{"id":56,"date":"2016-01-26T21:39:18","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T21:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/lumencollegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=56"},"modified":"2016-10-12T22:59:17","modified_gmt":"2016-10-12T22:59:17","slug":"your-use-of-time","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/nvrcte-sandbox-collegesuccess\/chapter\/your-use-of-time\/","title":{"raw":"Your Use of Time","rendered":"Your Use of Time"},"content":{"raw":"<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024911\/5219016930_3227ef84e9_z.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-116\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-116\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024911\/5219016930_3227ef84e9_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a whiteboard calendar filled with handwriting\" width=\"699\" height=\"468\" \/><\/a>\r\n<blockquote>Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. \u00a0\u2014William Shakespeare, playwright<\/blockquote>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\nBy the end of this section, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluate\u00a0how\u00a0you currently use your time<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore time management strategies to make\u00a0time for college success activities (studying, going to class, extracurricular activities, etc.)<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify procrastination behaviors and strategies to avoid them<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Uses of Time in Daily Life<\/h2>\r\nAs most students discover, college is not the same as high school. For many students, college is the first time they are \u201con their own\u201d in an environment filled\u00a0with opportunity. And while this\u00a0can be\u00a0exciting, you may find that social opportunities\u00a0conflict with academic expectations. For example, a free day before an exam, if not wisely spent, can spell trouble\u00a0for\u00a0doing well on the exam. It is easy to fall behind when there are so many choices and freedoms.\r\n\r\nOne of the main goals of a college education is learning how to learn. In this section\u00a0we zoom in on learning how to skillfully manage your time. To be successful in college, it\u2019s imperative to be able to effectively manage your time.\r\n\r\nIn the following Alleyoop Advice video, Alleyoop (Angel Aquino) discusses what many students discover about college: there is a lot of free time\u2014and just as many challenges to balance free time with study time.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/xP541bNEvG0\r\n<h2>Three Steps to Good Time Management<\/h2>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024912\/procrastination-dont-let-it-happen-to-you.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-121\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-121\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024912\/procrastination-dont-let-it-happen-to-you.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide. At the top are three circles, labeled Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 (highlighted). Title: Get better at prioritizing. Then three images: one long rectangular one labeled &quot;procrastination,&quot; with a drawing of a person's waist, walking and holding a book. Bottom left: &quot;Don't Let it Happen,&quot; with a drawing of a guy playing video games. Bottom right: &quot;To You,&quot; with a drawing of a person holding his head in his hands, sitting at a desk.\" width=\"500\" height=\"372\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nThere are three important steps in learning to effectively manage your time:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify your time management style<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a schedule<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get better at prioritizing<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn the following\u00a0sections, we'll examine these steps in detail.\r\n<h2>Step 1: Identify Your Time Management Style<\/h2>\r\nClick into the activity below and answer the questions to identify whether your time management style more closely aligns with the early bird, the pressure cooker, the balancing act, or\u00a0the improviser.\r\n\r\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.oppia.org\/explore\/Xz917UfzVVda?iframed=true\" width=\"700\" height=\"900\"><\/iframe><\/center><a href=\".\/identify-your-time-management-style-text-version\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here for a text-only version of the activity.<\/a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3 class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">Assessing Your Responses\r\n<\/span><\/h3>\r\nWhich of the four basic time-management personality types did you select the most? Which did you select the least? Do you feel like these selections match the student you have been in the past? Has your previous way of doing things worked for you, or do you think it's time for a change? Remember, we can all always improve!\r\n\r\nLearn more below about your tendencies. Review traits, strengths, challenges, and tips for success for each of the four time-management personality types.\r\n<h4>The Early Bird<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You like to make checklists and feel great satisfaction when you can cross something off of your to-do list. When it comes to assignments, you want to get started as soon as possible (and maybe start brainstorming before that), because it lets you stay in control.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You know what you want and are driven to figure out how to achieve it. Motivation is never really a problem for you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: Sometimes you can get more caught up in getting things done as quickly as possible and don't give yourself enough time to really mull over issues in all of their complexity.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: You're extremely organized and on top of your schoolwork, so make sure you take time to really enjoy learning in your classes. Remember, school isn't all deadlines and checkboxes\u2014you also have the opportunity to think about big-picture intellectual problems that don't necessarily have clear answers.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>The Balancing Act<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You really know what you're capable of and are ready to do what it takes to get the most out of your classes. Maybe you're naturally gifted in this way or maybe it's a skill that you have developed over time; in any case, you should have the basic organizational skills to succeed in any class, as long as you keep your balance.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: Your strength really lies in your ability to be well rounded. You may not always complete assignments perfectly every time, but you are remarkably consistent and usually manage to do very well in classes.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: Because you're so consistent, sometimes you can get in a bit of a rut and\u00a0begin to coast in class, rather than really challenging yourself.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: Instead of simply doing what works, use each class as an opportunity for growth by engaging thoughtfully with the material and constantly pushing the boundaries of your own expectations for yourself.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>The Pressure Cooker<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You always get things done and almost always at the last minute. Hey, it takes time to really come up with good ideas!<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You work well under pressure, and when you do finally sit down to accomplish a task, you can sit and work for hours. In these times, you can be extremely focused and shut out the rest of the world in order to complete what's needed.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: You sometimes use your ability to work under pressure as an excuse to procrastinate. Sure, you can really focus when the deadline is tomorrow, but is it really the best work you could produce if you had a couple of days of cushion?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: Give yourself small, achievable deadlines, and stick to them. Make sure they're goals that you really could (and would) achieve in a day. Then don't allow yourself to make excuses. You'll find that it's actually a lot more enjoyable to not be stressed out when completing schoolwork. Who would have known?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>The Improviser<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You frequently wait until the last minute to do assignments, but it's because you've been able to get away with this habit in many classes. Sometimes you miss an assignment or two, or have to pretend to have done reading that you haven't, but everyone does that sometimes, right?