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Strategies for Time Management and Stress<br />UNIV1101<br />

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The Time Crunch<br />Adult learners tend to have multiple commitments and responsibilities. <br />Time management and making priorities are critical skills to learn.<br />

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Time Management<br />Defined as: the development of processes and tools that aid a person to more productivity and efficiency in achieving personal and professional goals. <br />Time Management skills include<br />Setting clear goals<br />Planning processes and resources to achieve goals <br />Decisions to prioritizing goals<br />Scheduling activities and Identifying resources<br />Identify potential obstacles and problems<br />Keep track of your TIME<br />

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The Present<br />Yesterday is history<br />Tomorrow is a mystery<br />But today is a gift from God<br />That is why it is called the <br />PRESENT<br />

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Time Management<br />Nine Time Management Skills to Develop<br />

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TMS #1: Set Goals (SMART)<br />Specific<br />When a goal is to vague, you may never know how to reach it or even when you have reached it. Make sure that you know exactly what you hope to achieve<br />Measurable<br />When you have a goal that is measureable, you will know how far you have to go to reach the goal, and when you get there<br />Achievable<br />When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.<br />Realistic<br />A goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work towards<br />Time-Bound<br />A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency.<br />

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TMS #2: Prioritize<br />Do<br />Determine from the list of things you think are most important to accomplish, and are things you should do yourself<br />Delegate<br />Recognize that some things are better handled by others. Delegating not only frees up your time for other things, it ensures that resources are used wisely<br />Delay<br />Some things can wait. The best policy here is to consider WHEN things are due, HOW LONG it will take to accomplish them, and WHAT your current workload will allow <br />Delete<br />If you have set goals using the guidelines mentioned earlier, you may recognize that some of them are not achievable or realistic, or that they are just not important. Know when to concentrate on the important and eliminate the rest<br />

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TMS #3: Organize with Plans & Schedules<br />Allocate time to plan and schedule activities and tasks<br />Build in “Safe Time”<br />Use a daily, weekly, and monthly “To-do List”<br />Identify and schedule resources<br />BUT be flexible in scheduling<br />Maintain a journal of time lost<br />

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Plans & Schedules<br />As you prioritize tasks and se deadline, you will want to organize your plans and actions. <br />Some people may like using forms that use paper and pencil such as planners and/or calendars. Many planners contain not only calendar space, but also room for daily activities, contact information, and “to do” lists<br />Some people may like using a computer. Today’s computes often come equipped with software programs that include calendars, task list, reminders, and contact information. There are also places online that will do similar functions such as Google Calendar<br />Other options include personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone<br />

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TMS #4: Concentrate on the task at hand<br />Stay focused on your goals<br />You may have many commitments and many concerns, but you will accomplish more when you keep focused on the one task you are performing at the moment<br />Tune out interruptions<br />You will find your concentration is at its highest level when you can set aside times during the day when you will not answer the phone or schedule visitors. You can’t isolate yourself all of the time, but by avoiding interruptions for a specific period of time, you may find you can accomplish tasks successfully in far less time that you anticipated. <br />Find a “Safe Place”<br />This is your place that is set aside for specific tasks. This is all that you do in this location to help reduce the chance of be distracted by other duties.<br />

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TMS #5: Learn When to Say “NO”<br />Acknowledge that you cannot do everything<br />Do not undertake activities or tasks you cannot complete<br />Remain focused and consistent to your goals<br />

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TMS #6: Do the Right Things RIGHT<br />Develop DISCIPLINE to do what is RIGHT<br />Understand desired outcome for a task or activity<br />However, avoid being a PERFECTIONIST<br />TIME is lost when we do things incorrectly, which adds to our STRESS<br />

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TMS #7: Conquer Procrastination<br />Develop Discipline<br />Focus on GOALS<br />Use your Plan and Schedule<br />If you DO NOT KNOW, the ASK for help<br />

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TMS #8: Consider your Personal Prime Time<br />When are you at your mental peak?<br />Very early morning?<br />Morning?<br />Noon?<br />Evening?<br />Late at night?<br />

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Personal Prime Time<br />Most research shows that tasks that take the most mental concentration are most effectively accomplished early in the day, but even these studies acknowledge that this is not always true, and that every has a “personal prime time.”<br />When you plan your tasks think about your “prime time.” If you do your best work early, plan to do the routine tasks later in the day and concentrate on the more challenging tasks when you are at your best. If you don’t really get going until later, handle the routines in the morning and save the ore difficult tasks for later. <br />

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TMS #9: Use your Waiting Time<br />Have you ever thought about how much time you spend doing nothing during an average day? <br />Usually this is not a situation where you planned to do nothing, it just happened. <br />Think about all of the things you could accomplish if you could make use of this time.<br />

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Waiting Time<br />On public transportation<br />At the doctor’s office<br />When you are “on hold” on the telephone<br />Waiting in line<br />When you are early<br />

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Waiting Time<br />There are two ways to look at these periods of time. <br />“wastes of time”<br />“gifts of time” <br />If you choose to think of them as gifts of time, you can us them as opportunities to accomplish routine tasks that are necessary, but don’t require large periods of time. <br />

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Reward Your Goal Success<br />Celebrate your success!<br />Celebrate the achievement of your goals to maintain a healthy balance in life between work and play. Reward yourself when you complete a task or finish a project. <br />

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Why Time Management is Important<br />

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Bad Time Management = STRESS<br />

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Questions to Ask<br />What stresses you to the point that you become your own worst person?<br />What current interventions(s), if any, do you use to reduce stress?<br />Are those interventions successful, or does the stress find itself back in your life?<br />What part of your stress is external to your life, and what part of your stress is internal to yourself?<br />

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Stress<br />Defined as: Stress is the mind and body’s response to a “change” or “demand” that requires a physical, mental, or emotional adjustment or response.<br />Stress emerges from any situation or thought that makes a person respond with frustration, anger, nervousness, and/or anxiety<br />Stressors occur when a person perceives that demands exceed a person’s abilities<br />There are two types of stressors:<br />Eustress – good stress that promotes growth<br />Distress – bad, negative or destructive stress<br />

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Stress is Necessary for Growth<br />Positive stress promotes growth:<br />Physical<br />Mental<br />Emotional<br />Spiritual<br />The individual, demands (time), and abilities<br />College is designed to “stress” you, but in a way that causes growth<br />

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Means top Manage Distress<br />Manage your time<br />Acknowledge ALL your demands in your:<br />Work<br />Family<br />School<br />Personal Life<br />Use “Strategic Abandonment” as a means to reduce outdated or unnecessary demands<br />

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Balance Your Life Activities<br />Schedule your life activities<br />Do not forget to add physical exercise to your activities<br />Exercise reduces mental stress<br />Look ahead and plan ahead<br />Adjust plans when “unavoidable” life events occur<br />Inform your family of you plans – cause they may have plans too<br />Stay close and trust in God-pray for guidance<br />

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Time Management Suggestions to Reduce School Work Stress<br />Read the course syllabus<br />Purchase course text books early and READ required materials<br />If a research paper is required, contact professor for advance guidance<br />If there are weekly homework assignments, begin assignments early in the week<br />UNDERSTAND how family and work obligations affect your course work schedule<br />You DO NOT DO your best work in the “last minute”<br />