Time Management

Overview, Assessment, and Links to More Step-by-Step Help

Managing Your Time More Effectively

Tom G. Stevens PhD

Three of your greatest resources for leading a happy and productive life are your time, your money, and your health.  We are each only allotted a fixed amount of time and money in our lives.  How we use these resources are important factors in our overall happiness and health.  Managing these resources wisely can be a major factor in overcoming potential problems--including frequent depression or anxiety.  No matter how busy you may be with important activities and tasks in your life, you can learn to be more productive, less stressed, and have more fun if you follow some simple time management guidelines. 

Following are some general types of time management problems.  For each, I have provided a reference or additional information. See which one(s) you need help with, and go to the appropriate link.

1. If you have any of the following problems,

• too much to do
• too much stress
• not accomplishing as much as you'd like
• feeling guilty about not getting everything done or doing as well as you'd like
• life seems out of balance
• others seem to control your time
• often feel disorganized or out of control
• feel depressed or anxious too much of the time
• often have a problem with procrastination
• want to be more organized, more in control of your life, more productive, and happier

THEN, learn and use the proven PATSM self (time) management system used by hundreds of others successfully

Go to http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/patsm96.htm

2. If you have one of the following problems,

• face an overwhelming situation or task
• face a very complex task or project (such as starting a small business, writing a term paper or thesis, or selling a home)
• feel overwhelmed by a myriad of smaller tasks
• face important deadlines and don't know if you will have time to finish all you need to do
• feel too stressed by some project or combination of tasks in your life
• are procrastinating on one or more important and big tasks
• want to learn a system for managing complex or overwhelming projects that will maximize your productivity and minimize your stress

THEN, learn and use the POSSI system for managing overwhelming or complex tasks

Go to http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/possi.htm

3. If you want to take a test of you current time management and self-management practices, take SHAQ or some of SHAQ's subtests at http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/success

Also, click here to go to the page on Procrastination.

Additional Time Management Tips for College Students

Index

Information
Advice
Additional Internet Links

INFORMATION 
Top leaders in all areas of business and life almost all use some organized time-management system.  Research shows that a good time-management system can help you accomplish more in every area of your life, lead a more balanced life, have less stress, and be happier.  Good time management will improve your academic success and your happiness.

ADVICE 
There are many varieties of time management systems, however the best system needs to have at least the following properties:

1-SEMESTER GOALS. Set clear written goals for each area of your life regularly (e.g., the beginning of each semester). Prioritize those goals (e.g. A,B, or C).

2-WEEKLY SCHEDULE. Make a typical weekly schedule that is a form for all your waking hours 7 days per week.  Write regular activities on it including class hours, work hours, STUDY HOURS, and a PLANNING TIME each week to plan your time that week (best to do it Monday morning?).  Also, include workout times, commute times, eating times, chore times, family times, friend times, and time just for you to do what you want.  (You only need to make one schedule per semester if your schedule doesn't change too much.)

*Also, leave times for "emergency study" when you need extra time to study for exams, write term papers, or catch up when behind.

3-TO-DO BOOK. Keep weekly prioritized task (or "to-do") lists for items to do in each area of your life in a weekly schedule book.  Get one that is small enough to keep in your pocket or purse.

4-COURSE ASSIGNMENT TO-DO's.  Use the above to-do book for everything but your course assignments (or use this instead of #3).  A better way to organize your course assignments is to do the following: [If you are a professional instead of a student, use this same type of schedule to organize complex projects or different areas of responsibility.]

• Create blank pages with a column for each course.  At the top of each column write the name of the course.  Create a row for each of the seven days of the week for each week of the semester (usually 16-17 weeks.)  The result has a lot of boxes for writing in assignments.

• Write in the major assignment due dates for each class (consult the course syllabi). Mark them in red or some other method that makes them stand out.  

• Each week write in whatever assignments you need to do for the week. 

• Consult your assignment to-do sheet before each study session and keep it up.  Mark off assignments completed, and re-write those that you didn't do in a future time.

• After you get a grade, write the grade beside the to-do item (e.g. Beside the "Math exam on Chs 3-4" write "87=B+").

Students using this system found that they improved their study habits, reduced procrastination, and made better grades.

5-WEEKLY (OR DAILY) TIME PLANNING SESSION.  Mark a regular time on your schedule that becomes sacred at least once per week to review semester goals, review your past week, and plan your time for the coming week. Monday mornings are usually preferable.  Do them in a place you can look forward to being (e.g., at a coffee shop on campus or under a tree). Also use this time to think about your life and revise your semester goals if needed.

TIP: Copy or select these 5 steps and print them out, then put them in your notebook as a guideline to effective time management this semester.  Try using it for one month regularly and watch the results.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on this time-management system click here.

=> If you are a student and your main problem is PROCRASTINATION,
GO TO:  www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/procrastination.htm

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ADDITIONAL INTERNET LINKS 

CSULB=> Get Control of Your Time and Yourself
Dr. Stevens' proven O-PATSM time management system that has been learned by thousands of students and professionals. Tom G. Stevens PhD, CAPS, CSULB
http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/patsm96.htm

Time management
http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/time_man_princ.html 

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