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You think quickly on your feet, and while this is a true strength, it also can be a crutch that prevents you from being really successful in a class.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: As the saying goes, old habits die hard. If you find that you lack a foundation of discipline and personal accountability, it can be difficult to change, especially when the course material becomes challenging\u00a0or you find yourself struggling to keep up with the pace of the class.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: The good news is you can turn this around! Make a plan to organize your time and materials in a reasonable way, and really stick with it. Also, don't be afraid to ask your instructor for help, but be sure to do it before, rather than after, you fall behind.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Step 2: Create a Schedule<\/h2>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024916\/step-2-create-a-schedule-Calif-CC.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-123\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-123\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024916\/step-2-create-a-schedule-Calif-CC.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide, with three circles labeled Step 1, Step 2 (highlighted), and Step 3 at the top. Title: Create a Schedule. Three panels appear in the middle, labeled &quot;Manage and Implement.&quot; On the left, a close-up drawing of a person writing on a wall calendar; in the middle, the same scene zoomed out to show the larger calendar on the wall, while she still writes on it; final scene, she stands in front of the calendar staring at it.\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nNow that you've evaluated how you have done things in the past, you'll want to think about how you might create a schedule for managing your time well\u00a0going forward. The best schedules have some flexibility built into them, as unexpected situations and circumstances will likely arise during your time as a student.\r\n\r\nYour schedule will be unique to you, depending on the level of detail you find helpful. There are some things\u2014due dates and exam dates, for example\u2014that should be included in your schedule no matter what. But you also might find it helpful to break down assignments into steps (or milestones) that you can schedule, as well.\r\n\r\nAgain, this is all about what works best for you. Do you want to keep a record of only the major deadlines you need to keep in mind? Or does it help you to plan out every day so you stay on track? Your answers to these questions will vary depending on the course, the complexity of your schedule, and your own personal preferences.\r\n\r\nYour schedule will also vary depending on the course you're taking. So pull out your syllabus and try to determine the rhythm of the class by looking at the following factors:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will you have tests or exams in this course? When are those scheduled?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are there assignments and papers? When are those due?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are there any group or collaborative assignments? You'll want to pay particular attention to the timing of any assignment that requires you to work with others.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nYou can find many useful resources online that will help you keep track of your schedule. Some are basic, cloud-based calendars (like Google calendar, iCal, Outlook), and some (like iHomework) are specialized for students.\r\n\r\nWe all have exactly 168 hours per week. How do you spend yours? How much time will you be willing to devote to your studies?\r\n<h3>Questions and Answers About Schedules:<\/h3>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n<strong>Student 1<\/strong>: Do I really need to create a study schedule? I can honestly keep track of all of this in my head.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Yes, you really should create a study schedule. Your instructors may give you reminders about what you need to do when, but if you have multiple classes and other events and activities to fit in, it\u2019s easy to lose track. A study schedule helps you carve out sufficient time\u2014and stick to it.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here is a tool to create a <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/tools\/weekly.html\" target=\"_blank\">printable class study schedule<\/a> to help you plan your time during the week from the California Community Colleges Chancellor\u2019s Office.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.ohio.edu\/studytips\/Time_planning.html\" target=\"_blank\">ways to plan time (semester, week, days)<\/a> from Ohio University\u2019s Academic Advancement Center. Ohio University uses a quarterly system (11 weeks); you may need adapt their\u00a0schedule to reflect your academic\u00a0needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n<strong>Student 2<\/strong>: Realistically, how much time should I spend studying for class?\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: This is a good question and a tough one to answer. Generally speaking, for each hour of class, you should spend a minimum of two to three hours studying. Thus, a typical three-hour class would require a minimum of six to nine hours of studying per week. If you are registered for 15 credits a semester, then you would need to spend 30 to 45 hours each week studying for your classes, which can be as much time needed for a full-time job. \u00a0If you think of college as a \u201cjob,\u201d you will understand that it takes work to succeed.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">One important college success skill is learning how to interact with the course materials. \u00a0Think about learning a sport or playing a game. How do you learn how to play it? With lots of practice and engagement. The more you play, the better you get. The same applies to\u00a0learning. You need to engage with the course material and concentrate on learning.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Access <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.ohio.edu\/studytips\/Time_168hours.html\" target=\"_blank\">The 168-Hour Exercise\u2014How Do I Use My Time Now?<\/a>\u00a0from Ohio University\u2019s Academic Advancement Center. It can help you understand how you use your time now and decide if you need to make changes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n<strong>Student 3<\/strong>: Aside from class time requirements, should I account for anything else as I draw up my schedule?\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: This depends on how detailed you want your schedule to be. Is it a calendar of important dates, or do you need a clear picture of how to organize your entire day? The latter is more successful, so\u00a0long as you stick with it. This is also where it will be helpful to determine when you are most productive and efficient. When are you the most focused and ready to learn new things? In the morning, afternoon, or evening?<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here is a <a href=\"http:\/\/utminers.utep.edu\/omwilliamson\/calculator1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">time management calculator<\/a> for first-year students at the University of Texas El Paso.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n<strong>Student 4<\/strong>: My life and school requirements change on a week-to-week basis. How can I possibly account for this when making a schedule?\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Try creating a variable schedule in case an event comes up or you need to take a day or two off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n<strong>Student 5<\/strong>: I\u2019m beginning to think that scheduling and time management are good ideas, but on the other hand they seem unrealistic. What's wrong with cramming? It's what I'll probably end up doing anyway . . .\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Cramming, or studying immediately before an exam without much other preparation, has many disadvantages. Trying to learn any subject or memorize facts in a brief but intense period of time is basically fruitless. You simply forget what you have learned much faster when you cram. Instead, study in smaller increments on a regular basis: your brain will absorb complex course material in a more profound and lasting way because it's how the\u00a0brain functions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Step 3: Get Better at Prioritizing<\/h2>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024917\/step-3-get-better-at-prioritizing-Calif-CC.