Time Management Techniques

Time Management

• Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent in specific activities to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity.
• It involves tracking time, setting goals, preparing a task list, making a schedule, and evaluating the plan.

Time Tracking

• Break down your time into at least 30-minute blocks to understand how you spend your time daily.
• Use a simple table or a mobile application like a time tracker app to track your time.
• Repeat the tracking process for a few subsequent days, at least a week, to gain valuable insights.

Task Organization

• Organize tasks by:
  • Priority
  • Due date
  • Estimated time required
  • Start date
  • Steps needed to be taken

Scheduling

• Make a schedule based on your most productive time of day.
• Perform simpler routine tasks during your least productive time.
• Block all lectures and lab times.
• Highlight all exams and project due dates.
• Work backwards from exams and papers.

Study Techniques

• Study in short time blocks (1-2 hours) with 5-minute breaks every half hour or 10-minute breaks every hour.

Evaluating Your Plan

• Evaluate your plan by assessing:
  • Tasks completed
  • Tasks not completed
  • Changes needed to your weekly schedule
  • Persistent time wasters
  • Procrastination issues
• Identify main distractors, such as noise and social media, and develop strategies to overcome them.

Overcoming Distractions

• Use noise-cancelling headphones or study in a quiet place to overcome noise.
• Set aside specific time for using social media and turn off notifications as much as possible.
• Recognize that multi-tasking is a myth, and it leads to "switching cost" and "attention residue".

Productivity Tips

• Keep your workspace organized to avoid wasting time looking for lost information and physical objects.
• Organize files in your computer and use obvious naming conventions.
• Keep your calendar current to avoid missing deadlines.
• Designate a specific place for frequently used items, like glasses and wallet.
• Being organized can add 4-8 hours to your daily productivity.