Web Page: Time Management
Web Page: Time Management on Long Term Projects
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Managing Time
Just as with short-term goals, you will find a benefit in managing your time on a variety of scales.
Time Scales
- Hourly time management means focusing on the work that you are supposed to be doing, avoiding distractions, and making progress. Remember that what you don’t finish in class you must finish later as homework.
- Daily time management means getting from class to class on time, using your study hall for the most important homework, taking part in extracurricular activities, and perhaps meeting a work schedule. It also means keeping up with classes rather than cramming the night before.
- Weekly time management means scheduling your activities; planning time for family, friends, fun, rest; and avoiding overload. Don’t overcommit, or agree to take on too many responsibilities. Don’t be irresponsible with your time either. You don’t want to miss out on the satisfaction of accomplishing your goals.
Pacing for the Long Term
When you are trying to accomplish something that will take a long time, you need to break the work into doable tasks. Divide the amount of time you have by the tasks you must finish. Here are four example goals and plans.
Goal: Read Grapes of Wrath by May 2.
- Read 30 pages a day for two weeks.
Goal: Memorize my lines in the play by March 14.
- Memorize 1 page of lines a day for seven days.
Goal: Write a 50,000-word novel by Christmas.
- Write 5,000 words per week for 10 weeks.
Goal: Run 150 miles by homecoming.
- Run 15 miles per week for 10 weeks.
Your Turn Write down one of your goals and the time you have to accomplish it. Then split the work of attaining the goal into separate tasks. Figure out what you need to accomplish in a day, a week, a month, and so on, to succeed.