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-124\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-124\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024917\/step-3-get-better-at-prioritizing-Calif-CC.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide, with three circles labeled Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 (highlighted) at the top. Title: Get Better at Prioritizing. Four panels in the middle: top left, &quot;Today&quot; shows a hand-drawn calendar with the date of the 3rd circled. Top right: &quot;This Week&quot; shows the same calendar, zoomed out to circle the whole week. Bottom left: &quot;Month&quot; shows the same calendar, zoomed out to circle the month of September. Bottom right: &quot;This Semester&quot; shows the calendar with August, September, October, November, and December circled.\" width=\"501\" height=\"378\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nDue dates are important. Set your short and long-term goals accordingly. Ask yourself the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done today?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done this week?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end the first\u00a0month of the semester?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end the second\u00a0month of the semester?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end of the semester?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nYour time is valuable. Treat it accordingly by getting the most you can out of it.\r\n\r\nAbove all, avoid procrastination. Procrastination is the kiss of death, because it's difficult to catch up once you've fallen behind. Do you have a problem with procrastination? Be on your guard so that it\u00a0doesn't become an issue for you.\r\n<h3>Procrastination Checklist<\/h3>\r\nDo any of the following descriptions apply to you?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>My paper is due in two days and I haven't really started writing it yet.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I've had to pull an all-nighter to get an assignment done on time.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I've turned in an assignment late or asked for an extension when I really didn't have a good excuse not to get it done on time.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I've worked right up to the minute an assignment was due.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I've underestimated how long a reading assignment would take and didn't finish it in time for class.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I've relied on the Internet for information (like a summary of a concept or a book) because I didn't finish the reading on time.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIf these sound like issues you've struggled with in the past, you might want to consider whether you have the tendency to procrastinate and how you want to deal with it in your future classes. You're already spending a lot of time, energy, and money on the classes you're taking\u2014don't let all of that go to waste!\r\n<h3>Strategies to Combat Procrastination<\/h3>\r\nBelow\u00a0are some effective strategies for overcoming procrastination:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your studying \"bite-sized\": When confronted with 150 pages of reading or 50 problems to solve, it's natural to feel overwhelmed. Try breaking it down: What if you decide that you will read for 45 minutes or that you will solve 10 problems? That sounds much more manageable.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn off your phone, close your chat windows, and block distracting Web sites. The best advice we've ever heard is to treat your studying as if you're in a movie theater\u2014just turn it off.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up a reward system: If you read for 40 minutes, you can check your phone for 5 minutes. But keep in mind that reward-based systems only work if you stick to an honor system.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study in a place reserved for studying ONLY. Your bedroom may have too many distractions (or temptations, such as taking a nap), so\u00a0it may be best to avoid it when you're\u00a0working on school assignments.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use checklists: Make your incremental accomplishments visible. Some people take\u00a0great satisfaction and motivation from checking items off a to-do list. Be very specific when creating this list, and clearly describe each task one step at a time.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn the following video, Joseph Clough shares key strategies for conquering procrastination once and for all.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/JjU0GbUDtrk\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Activity: Time Management for College Success<\/h3>\r\n<h4>Objectives<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assess your time management skills.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify strategies that might help you better manage your time.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4>Directions<\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this activity, assess your time management skills by using<a href=\"http:\/\/studytips.admsrv.ohio.edu\/studytips\/?Function=TimeMgt&amp;Type=pretest\" target=\"_blank\"> Ohio University\u2019s self-assessment.<\/a> What are the results of your assessment?<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review the University of Georgia\u2019s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fcs.uga.edu\/ext\/pubs\/time_management.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"> Time Management: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management <\/a>and consider the strategies that might help you manage your time better and improve your time management skills.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflect in writing (750 words) on your current time management skills, and discuss how you might apply new strategies to improve time management in your life.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submit your writing via instructions from your instructor.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\r\nThe two areas most students struggle with when acclimating to college life are studying and time management. These issues arise from trying to manage newfound freedoms in college and from misunderstanding expectations of college classes. Time management is a means to build a solid foundation for college success.\r\n\r\nThe following essay, from <em>Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>, is a true-to-life short story from a former student at State University of New York (SUNY). The advice he shares includes a variety of techniques to help you cope with time-management demands at college. The lessons learned are meant to enlarge your awareness of your academic and personal goals and assist you in succeeding in college.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<h3>Time Is on Your Side<\/h3>\r\nThere I was, having just eaten dinner and realizing that I had less than twenty-four hours to go before my capstone paper was due for my History of Africa class. This paper was the only grade for the class and all I had done was some research. I still had thirty pages that needed to be written! How was I going to get this paper done?\r\n\r\nI came to the realization that I was going to have to skip some classes and work through the night. I kept my roommate up with the click clack of the keyboard and worked through the night with breaks only to replenish the caffeine in my system. Morning came and I still had work to do.\r\n\r\nI contacted my other professors letting them know that something came up and I wouldn\u2019t be in class. Thankfully, I was in good standing in my other classes and could afford to miss one class. I snuck in a twenty minute nap and kept working. I finally finished about thirty minutes before the deadline. Exhausted and not terribly proud of myself, I trudged my way to class to drop off the paper and committed to never working like this again. After all, there was a small likelihood that I would get a decent grade; I was hoping for just a C to keep my GPA respectable. I went back to my room and slept for a long time. Imagine my amazement when I received my grade for the paper (and ultimately the class) and there was an A- staring me back in the face! How could this be possible?\r\n\r\nMy experience illustrates a very important lesson. Best practices do not always yield the best results. Logic would tell us that to manage a thirty-page paper would require the student to spread out all the tasks over the semester and do a little bit of work over a long period of time as opposed to a lot of work over a short period of time. The problem is that time management is a personal thing. Everyone works differently and excels under different circumstances.