MODULE 5

TIME MANAGEMENT
 Learning outcomes

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

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 How to manage your time effectively

❑ Find a balance between studying and social activities.

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The Pareto principle

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 The Pareto principle
You can use the Pareto principle to improve your time management, as usually
about 80% of your productive output will be derived from 20% of activities that
you engage in. When you analyse your use of time, you should apply the 80:20
rule. It would not be very effective, for example, to spend a great deal of effort and
energy trying to save time on the university or college study activities which take
up 20% of your time but provide 80% of your output, such as assessments, seminar
papers and reports. Divert your attention to the activities that take up 80% of your
time but deliver only 20% of your output.

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 Your body clock
You will be able to recognize times when you are energized and raring to go.
It is important to match your peak studying powers with the time available to
study.
The ‘peak times’ are called circadian rhythms and they govern the body’s
performance.

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 Essentials of time management

Prioritising your time: are you able to say what you do with your 168
hours a week?
Weekly time log: carry out the weekly time log
Look at the weekly time log and identify: have to do; ought to do and
like to do activities

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 Essentials of time management
Time wasters
❑ Self-inflicted time wasters: procrastination, perfectionism, self-
discipline, worrying, personal disorganization, overcommitment, lack
of priorities
❑ External time wasters: telephone, visitors, intrusion. Television,
travelling, waiting, coffee bar conversations, crises

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 Personal benefits from effective time management
❑ You will be able to plan your life better.
❑ You will be better organised in both studies and other aspects: of life, which will
give you much more time for important university or college tasks - research,
coursework and assessments.
❑ You are likely to be under less stress from unanticipated tasks and have scheduled
quality time available for discretionary activities such as hobbies and socializing.
❑ You will have more self-confidence and fewer feelings of guilt, because you have
identified your own beliefs and set your own priorities.
❑ You will be more productive, enjoy your studies, be more in control of what you do,
and have more quality time for leisure and relaxation, which will reduce stress .
❑ You will ultimately improve your career prospects because employers value
effective and efficient employees. 9
 Suggestions for improving time management
❑ Decide what are the key aspects of your studies; ensure most of your time is spent
on them; review this regularly.
❑ Set realistic goals for your studies and personal life; accept that you cannot do
everything at once.
❑ Plan and schedule sufficient time for study.
❑ Put up reminders in your study/bedroom about your goals.
❑ Decide how much sleep you need and make sure that you get sufficient.

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 Suggestions for improving time management
❑ Concentrate your effort and energies on one thing at a time.
❑ Plan each day carefully. At the start of each day, reflect on your 'To do' list; if items
❑ remain on it for too many days, reassess whether they are still important.
❑ ·Question everything you do. If you feel you should not be doing something, do not
❑ do it: for example, do not attend social occasion such as the theatre, pub or
students' union events too frequently.
❑ Organise the most demanding tasks at your peak time.
❑ Allow time after presentations and assessments to evaluate what you have done.

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 Suggestions for improving time management
❑ Fight procrastination - do it now if it is important.
❑ Do not spend time regretting failures - learn from your mistakes.
❑ Acquire good study habits - study at the same time each day.
❑ Prioritise what you need to do - do not overschedule your day.
❑ Think of time as a scarce resource; let other. students know that your time is
valuable, but without deterring them from communicating with you.
❑ Leave time in your day to reflect, think, plan and listen.
❑ Make time in your schedule for your hobbies, Interests, activities and relaxation.

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 Summary
This chapter has outlined that:
❑ effective time management will be an important factor in the success of your
studies
❑ time is an irreplaceable resource that requires activities to be planned, scheduled
and organised
❑ a time log is a useful tool to analyse and prioritise have to do, ought to do and like
to do activities, thus enabling decisions to be made about how best to use time
❑ 'peak time' can be scheduled to take advantage of natural body rhythms, which
will improve effectiveness and efficiency
❑ major time wasters, both self-inflicted and external, can be Identified so that their
impact can be minimised
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