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Time management can be a complex thing. There seem to be so many things to do, and yet there isn't nearly as much time as you need. The only way to get everything done and still have time for friends, fun and sleep is to plan your time. Planning can happen by the day, by the week or by the month. Efficient students have a calendar for the year of major assignments, a calendar for the month and week of important assignment chunks or tasks, and an agenda for each day of things that need doing.
Think about how to make your schedule for the day. Structuring your agenda is as much about the WHEN as it is about the WHAT. Consider the times of day when you are most active and are thinking at a high level:
When do I like to get a lot of the small things done, like answering e-mail?
When is my brain most active, and I can do a lot of my best thinking?
When is it time to socialize and communicate with my friends?
When is the best time for waking up or going to sleep? Is there space in my day for a nap?
When do I like to eat? How often do I like to eat?
Teachers are more than willing to help you with your planning, but they expect to support you in a focused manner. Here are a few questions you can ask next time you are assigned a major project or task that should help you schedule your time:
When is this due?
What are the major phases or chunks of this assignment?
How much time do you anticipate each chunk with take?
What parts of this assignment will be complete in class?
What class periods will we be given as work time, if any?
What is the final date to submit a first draft for feedback?
Which parts of this assignment should we prioritize?
Here are some quotes to consider from Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, on time use and misuse:
"Be proactive."
The Message Here: Don't wait for things to come due. Don't be reactive. Be proactive. Recognize that it's easier and better to finish early than to finish late. Break major assignments up into smaller pieces and plan ahead by using due dates and working backwards to today.
"Put first things first."
The Message Here: When you start with a blank calendar, plan the most important assignments or events before anything else. Everything that is not a high priority must wait for those things that are a high priority.
"The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities."
The Message Here: The week fills up fast with plenty of things to do - go to the mall, browse Tumblr, join a battle online with your friends. You can't do everything; you can only do some things. And those some things must be the important things. Let your schedule reflect only what you think is important rather than everything you could possibly do.
"Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important."
The Message Here: How many of us have been pressured by a full e-mail inbox, a blinking message on Facebook, or several texts sent minutes apart? Just breathe. There is no reason to break from what you're doing right now, because what you are doing right now is most important. Scheduling your time means closing off distractions that represent a high level of urgency rather than a high level of priority.
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.' "
The Message Here: A lot of us want to please our friends by joining in whenever called, or maybe we have a fear of missing out (FOMO) as though something significant will happen when we are preoccupied that will lead to us falling behind. But the time to say "no" to invitations is when they conflict with our goals. It's critical to identify the things that are important not because they affect the now but because they affect the future.
Finally, check out this "Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence" graphic from the University of Texas Health Science Center, adapted from Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The intent of the image is to be a proactive person who dedicates time (or concern) only to those things within their control (or influence).
Kruse, Kevin. "Stephen Covey: 10 Quotes That Can Change Your Life." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 16 July 2012. Web. 07 Mar. 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/07/16/the-7-habits/>.
Sztabnik, Brian. "Homework: Helping Students Manage Their Time." Edutopia. N.p., 20 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.edutopia.org/discussion/homework-helping-students-manage-their-time>.
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