\r\n\r\nThe important thing to remember about time management is that there is not one method. Everyone must find what works best for her or him. There are some strategies that have been used for years and others that are new. While there are multiple perspectives on how best to set personal and professional goals, there are three general themes that influence the development of personal time management plans: identifying priorities, managing time, and managing energy.\r\n\r\nThe concept of time management is actually personal management. Where you are going or what you are trying to accomplish is more important than how fast you get there. Personal management demands organizing and executing around priorities. One thing to watch out for on your college journey is something called time famine. Time famine is the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. This happens often to college students and without warning. This was certainly the case with my paper. I certainly felt overwhelmed with thirty pages to write and not a lot of time available to write it in. However, there\u2019s one really helpful aspect of time\u2014you always know how much you have in a day. You know that in any given day, you have twenty-four hours to accomplish everything you need to do for that day. With that knowledge in hand it becomes an easy task to make smart choices when planning both the schedule for the day, as well as the energy needed to complete the tasks.\r\n\r\nThe objective of successful time management is to increase and optimize controllable time. Once you have a schedule made, don\u2019t change it unless something of some serious urgency comes up. However, while managing time is challenging enough, there\u2019s another concept out there about the management of your energy. Think of energy as money and time as what you\u2019d like to buy. If you\u2019re too tired (or energy broke) to be productive, it\u2019s hard to accomplish (buy) everything on your schedule. Luckily, at the age of twenty-two, I had lots of energy and stamina to pull an all-nighter and finish the paper. If I tried to do that today at thirty-five, I would be asleep on my keyboard after a few hours. In order to always have enough of time currency, it\u2019s important that you are physically energized, emotionally connected, and mentally focused on your purpose.\r\n\r\nWhile an understanding of these general principles is essential for the development of sound time and energy management strategies, it is also important to focus on practical strategies that can be implemented to improve the college experience. The first recommendation is to know who you are and how you work. In this step, you need to examine all aspects of your current time management skills. Take a look at personal practices such as where you work, how you organize information and course materials, how current and future assignments and projects are prioritized, how commitments are balanced, and lastly, how you prevent burnout. Once you have taken stock in your current practices, you\u2019ll have a better idea of what you need to do to improve.\r\n\r\nEven today, I try to space out large projects and assignments and find that I am not as focused or motivated. I struggle to complete the task and when I do, it never feels like I did it well. However, when I revert back to that practice of waiting until the last minute, I am focused, energized, and motivated and the results have been very positive. In my own doctoral program, I have begun assignments a little too close to the deadlines but they ultimately get completed and I continue to be amazed at the high marks I get back. What does that tell me? It tells me I thrive in high-pressure situations where I have to focus intensely on one thing and stay focused for a long period of time. Is that method for everyone? Certainly not, but it works for some and it may or may not work for you. You must examine your own work habits and practices and look back at times that you have done well and times you have done poorly and identify habits that led to those results.\r\n\r\nThe next strategy is to create a personal time management method to help prioritize projects and activities. Try to identify and eliminate activities that may detract from effectively balancing your roles and responsibilities. In any given day, what are the most important things that need to be completed? What can be eliminated from your schedule that provides you the time you need to be successful? I like to think of this as the \u201cfive-year-old plan.\u201d My five-year-old loves to play in the morning as her Mom and I are getting ready for work. The problem is that we need her to get ready for school, too. We put a plan in place that allows her to play in the morning, only after she is completely ready for school.\r\n\r\nYou need time to play, have fun, and socialize, but it should not come at the expense of higher priority tasks.\r\n\r\nThe next recommendation is to focus on the process of energy management. Create goals focused on physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional renewal. These goals can include, but are not limited to: getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, taking small breaks during work sessions, eating healthy, exercising regularly, drinking lots of water, having a positive attitude, and practicing positive self-talk. Anytime I know I have a big work task or school task to complete, I am in the mindset of energy conversation\u2014my energy. I make sure to get a good night sleep, eat my Wheaties, and think good vibes. These habits allow me to complete projects in a way that works for me.\r\n\r\nLastly, set up a reward system. One of the great things about creating prioritized lists of things that need to be done is the sense of accomplishment when you cross that item off the list. Once you\u2019ve identified your major goals and tasks, identify a reward for each of these goals that provides an even greater sense of accomplishment. The reward should be personal and should encourage you to continue your good habits. What are the things you love to do? Write them down next to the major tasks and learn to practice delayed gratification by only doing those things once you\u2019ve crossed the item off.\r\n\r\nIn conclusion, practical and tangible strategies for time and energy management can be the key to success for any undertaking. While each concept related to time and energy management is unique and provides a starting point for you to begin to develop strong personal management skills, these methods and ideas are not one-size-fits-all, and you need to explore the strategies and discover which components of each best fit your lifestyle and circumstances. Through this exercise, you can develop a personal management plan that is best suited to your needs and goals.\r\n\r\n\u2014Christopher L. Hockey,<em> Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/853","rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024911\/5219016930_3227ef84e9_z.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-116\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-116\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024911\/5219016930_3227ef84e9_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a whiteboard calendar filled with handwriting\" width=\"699\" height=\"468\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. \u00a0\u2014William Shakespeare, playwright<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>By the end of this section, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluate\u00a0how\u00a0you currently use your time<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore time management strategies to make\u00a0time for college success activities (studying, going to class, extracurricular activities, etc.)<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify procrastination behaviors and strategies to avoid them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Uses of Time in Daily Life<\/h2>\n<p>As most students discover, college is not the same as high school. For many students, college is the first time they are \u201con their own\u201d in an environment filled\u00a0with opportunity. And while this\u00a0can be\u00a0exciting, you may find that social opportunities\u00a0conflict with academic expectations. For example, a free day before an exam, if not wisely spent, can spell trouble\u00a0for\u00a0doing well on the exam. It is easy to fall behind when there are so many choices and freedoms.<\/p>\n<p>One of the main goals of a college education is learning how to learn. In this section\u00a0we zoom in on learning how to skillfully manage your time. To be successful in college, it\u2019s imperative to be able to effectively manage your time.<\/p>\n<p>In the following Alleyoop Advice video, Alleyoop (Angel Aquino) discusses what many students discover about college: there is a lot of free time\u2014and just as many challenges to balance free time with study time.