Time Management

Time Management: Not more time, but better use of available time.

The basic building block for a college student is the school week. On Saturday or Sunday, plan for your upcoming week.

Planning Sequence:

• "X-out" fixed commitments (classes, work, travel, or time you've promised to someone or something else).

• Identify (a) your single most important, have-to-get-it-done goal for the week, and (b) when you must have it ready.

• Estimate how many total hours it will take to prepare for that goal. (Do not plan in increments smaller than 1 hour.)

• Subdivide the total hours from step 3 into 1 and 2 hour blocks and fit them between your fixed commitments.

• Repeat steps 2-4 for second priority, third priority, fourth priority and fifth priority goals.

• DO IT (follow the schedule you planned in steps 1-5)!!! If something unexpected happens during that week, simply adjust your plan to adapt to the unforeseen time demand.

Rules:

• Allow at least 1 hour each day for you to do something you enjoy.

• In an hour of study, reading or writing, work hard for 50 minutes and break for 10 minutes.

• Never study/work on the same course for more than 2 hours in a row.

Contact Information
Georgia College & State University
Center for Student Success
Campus Box 115
Phone: (478) 445-2361

"College Freshmen Ought to Know: about time management. Students who organize their time and stick to a schedule normally do better than those that don't. There are a wide variety of time management approaches from which to choose. You may need to change the form you used in high school to operate effectively in college. Be prepared!"

Disbro, William. 100 Things Every College Freshman Ought to Know, The Cambridge Stratford Study Skills Institute: Williamsville, NY, 2007.