Time Management
Time Management Tips
Be Realistic
Make sure you are setting realistic expectations of yourself. If you feel like there isn't enough time in your day, try using the "Time Inventory Sheet" below to see where your time is being spent.
Prioritize
Instead of a never ending "to-do" list, write down the top 3 most important things that have to be completed each day and make sure to complete those tasks.
Break It Down
Make sure you are focusing on one smaller task than
Set Boundaries
Remove What You Can
Focus on the Big Picture
Create a Time Budget
Picture this, you have $5 to spend on lunch. You go to the cafeteria and spend $5 on fries. After you are done you are thirsty and want to buy a juice, but you can't because you already spent your budget.
A time budget works the same way. Every day you have 24 hours, how will you best spend each one? Creating a time budget is a great way to help manage stress, be productive, and make sure there is time to spend with people who are important to you.
Creating Your Own 24 Hour Budget
Create a 4 columned chart on a piece of paper, or save the "Time Inventory Sheet" onto your phone or device that we have created below.
Spend
Write down the number of hours you spend each day on required commitments like getting ready each morning, personal hygiene, school, and sleep.
Save
List some of your favourite ways to spend time on yourself. Make sure to write down how long each activity will take beside it. This is where you would include things like physical activity and exercise, self care, meditation, and reading.
Invest
This section is where you will keep track of how long you need each day to reach your goals and accomplish tasks. This could include things like team practices, time you spend with a tutor, time you spend with a community organization (ie: Leaders in Training or Cadets), homework, time you spend applying for scholarships or to universities.
Give
Think about how much time you would like to spend on others. This might include volunteering in your community or school, hanging out with friends, spending quality time with family, or spending time with a favourite pet.
Complete your Schedule
Now comes the challenging part, fitting all of your great ideas into 24 hours! On a New sheet of paper (or in 1 column of the "Time Inventory Sheet" below), create an hour by hour schedule for 1 day. It is helpful to see where we spend our time, and tracking your activities in this way will give a clear view as to how you are spending your time. When you have a good idea how you are spending 24 hours, you can move on to creating a weekly budget.
For a more detailed look at how you are spending your time, try tracking your activities for a week using the Time Inventory Sheet below.
Books about Time Management - Available in the Dover Bay Library
Project You
by Aubre Andrus and Karen Bluth