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Alleyoop Advice: Time Management in College\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xP541bNEvG0?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Three Steps to Good Time Management<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024912\/procrastination-dont-let-it-happen-to-you.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-121\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-121\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024912\/procrastination-dont-let-it-happen-to-you.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide. At the top are three circles, labeled Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 (highlighted). Title: Get better at prioritizing. Then three images: one long rectangular one labeled &quot;procrastination,&quot; with a drawing of a person's waist, walking and holding a book. Bottom left: &quot;Don't Let it Happen,&quot; with a drawing of a guy playing video games. Bottom right: &quot;To You,&quot; with a drawing of a person holding his head in his hands, sitting at a desk.\" width=\"500\" height=\"372\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are three important steps in learning to effectively manage your time:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify your time management style<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a schedule<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get better at prioritizing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In the following\u00a0sections, we&#8217;ll examine these steps in detail.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 1: Identify Your Time Management Style<\/h2>\n<p>Click into the activity below and answer the questions to identify whether your time management style more closely aligns with the early bird, the pressure cooker, the balancing act, or\u00a0the improviser.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oppia.org\/explore\/Xz917UfzVVda?iframed=true\" width=\"700\" height=\"900\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><a href=\".\/identify-your-time-management-style-text-version\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click here for a text-only version of the activity.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">Assessing Your Responses<br \/>\n<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Which of the four basic time-management personality types did you select the most? Which did you select the least? Do you feel like these selections match the student you have been in the past? Has your previous way of doing things worked for you, or do you think it&#8217;s time for a change? Remember, we can all always improve!<\/p>\n<p>Learn more below about your tendencies. Review traits, strengths, challenges, and tips for success for each of the four time-management personality types.<\/p>\n<h4>The Early Bird<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You like to make checklists and feel great satisfaction when you can cross something off of your to-do list. When it comes to assignments, you want to get started as soon as possible (and maybe start brainstorming before that), because it lets you stay in control.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You know what you want and are driven to figure out how to achieve it. Motivation is never really a problem for you.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: Sometimes you can get more caught up in getting things done as quickly as possible and don&#8217;t give yourself enough time to really mull over issues in all of their complexity.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: You&#8217;re extremely organized and on top of your schoolwork, so make sure you take time to really enjoy learning in your classes. Remember, school isn&#8217;t all deadlines and checkboxes\u2014you also have the opportunity to think about big-picture intellectual problems that don&#8217;t necessarily have clear answers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>The Balancing Act<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You really know what you&#8217;re capable of and are ready to do what it takes to get the most out of your classes. Maybe you&#8217;re naturally gifted in this way or maybe it&#8217;s a skill that you have developed over time; in any case, you should have the basic organizational skills to succeed in any class, as long as you keep your balance.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: Your strength really lies in your ability to be well rounded. You may not always complete assignments perfectly every time, but you are remarkably consistent and usually manage to do very well in classes.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: Because you&#8217;re so consistent, sometimes you can get in a bit of a rut and\u00a0begin to coast in class, rather than really challenging yourself.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: Instead of simply doing what works, use each class as an opportunity for growth by engaging thoughtfully with the material and constantly pushing the boundaries of your own expectations for yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>The Pressure Cooker<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You always get things done and almost always at the last minute. Hey, it takes time to really come up with good ideas!<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You work well under pressure, and when you do finally sit down to accomplish a task, you can sit and work for hours. In these times, you can be extremely focused and shut out the rest of the world in order to complete what&#8217;s needed.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: You sometimes use your ability to work under pressure as an excuse to procrastinate. Sure, you can really focus when the deadline is tomorrow, but is it really the best work you could produce if you had a couple of days of cushion?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: Give yourself small, achievable deadlines, and stick to them. Make sure they&#8217;re goals that you really could (and would) achieve in a day. Then don&#8217;t allow yourself to make excuses. You&#8217;ll find that it&#8217;s actually a lot more enjoyable to not be stressed out when completing schoolwork. Who would have known?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>The Improviser<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Traits<\/strong>: You frequently wait until the last minute to do assignments, but it&#8217;s because you&#8217;ve been able to get away with this habit in many classes. Sometimes you miss an assignment or two, or have to pretend to have done reading that you haven&#8217;t, but everyone does that sometimes, right?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Strengths<\/strong>: You think quickly on your feet, and while this is a true strength, it also can be a crutch that prevents you from being really successful in a class.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: As the saying goes, old habits die hard. If you find that you lack a foundation of discipline and personal accountability, it can be difficult to change, especially when the course material becomes challenging\u00a0or you find yourself struggling to keep up with the pace of the class.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tips for Success<\/strong>: The good news is you can turn this around! Make a plan to organize your time and materials in a reasonable way, and really stick with it. Also, don&#8217;t be afraid to ask your instructor for help, but be sure to do it before, rather than after, you fall behind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Step 2: Create a Schedule<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024916\/step-2-create-a-schedule-Calif-CC.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-123\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-123\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024916\/step-2-create-a-schedule-Calif-CC.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide, with three circles labeled Step 1, Step 2 (highlighted), and Step 3 at the top. Title: Create a Schedule. Three panels appear in the middle, labeled &quot;Manage and Implement.&quot; On the left, a close-up drawing of a person writing on a wall calendar; in the middle, the same scene zoomed out to show the larger calendar on the wall, while she still writes on it; final scene, she stands in front of the calendar staring at it.\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now that you&#8217;ve evaluated how you have done things in the past, you&#8217;ll want to think about how you might create a schedule for managing your time well\u00a0going forward. The best schedules have some flexibility built into them, as unexpected situations and circumstances will likely arise during your time as a student.