work better under a certain amount of pressure. (Being the reason why I haven't yet done any preparation for a talk I have to give this weekend...)

[TheTramp]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Well I was trying to give a sensible 'experienced student' answer!

So was I!

It's pretty much how all my assessments have been done so far!

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by TheTramp

So was I!

It's pretty much how all my assessments have been done so far!

But what happens if the night before you need to hand something in there is a power cut/you have a really bad headache/there is a crisis of some sort? Not a valid excuse for late submission (and don't they take marks off for each day a piece of work is late these days?)

Sorry, I know I'm being far too sensible and organised. I'll head back into the Luscious Lounge and misbehave...oops, I mean read a book.

[philsmove]

Tip

It amazing the reaction you get, when someone asks you
Why have you not done So and So?

And you reply “Sorry I had to go dancing”

[TheTramp]

Originally Posted by Lynn

But what happens if the night before you need to hand something in there is a power cut/you have a really bad headache/there is a crisis of some sort? Not a valid excuse for late submission (and don't they take marks off for each day a piece of work is late these days?)

I didn't say that my way was the best way. Yours is far superior in terms of actually getting the work done on time. Mine just allows me more dancing...







(And I do seem to work best when the pressure is on!)

[pjay]

I'm not a student, but I do have experience in juggling lots of things and my recommendations come down to 2 things that I've learnt:

1. Good Enough (Clayton Christensen. "The Innovators Solution")
2. Avoid Context Switching (Eliyahu Goldratt. "Critical Chain")


The first one is to keep in mind that you do not have to be perfect, so decide what you believe will be good enough, do that much, and then stop...

The second one recognises that it takes a certain amount of time to let your brain move from one task to another and focus - this is time that is lost on effective work.

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Thank you very much The all nighter doesn't really work for me though to be honest, I can only do so much before my brain shuts down completely! Managed four hours last night though I was getting some help on msn from my friends. Infact I better go, it's due in soon, my stupid college computers don't accept floppy disks though I should get me one of those wee data stick thingymabobs

Jazz x

[jivecat]

Originally Posted by TheTramp

My solution is much simpler, but works....

Wait until the night before the essays are due. Then panic.

Fear helps to focus the mind. By the next morning, my essays are complete. So far!

I've frequently relied on this method as well. It certainly works.

The two words PANIC and FEAR are the key, however. So if you can't cope with too much of these, I would recommend making a study programme containing a systematic plan covering everything which needs to be done and sticking to it like glue. I'd recommend starting at 9:00 each morning, going to a place to work where there are no distractions, like the library, and working for a fixed number of hours with fixed meal breaks. And don't log on to the forum, not even for just a minute to check something.

I should point out that I've only ever done this once in my life, for my finals, but it did work. It was actually quite nice to feel in control of things, but obviously not nice enough for me to have adopted it as a life plan!

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by jivecat

And don't log on to the forum, not even for just a minute to check something.

That's the best piece of time management advice I have heard for a long time.

Now I just have to apply it...

[TiggsTours]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Here's one solution - one I tend to use (I spend a lot of time juggling roles and commitments!)

• Write a list of all the things you have to do and their deadline dates.
• Make a realistic estimate of the amount of time needed to complete the individual tasks. Its really important to be realistic and not optimistic!
• Draw up a weekly schedule and fill in all the things you have to do this week, next week etc(eg classes you need to be at).
• Then fill in all the things you need to get done aiming to complete them a few days before their deadline to allow for unforeseen delays.
• Then you can add in all the 'extra' things like gym, ceroc, seeing friends etc.*
• The key thing is to priortise and allow yourself enough time to get everything done without putting yourself under too much stress - though a little stress is usually a good thing.

I tend to be even more detailed and have things that are urgent or that can be done this week or next week, and preferred times to complete things and absolute deadlines...sort of a multi level list which I find allows me to be more flexible and adapt to changing circumstances more easily.

Hope this helps.

*Of course socialising is a vital part of student life so needs to be included!

I'm not a student either, but believe it or not, juggling many tasks, meeting deadlines and time management are not things solely experienced by students, neither is the vital part in your life that socialising plays!

This is all excellent advice, the only thing I would add is to ensure that you break up the tasks. Don't plan to spend 2 days working on task 1, then 3 days working on task 2, because that's the order of the deadlines. The human brain can only concentrate on one thing for a limited amount of time, so instead, spend 1 morning working on one essay, taking regular brain rest breaks, then the afternoon working on another.

Also, don't just schedule in your leisure time around when you have breaks in the schedule, leisure time is vital to keep your stress levels down, and will enable you to then get more quality time out of the time you spend on the more "important" stuff, so schedule that you will definately have say, 2 nights a week, of pure socialising, then schedule your tasks, and then fill in the gaps with other social stuff, and don't forget the odd night off, to stay in and relax, or go out if the mood takes you.

[LMC]

The only thing I would add is to "chunk down" - jargon for breaking things up into small tasks, so you feel like you've achieved something.

"Write essay" might just seem overwhelming. Try

Do essay plan/structure;
Read course notes;
Write introduction;
Write main part of essay;
Write conclusion

It makes the list longer, but sometimes the tasks seem more manageable and you have a clear progression.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by LMC

The only thing I would add is to "chunk down" - jargon for breaking things up into small tasks, so you feel like you've achieved something.

"Write essay" might just seem overwhelming. Try

Do essay plan/structure;
Read course notes;
Write introduction;
Write main part of essay;
Write conclusion

It makes the list longer, but sometimes the tasks seem more manageable and you have a clear progression.

Plus you get to tick off each part as you go along which gives a greater feeling of having achieved something. And that feeling is a great motivator for going on and getting the next bit done.

Now what was that bit about not logging onto the forum again...I've forgotten already.

[Donna]

Originally Posted by jivecat

I've frequently relied on this method as well. It certainly works.

The two words PANIC and FEAR are the key, however. So if you can't cope with too much of these, I would recommend making a study programme containing a systematic plan covering everything which needs to be done and sticking to it like glue. I'd recommend starting at 9:00 each morning, going to a place to work where there are no distractions, like the library, and working for a fixed number of hours with fixed meal breaks. And don't log on to the forum, not even for just a minute to check something.

I should point out that I've only ever done this once in my life, for my finals, but it did work. It was actually quite nice to feel in control of things, but obviously not nice enough for me to have adopted it as a life plan!

Well I haven't got a clue about time management but I suppose if I really really tried, I reckon I could cope ok. Erm taking 'don't go on the forum' off the list though!

[senorita]

Originally Posted by Lynn

there is a power cut/or you have a really bad headache/
.

Then make love to pass the time,....and this cures all pains and problems.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by senorita

Then make love to pass the time,....and this cures all pains and problems.

Though that wouldn't actually help get the essay/report/work finished would it?

[pjay]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Though that wouldn't actually help get the essay/report/work finished would it?

No, but I suspect it would be much more enjoyable than sitting and thinking "oh, no what am I going to do, my computer wont run without the power."

[jivecat]

Originally Posted by jivecat

hours with fixed meal breaks. And don't log on to the forum, not even for just a minute to check something.

........or EBAY.......