Time Strategies

I go back and forth throughout the semesters on being really good at time management and then really really bad.  I don't have a ton of work to do this week, so I have made myself a schedule for next week that hopefully helps me get into a good rhythm.  Below is a picture of the basics of my things to do for next week.  I'm actually really excited about this semester's schedule, because it really fits my study style.  All of my classes that have in-class lecture are stacked on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This leaves five days a week open for my job and for school stuff, such as studying, readings, homework, and projects.  This is fantastic for me, because once I get started on something, I like to finish it before I move on to something else.  With this schedule, I get to work on an assignment until it's done, without worrying about stopping in the middle to make it to my next class.

Image information: My Schedule for Week 2

Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination

I read this article by Peter Banerjea and couldn't help but reminded of my procrastination tendencies.  The biggest point he made that I related to was "What One Thing Can I Do to Get Started?"  Where do I begin is what I ask myself all the time.  Especially if I've fallen behind in a class or missed a lecture after being sick.  Sometimes the big picture is so big that we can't figure out how to start.  Banerjea talks about breaking up an assignment into chunks and seeing what you can do now.  This is so useful, especially when faced with a massive work load.  Just focus on what you can do and worry about the small steps that lead to the big picture.

The Psychology of Checklists: Why Setting Small Goals Motivates Us to Accomplish Bigger Things

This article by Lauren Marchese was really interesting to me.  If you couldn't tell by the schedule I made myself, I tend to be pretty Type A.  Her article talks about making checklists and to-do lists to help you make small goals and I may have started drooling each time she mentioned different ways to make a list of small goals.  Occasionally, I have a pretty rough time handling major projects because my mind zeroes in on how massive and difficult it is.  Over the years, I've learned that I really do need to make my lists of small goals that lead up to the big one.  Those small wins help me stay positive and on task.  Also, the Type A in me loves how organized and beautifully I make those checklists and calendars.  You can bet your little tushie that each of my classes and activities has a set color and is used consistently throughout all calendars and notes.  Honestly, though, small goals are the saving grace of my life.  They are what keep me going when I feel like I am really struggling in a class. During finals study time, just making my study schedule is listed as a goal on my to-do list.