<\/p>\n<p>Your schedule will be unique to you, depending on the level of detail you find helpful. There are some things\u2014due dates and exam dates, for example\u2014that should be included in your schedule no matter what. But you also might find it helpful to break down assignments into steps (or milestones) that you can schedule, as well.<\/p>\n<p>Again, this is all about what works best for you. Do you want to keep a record of only the major deadlines you need to keep in mind? Or does it help you to plan out every day so you stay on track? Your answers to these questions will vary depending on the course, the complexity of your schedule, and your own personal preferences.<\/p>\n<p>Your schedule will also vary depending on the course you&#8217;re taking. So pull out your syllabus and try to determine the rhythm of the class by looking at the following factors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will you have tests or exams in this course? When are those scheduled?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are there assignments and papers? When are those due?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are there any group or collaborative assignments? You&#8217;ll want to pay particular attention to the timing of any assignment that requires you to work with others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can find many useful resources online that will help you keep track of your schedule. Some are basic, cloud-based calendars (like Google calendar, iCal, Outlook), and some (like iHomework) are specialized for students.<\/p>\n<p>We all have exactly 168 hours per week. How do you spend yours? How much time will you be willing to devote to your studies?<\/p>\n<h3>Questions and Answers About Schedules:<\/h3>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p><strong>Student 1<\/strong>: Do I really need to create a study schedule? I can honestly keep track of all of this in my head.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Yes, you really should create a study schedule. Your instructors may give you reminders about what you need to do when, but if you have multiple classes and other events and activities to fit in, it\u2019s easy to lose track. A study schedule helps you carve out sufficient time\u2014and stick to it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here is a tool to create a <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/tools\/weekly.html\" target=\"_blank\">printable class study schedule<\/a> to help you plan your time during the week from the California Community Colleges Chancellor\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.ohio.edu\/studytips\/Time_planning.html\" target=\"_blank\">ways to plan time (semester, week, days)<\/a> from Ohio University\u2019s Academic Advancement Center. Ohio University uses a quarterly system (11 weeks); you may need adapt their\u00a0schedule to reflect your academic\u00a0needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p><strong>Student 2<\/strong>: Realistically, how much time should I spend studying for class?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: This is a good question and a tough one to answer. Generally speaking, for each hour of class, you should spend a minimum of two to three hours studying. Thus, a typical three-hour class would require a minimum of six to nine hours of studying per week. If you are registered for 15 credits a semester, then you would need to spend 30 to 45 hours each week studying for your classes, which can be as much time needed for a full-time job. \u00a0If you think of college as a \u201cjob,\u201d you will understand that it takes work to succeed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">One important college success skill is learning how to interact with the course materials. \u00a0Think about learning a sport or playing a game. How do you learn how to play it? With lots of practice and engagement. The more you play, the better you get. The same applies to\u00a0learning. You need to engage with the course material and concentrate on learning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Access <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.ohio.edu\/studytips\/Time_168hours.html\" target=\"_blank\">The 168-Hour Exercise\u2014How Do I Use My Time Now?<\/a>\u00a0from Ohio University\u2019s Academic Advancement Center. It can help you understand how you use your time now and decide if you need to make changes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p><strong>Student 3<\/strong>: Aside from class time requirements, should I account for anything else as I draw up my schedule?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: This depends on how detailed you want your schedule to be. Is it a calendar of important dates, or do you need a clear picture of how to organize your entire day? The latter is more successful, so\u00a0long as you stick with it. This is also where it will be helpful to determine when you are most productive and efficient. When are you the most focused and ready to learn new things? In the morning, afternoon, or evening?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Here is a <a href=\"http:\/\/utminers.utep.edu\/omwilliamson\/calculator1.htm\" target=\"_blank\">time management calculator<\/a> for first-year students at the University of Texas El Paso.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p><strong>Student 4<\/strong>: My life and school requirements change on a week-to-week basis. How can I possibly account for this when making a schedule?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Try creating a variable schedule in case an event comes up or you need to take a day or two off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p><strong>Student 5<\/strong>: I\u2019m beginning to think that scheduling and time management are good ideas, but on the other hand they seem unrealistic. What&#8217;s wrong with cramming? It&#8217;s what I&#8217;ll probably end up doing anyway . . .<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Answer<\/strong>: Cramming, or studying immediately before an exam without much other preparation, has many disadvantages. Trying to learn any subject or memorize facts in a brief but intense period of time is basically fruitless. You simply forget what you have learned much faster when you cram. Instead, study in smaller increments on a regular basis: your brain will absorb complex course material in a more profound and lasting way because it&#8217;s how the\u00a0brain functions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Step 3: Get Better at Prioritizing<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024917\/step-3-get-better-at-prioritizing-Calif-CC.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-124\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-124\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/01\/02024917\/step-3-get-better-at-prioritizing-Calif-CC.gif\" alt=\"Powerpoint slide, with three circles labeled Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 (highlighted) at the top. Title: Get Better at Prioritizing. Four panels in the middle: top left, &quot;Today&quot; shows a hand-drawn calendar with the date of the 3rd circled. Top right: &quot;This Week&quot; shows the same calendar, zoomed out to circle the whole week. Bottom left: &quot;Month&quot; shows the same calendar, zoomed out to circle the month of September. Bottom right: &quot;This Semester&quot; shows the calendar with August, September, October, November, and December circled.\" width=\"501\" height=\"378\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Due dates are important. Set your short and long-term goals accordingly. Ask yourself the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done today?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done this week?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end the first\u00a0month of the semester?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end the second\u00a0month of the semester?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What needs to get done by the end of the semester?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your time is valuable. Treat it accordingly by getting the most you can out of it.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, avoid procrastination. Procrastination is the kiss of death, because it&#8217;s difficult to catch up once you&#8217;ve fallen behind. Do you have a problem with procrastination? Be on your guard so that it\u00a0doesn&#8217;t become an issue for you.<\/p>\n<h3>Procrastination Checklist<\/h3>\n<p>Do any of the following descriptions apply to you?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My paper is due in two days and I haven&#8217;t really started writing it yet.