Get Control of Your Time
and Yourself
Index
Information
Advice
Internet Links
Books & Media
CSULB Referrals
Other
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.)
| Time |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thurs |
Friday |
Sat |
Sun |
| 8am |
Eng100 |
Study |
Eng100 |
Study |
Eng100 |
|
|
| 9am |
Plan |
Study |
Study |
Study |
Study |
|
|
| 10am |
Math110 |
Study |
Math110 |
Study |
Math110 |
|
|
| 11am |
Study |
Hist172 |
Study |
Hist172 |
Study |
|
|
| 12 |
Eat |
Hist172 |
Eat |
Hist172 |
EAt |
|
|
| 1pm |
Psy100 |
Eat |
Psy100 |
Eat |
Psy100 |
|
|
| 2pm |
EdP191 |
drive |
EdP191 |
drive |
EdP191 |
|
|
| 3pm |
Study |
work |
Study |
work |
Study |
|
|
| 4pm |
Study |
work |
Study |
work |
Study |
|
|
| 5pm |
workout |
work |
workout |
work |
workout |
|
Study |
| 6pm |
drive |
work |
drive |
work |
free |
|
Study |
| 7pm |
eat |
work |
eat/free |
work |
free |
|
Study |
| 8pm |
free |
work |
free |
work |
free |
|
Study |
| 9pm |
free |
work |
free |
work |
etc |
|
|
| 10pm |
windown |
windown |
windown |
windown |
|
|
|
*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.
| Date |
Psych 100 |
Math 110 |
History 172 |
English 100 |
| Mon Oct 10 |
Read Ch-3 |
Ch-6 |
test review |
|
| Tue Oct 11 |
|
|
test review |
Ch-3 |
| Wed Oct 12 |
|
Ch-7 |
Exam # 1 |
|
| Thur Oct 13 |
Read Ch-4 |
|
|
Write essay |
| Fri Oct 14 |
|
Ch-8 |
|
|
| Sat Oct 15 |
Test review |
Test review |
|
|
| Sun Oct 16 |
Test review |
Test review |
|
|
| Mon Oct 17 |
Exam #1 |
Exam #1 |
|
Essay due |
| Tue Oct 18 |
|
|
Ch-6 |
|
| etc. |
etc |
etc |
etc |
etc |
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.
Return
to Index
INTERNET
LINKS
Time
Management and Scheduling for College Students
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 Scheduling Tips for Students
University of Texas Learning Center
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/
*** TIME SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS
From Virginia Tech University
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/htimesug.html
Time management
http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/tm/time.htm
Time management
http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/time_man_princ.html
Also, click
here to go to the page on Procrastination.
Return
to Index
BOOKS
& MEDIA
***Alan Lakein, How to Get Control of Your Time
and Your LIfe.
GO TO: book_sites.htm
Return
to Index
CSULB
REFERRALS
CSULB
Student Services
CSULB
Learning Assistance Center
The LAC provides a variety of services to help students succeed in
their classes including workshops, individual study skills help, self-help
materials, tutoring referrals, supplementary instruction referrals, and more. Library East Room 12; (562) 985-5350;
csulblac@csulb.edu.
Counseling and
Psychological Services (CAPS)
CSULB students can obtain free counseling from licensed psychologists for almost
any type of personal problem including relationships and family problems;
stress, anxiety, depression, anger, grief; academic-related concerns; career
decision-making; crises; and almost any type of self-development issue. We
offer individual and group counseling, workshops, and self-help materials
including this web site. Brotman Hall, Room 226; 562-985-4001; web site: www.csulb.edu/~caps
Other student services and
student organizations may also be helpful
Go to CSULB student information page for a comprehensive list of student services and activities
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