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“We all have time to either spend or
waste and it is our decision what to
do with it. But once passed, it is
gone forever.”

                      -- Bruce Lee
from “Zen in the Martial Arts” by
Joe Hyams




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What are the elements of effective time management?

 Evaluate how you are using
  your time

 Determine your priorities


 Create a weekly schedule


 Maintain a to-do list


 Eliminate       barriers  to
  effective time management




                                                      4
Evaluating your use of time

              The first step of effective time
               management is identifying
               how you are using your time.

              Make a list of the activities
               that you spend time on.

              Identify how much time the
               activities consume.

              Take note of activities you
               are keeping up with versus
               activities you are falling
               behind on.



                                                  5
Tips on evaluating your time

 Be systematic. Start in the
  morning and go through the
  day when thinking of your
  activities.

 Don’t overlook activities like
  commuting, taking care of
  yourself, and relaxing. These
  activities may not be work or
  work      related, but   they
  consume time too.

 Be realistic. People often fail to
  allow     enough      time     for
  activities.



                                              6
Priorities

      Many     people work hard
       without achieving the things
       that they want. This comes
       from focusing on tasks that
       do not lead to goals.

      People   who manage their
       time well have identified
       tasks that lead to their goals.
       They focus their energy on
       these tasks.




                                         7
Tips on Prioritizing

 Know your goals.

 Identify activities that help
  you achieve your goals.

 Decide    whether activities
  need to be done in a
  particular order.

 Give the highest priority to
  tasks    that   are    most
  necessary in achieving your
  goals and need to be done
  first.



                                            8
Priority Level

        Mark the priority level for
         each item on the list of
         activities that you created.

        A = High Priority (Pink)
        B = Medium Priority (Yellow)
        C = Low Priority (Blue)

        Remember that priorities can
         change. You need to re-visit
         your priority ratings often.




                                        9
A Weekly Schedule

 Now that you have identified
  your activities and prioritized
  them, it is time to create a
  schedule.

 It is helpful to keep one’s
  schedule in an appointment
  book or electronic organizer,
  but for purposes of planning
  you can use a scheduling
  grid like the one on the next
  slide.




                                        10
Sample Scheduling Grid
        Mon   Tue   Wed   Thu   Fri    Sat   Sun

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

9:00




                                                   11
Scheduling Grid Instructions

              • Block  out times on the
                schedule for each of your
                major activities.

              • Start      with    recurring
                activities that occur at a
                fixed time (examples: classes
                or work).

              • Then    block out time for
                activities that you want to
                do on a regular basis
                (examples:    exercising or
                studying).




                                            12
Allot Time

• Allot ample time for each
  activity,    especially    high
  priority activities.

• Take into account when you
  are most effective. Morning
  people might schedule more
  activities early in the day.
  Night owls might schedule
  things later.




                                         13
To-Do Lists

      The weekly schedule is used
       to assign blocks of time to
       different types of activities,
       but you also need to keep
       track of the specific tasks
       that must be accomplished
       within each activity. Keeping
       a to-do list is a good way to
       accomplish this.




                                    14
Written List

•   Make a written list of specific
    tasks or assignments that you
    need to do.

•   Plan ahead, taking into
    account the entire timeline.

•   Allot time for these tasks in
    your schedule. Keep in mind
    their due dates.

•   Assign priority ratings (A, B,
    or C) and revise as needed.

•   Refer to the list often check
    off items when completed.



                                          15
Barriers to Effective Time Management

                         There are many barriers
                          to      effective time
                          management, but they
                          can be overcome.

                         Here is a list of the most
                          common barriers:

                           Distractions
                           Disorganization
                           Perfectionism
                           Procrastination
                           Rigidity




                                                   16
Distractions

 Distractions     come in many
    forms, but we must learn to
    avoid distractions if we are to
    get work done. Here are a few
    ideas:

•   Tell people when you are busy
    and cannot be disturbed.

•   Work in areas where you are
    less likely to be disturbed.

•   Do your work at times when
    you are most alert.      It is
    easier to get distracted when
    you are tired.



                                          17
Disorganization

        Keep things that you need in
         a specific place.

        Eliminate clutter.


        Before starting on a task,
         make sure that you have all
         of    the    materials     or
         information that you need.

        Follow your schedule.




                                     18
Perfectionism

 Examine      whether      your
  efforts to get the job done
  perfectly are really improving
  things or preventing you
  from getting the job done.

 Think about the cost-benefit
  ratio of the extra effort.

 Remember that nothing is
  perfect.




                                         19
Procrastination

        It is easy to put off tasks if
         they are not due right away.
         The trouble is, tasks pile up
         and you can run into a time
         crunch later.

        Remember     to work ahead
         whenever possible.      If you
         can do it today, do it!




                                      20
Rigidity
 It is important to develop a
  habit   of    following your
  schedule, but some people
  become too rigid.

 Unexpected things come up
  and activities sometimes take
  more time than planned.

 It is important to have some
  flexibility in your schedule.
  Allow extra time and avoid
  becoming too frustrated if
  things don’t work out as
  planned… just re-evaluate the
  plan and make adjustments.



                                     21
The Next Step

       You   have learned        about
        evaluating your time

       Developing    a    weekly
        schedule, keeping a to-do
        list.

       Identified distractions    that
        should be avoided.

       Now it is time for the next
        step:     Put    your      time
        management      skills      into
        practice!



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