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve had to pull an all-nighter to get an assignment done on time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve turned in an assignment late or asked for an extension when I really didn&#8217;t have a good excuse not to get it done on time.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve worked right up to the minute an assignment was due.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve underestimated how long a reading assignment would take and didn&#8217;t finish it in time for class.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve relied on the Internet for information (like a summary of a concept or a book) because I didn&#8217;t finish the reading on time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If these sound like issues you&#8217;ve struggled with in the past, you might want to consider whether you have the tendency to procrastinate and how you want to deal with it in your future classes. You&#8217;re already spending a lot of time, energy, and money on the classes you&#8217;re taking\u2014don&#8217;t let all of that go to waste!<\/p>\n<h3>Strategies to Combat Procrastination<\/h3>\n<p>Below\u00a0are some effective strategies for overcoming procrastination:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your studying &#8220;bite-sized&#8221;: When confronted with 150 pages of reading or 50 problems to solve, it&#8217;s natural to feel overwhelmed. Try breaking it down: What if you decide that you will read for 45 minutes or that you will solve 10 problems? That sounds much more manageable.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn off your phone, close your chat windows, and block distracting Web sites. The best advice we&#8217;ve ever heard is to treat your studying as if you&#8217;re in a movie theater\u2014just turn it off.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set up a reward system: If you read for 40 minutes, you can check your phone for 5 minutes. But keep in mind that reward-based systems only work if you stick to an honor system.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study in a place reserved for studying ONLY. Your bedroom may have too many distractions (or temptations, such as taking a nap), so\u00a0it may be best to avoid it when you&#8217;re\u00a0working on school assignments.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use checklists: Make your incremental accomplishments visible. Some people take\u00a0great satisfaction and motivation from checking items off a to-do list. Be very specific when creating this list, and clearly describe each task one step at a time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In the following video, Joseph Clough shares key strategies for conquering procrastination once and for all.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-2\" title=\"Overcome Procrastination For Good!\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JjU0GbUDtrk?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Activity: Time Management for College Success<\/h3>\n<h4>Objectives<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Assess your time management skills.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Identify strategies that might help you better manage your time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Directions<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this activity, assess your time management skills by using<a href=\"http:\/\/studytips.admsrv.ohio.edu\/studytips\/?Function=TimeMgt&amp;Type=pretest\" target=\"_blank\"> Ohio University\u2019s self-assessment.<\/a> What are the results of your assessment?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review the University of Georgia\u2019s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fcs.uga.edu\/ext\/pubs\/time_management.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"> Time Management: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management <\/a>and consider the strategies that might help you manage your time better and improve your time management skills.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflect in writing (750 words) on your current time management skills, and discuss how you might apply new strategies to improve time management in your life.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submit your writing via instructions from your instructor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<p>The two areas most students struggle with when acclimating to college life are studying and time management. These issues arise from trying to manage newfound freedoms in college and from misunderstanding expectations of college classes. Time management is a means to build a solid foundation for college success.<\/p>\n<p>The following essay, from <em>Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em>, is a true-to-life short story from a former student at State University of New York (SUNY). The advice he shares includes a variety of techniques to help you cope with time-management demands at college. The lessons learned are meant to enlarge your awareness of your academic and personal goals and assist you in succeeding in college.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<h3>Time Is on Your Side<\/h3>\n<p>There I was, having just eaten dinner and realizing that I had less than twenty-four hours to go before my capstone paper was due for my History of Africa class. This paper was the only grade for the class and all I had done was some research. I still had thirty pages that needed to be written! How was I going to get this paper done?<\/p>\n<p>I came to the realization that I was going to have to skip some classes and work through the night. I kept my roommate up with the click clack of the keyboard and worked through the night with breaks only to replenish the caffeine in my system. Morning came and I still had work to do.<\/p>\n<p>I contacted my other professors letting them know that something came up and I wouldn\u2019t be in class. Thankfully, I was in good standing in my other classes and could afford to miss one class. I snuck in a twenty minute nap and kept working. I finally finished about thirty minutes before the deadline. Exhausted and not terribly proud of myself, I trudged my way to class to drop off the paper and committed to never working like this again. After all, there was a small likelihood that I would get a decent grade; I was hoping for just a C to keep my GPA respectable. I went back to my room and slept for a long time. Imagine my amazement when I received my grade for the paper (and ultimately the class) and there was an A- staring me back in the face! How could this be possible?<\/p>\n<p>My experience illustrates a very important lesson. Best practices do not always yield the best results. Logic would tell us that to manage a thirty-page paper would require the student to spread out all the tasks over the semester and do a little bit of work over a long period of time as opposed to a lot of work over a short period of time. The problem is that time management is a personal thing. Everyone works differently and excels under different circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>The important thing to remember about time management is that there is not one method. Everyone must find what works best for her or him. There are some strategies that have been used for years and others that are new. While there are multiple perspectives on how best to set personal and professional goals, there are three general themes that influence the development of personal time management plans: identifying priorities, managing time, and managing energy.<\/p>\n<p>The concept of time management is actually personal management. Where you are going or what you are trying to accomplish is more important than how fast you get there. Personal management demands organizing and executing around priorities. One thing to watch out for on your college journey is something called time famine. Time famine is the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. This happens often to college students and without warning. This was certainly the case with my paper. I certainly felt overwhelmed with thirty pages to write and not a lot of time available to write it in. However, there\u2019s one really helpful aspect of time\u2014you always know how much you have in a day. You know that in any given day, you have twenty-four hours to accomplish everything you need to do for that day. With that knowledge in hand it becomes an easy task to make smart choices when planning both the schedule for the day, as well as the energy needed to complete the tasks.