3 steps to improve time management skills

 

It’s time to take control. Research suggests that when “we manage our time more effectively and efficiently, we reduce stress and frustration, become more confident, and we feel better.” Sounds good to me!

Gone are the days when the only homework you do after school is “what’s due tomorrow.” Like it or not, generally being time efficient and organised will help you at school and that means creating an afternoon routine, and doing a set amount of work each night. You want to space out the work you need to do so you avoid cramming because Year 11 and 12 is stressful enough.

Thankfully it can be quite easy to improve the way you manage your time. Don’t let the work build-up, stay on top of it and minimise the feeling of being overwhelmed. Read on to discover 3 steps to improve time management skills.

 

3 steps to help improve time management skills:

 

     1.   Develop your afternoon routine:

            • De-clutter your work space.

            • Consider what you need to do: review your homework, assignments, study, oraganisation and exam preparation.

            • Consider your time frame for each afternoon: factor in dinner, relaxation, exercise and going to bed at a reasonable hour.

 

     2.   Prioritise your work accordingly: There are different techniques you might want to try to help prioritise your work. They all

           start with writing down ABSOLUTELY everything you need to do and then…

 

            •  TO DO: Highlight the most urgent tasks.

            •  RULE OF THREE technique: Circle the top 3 tasks and order them 1, 2, 3 and then finish number 1 before you move on to 2

               and 3.

            •  The CULL TECHNIQUE requires you to categorise all the items on your list as either C: Critical; U: Urgent; L: Later; L: Lose it.

                Focus on completing all the C & U items and then reassess your L & L.

            •  Write either ROCK, PEBBLE or SAND next to each item on your list. The big tasks are the ROCKS, the PEBBLES are the

                smaller tasks and the fiddly things is the SAND. If you complete the ROCKS you’ll easily find time for the PEBBLES and

                SAND.  

            •  Allocate the numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 to all your tasks and categorise into these QUADRANTS. Complete the tasks in Quadrant 1

                first - these are the most important and urgent!

 

     3.   Ask yourself some questions to help with taking responsibility for your schedule: What is due tomorrow? What work should

           I complete tonight? What work would be great to get done? What can be postponed? What do I need to focus on? Which

           tasks will I learn from most? Which tasks can be postponed to another day without consequences? Which tasks are worrying

           me the most?  

 

Essentially we advise that you take control of your time to ultimately become more effective, efficient, confident and in control.

 

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