RESOURCES AT JOHN JAY

We all know that feeling of not having enough hours in the day, especially when a big project is due, or when your alarm seems to go off way too early because you stayed up half the night working on a major assignment. During college it is especially important to manage your time wisely since competing responsibilities can pull you in many different directions. The good news is that time management is a skill that can be developed.

Where does the time go?
The more aware you are of how you spend your time, the less likely that time will get away from you. The exercise that follows asks you to estimate your time spent on various activities so you can see where the time goes. A summary of time management tips is available at any time.

What is your Time management style?

Managing your time well is a good habit just as procrastination is a bad habit. Time management is a skill that can be developed, and with practice it becomes automatic. Do you manage your time effectively? Use our self-assessment tool to find out.

Sample Weekly Schedule

Good time management is a habit. It will come more easily with practice, so make yourself stick to your schedule even when you don’t feel like it. When you make a schedule:

1. Record fixed events like your classes, work schedule, and regular practices for athletic teams. (These are shaded in the sample schedule.)
2. Fill in other things you need to do like eat, study, and exercise. Remember:

• Treat your study time as a scheduled time commitment. Plan on studying two to three hours per week for every hour spent in lecture.
• Include due dates for tests and major assignments. (These are in red on the schedule.)
• Schedule time before class to look over your notes or reading for that class.
• Regular exercise adds balance to your life and will help keep you physically and mentally healthy. Exercise will help you manage stress, feel better, study better, and sleep better.

3. Plan errands and social activities around the empty slots in your schedule. You need time for fun and relaxation for a balanced life, to reduce stress, and to reward yourself for keeping up with your schedule. You can combine some of your socializing with other activities such as mealtimes or workouts. Working out with a friend can be fun and can add variety to your routine.

Here is a blank schedule for you to fill in. Print this form out and practice prioritizing tasks and activities for the week. If you prefer to keep an electronic schedule, one should be available on your phone, other handheld device, eReader, or email program.