<\/p>\n<p>The objective of successful time management is to increase and optimize controllable time. Once you have a schedule made, don\u2019t change it unless something of some serious urgency comes up. However, while managing time is challenging enough, there\u2019s another concept out there about the management of your energy. Think of energy as money and time as what you\u2019d like to buy. If you\u2019re too tired (or energy broke) to be productive, it\u2019s hard to accomplish (buy) everything on your schedule. Luckily, at the age of twenty-two, I had lots of energy and stamina to pull an all-nighter and finish the paper. If I tried to do that today at thirty-five, I would be asleep on my keyboard after a few hours. In order to always have enough of time currency, it\u2019s important that you are physically energized, emotionally connected, and mentally focused on your purpose.<\/p>\n<p>While an understanding of these general principles is essential for the development of sound time and energy management strategies, it is also important to focus on practical strategies that can be implemented to improve the college experience. The first recommendation is to know who you are and how you work. In this step, you need to examine all aspects of your current time management skills. Take a look at personal practices such as where you work, how you organize information and course materials, how current and future assignments and projects are prioritized, how commitments are balanced, and lastly, how you prevent burnout. Once you have taken stock in your current practices, you\u2019ll have a better idea of what you need to do to improve.<\/p>\n<p>Even today, I try to space out large projects and assignments and find that I am not as focused or motivated. I struggle to complete the task and when I do, it never feels like I did it well. However, when I revert back to that practice of waiting until the last minute, I am focused, energized, and motivated and the results have been very positive. In my own doctoral program, I have begun assignments a little too close to the deadlines but they ultimately get completed and I continue to be amazed at the high marks I get back. What does that tell me? It tells me I thrive in high-pressure situations where I have to focus intensely on one thing and stay focused for a long period of time. Is that method for everyone? Certainly not, but it works for some and it may or may not work for you. You must examine your own work habits and practices and look back at times that you have done well and times you have done poorly and identify habits that led to those results.<\/p>\n<p>The next strategy is to create a personal time management method to help prioritize projects and activities. Try to identify and eliminate activities that may detract from effectively balancing your roles and responsibilities. In any given day, what are the most important things that need to be completed? What can be eliminated from your schedule that provides you the time you need to be successful? I like to think of this as the \u201cfive-year-old plan.\u201d My five-year-old loves to play in the morning as her Mom and I are getting ready for work. The problem is that we need her to get ready for school, too. We put a plan in place that allows her to play in the morning, only after she is completely ready for school.<\/p>\n<p>You need time to play, have fun, and socialize, but it should not come at the expense of higher priority tasks.<\/p>\n<p>The next recommendation is to focus on the process of energy management. Create goals focused on physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional renewal. These goals can include, but are not limited to: getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, taking small breaks during work sessions, eating healthy, exercising regularly, drinking lots of water, having a positive attitude, and practicing positive self-talk. Anytime I know I have a big work task or school task to complete, I am in the mindset of energy conversation\u2014my energy. I make sure to get a good night sleep, eat my Wheaties, and think good vibes. These habits allow me to complete projects in a way that works for me.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, set up a reward system. One of the great things about creating prioritized lists of things that need to be done is the sense of accomplishment when you cross that item off the list. Once you\u2019ve identified your major goals and tasks, identify a reward for each of these goals that provides an even greater sense of accomplishment. The reward should be personal and should encourage you to continue your good habits. What are the things you love to do? Write them down next to the major tasks and learn to practice delayed gratification by only doing those things once you\u2019ve crossed the item off.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, practical and tangible strategies for time and energy management can be the key to success for any undertaking. While each concept related to time and energy management is unique and provides a starting point for you to begin to develop strong personal management skills, these methods and ideas are not one-size-fits-all, and you need to explore the strategies and discover which components of each best fit your lifestyle and circumstances. Through this exercise, you can develop a personal management plan that is best suited to your needs and goals.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014Christopher L. Hockey,<em> Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"lumen_assessment_853\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/load?assessment_id=853&#38;embed=1&#38;external_user_id=&#38;external_context_id=&#38;iframe_resize_id=lumen_assessment_853\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:400px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-56\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Your Use of Time. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Linda Bruce. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Image of whiteboard calendar. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Sadie Hernandez. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/8XbPUw\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/8XbPUw<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Introduction to Time Management for Success. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Ronda Dorsey Neugebauer. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Chadron State College. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Overcome Procrastination For Good!. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Joseph Clough. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/JjU0GbUDtrk\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/JjU0GbUDtrk<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Online Study Skills and Managing Time. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/04-Online-Study-Skills-and-Managing-Time\/index.html\">https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/04-Online-Study-Skills-and-Managing-Time\/index.html<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Foundations of College Success: Words of Wisdom. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Thomas C. Priester, editor. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Open SUNY Textbooks. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/textbooks.opensuny.org\/foundations-of-academic-success\/\">http:\/\/textbooks.opensuny.org\/foundations-of-academic-success\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">All rights reserved content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Alleyoop Advice: Time Management for College. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Alleyoop. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/xP541bNEvG0\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/xP541bNEvG0<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube License<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":401,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of whiteboard calendar\",\"author\":\"Sadie Hernandez\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/8XbPUw\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Introduction to Time Management for Success\",\"author\":\"Ronda Dorsey Neugebauer\",\"organization\":\"Chadron State College\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"Alleyoop Advice: Time Management for College\",\"author\":\"Alleyoop\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/xP541bNEvG0\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"arr\",\"license_terms\":\"Standard YouTube License\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Overcome Procrastination For Good!\",\"author\":\"Joseph Clough\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/JjU0GbUDtrk\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Online Study Skills and Managing Time\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/04-Online-Study-Skills-and-Managing-Time\/index.html\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Your Use of Time\",\"author\":\"Linda Bruce\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Foundations of College Success: Words of Wisdom\",\"author\":\"Thomas C. 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