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 Study
Guide: 10 Tips for Managing Your Time More
Effectively
As an online
student, you’ve already taken a great step
toward effective time management with a study
anytime, anywhere program. Beyond this,
there are literally hundreds of resources, Web
sites and books that provide ideas on how to
manage your time. Here are
those we thought were especially useful to busy
online students, as well as some additional
resources to check out.
- Keep
Lists. In the morning (or even
the night before), write down all you
hope to accomplish that day –
including tasks related to work, home and
school.
- Prioritize.
Arrange your list in the order of
importance, and do the things you
don’t necessarily like doing first
– they are the hardest to do, and
you’ll feel a great sense of
accomplishment once you get it done.
- Allow
for Interruptions.The phone is
going to ring, the kids will fight and
the dog will bark. Remember to factor in
time for interruptions so your to-do list
is realistic, and doable.
- Consider
Your Environment. Believe it or
not, you’ll study more efficiently
if you’re comfortable (but not so
comfortable you fall asleep). If you
can’t stand clutter, pick up before
you start. If you need quiet, find a room
where you can shut the door.
- Know
Thyself. We all have a time of
the day when we’re at our best.
Figure out what yours is, and put that
time to good use. If you find you can
concentrate best at 5 a.m. – get out
of bed early and hit the books then.
- Break
Up Your Day. Break your day into
blocks of time. If you try to study for 5
or 6 hours straight, you’ll probably
get less done than if you studied in
three blocks of 2 hours each.
- Keep
Up. Always keep pace with the
class. Once you get behind, you’ll
easily become overwhelmed.
- Set
Aside Online Time. Especially if
you’re working in a dial-up
environment, it’s important to try
accessing courses and materials at
off-peak hours. This is true of the
university, and your Internet Service
Provider – both of which may impact
the speed in which you are able to
download information. This will vary; so
go online at different hours to determine
which will be most efficient.
- Mobilize.
Use every minute you can, and
carry lecture notes and text books with
you when you get your oil changed, ride
the train to work and have a doctors
appointment, as well as when you travel.
- Balance.
Balance and moderation are the
keys to success, and happiness. In
addition to work and school, be sure to
make time for yourself and your family.
Additional
Resources
For a guide
on getting a handle on how much time you spend
working, playing, studying, eating and sleeping
– check out http://www.gmu.edu/gmu/personal/time.html
from the George Mason University Self-Development
Center.
Take a mini-online seminar from Virginia Tech
on “Time Management Strategies for Improving Academic Performance”
at http://www.ucc.vt.edu/lynch/TimeManagement.htm.
For general
advice on time management and organization, take
a look at http://www.organizetips.com.
They have everything from a wedding planner, to
organizing for seniors, to a variety of time
saving tips.
If
you’re overwhelmed by email – whether
at work or home – you’ll want to review
these tips for effective email time management
from First Step Communications at http://www.firststep.com.au/articles/email-tm.html.
Some titles
you can find online or at your local bookstore
include:
- “Beat
Procrastination and Make the Grade: The
Six Styles of Procrastination and How
Students Can Overcome Them” by Linda
Sapadin.
- “Studying
Smart: Time Management for College
Students” by Diana Scharf-Hunt.
Return to Study
Guides.
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