time management techniques

During the initial months of graduate school, you feel so excited about the level of your studies.  But as the months roll by, you begin to get discouraged and very much burnt out. Graduate Students many times complain that they have too many things to do but too little time to accomplish them.  How are you going to keep your sanity if you are constantly lacking behing in your course requirements, teaching, researches and the demands of your life?

In order to prevent yourself from being burned out and from being drained from your energy, you  have do something in managing your time, specifically, you will need to record down how you use your time everyday and have a progress report of your goals.    It has been said that time is gold.  Time is one of the most important resources of man.  You need to use it wisely.  When you waste it, it doesn’t come back again.  Make the best of whatever time you have. This is where time management will apply.

Time management do play a essential role for your success in the graduate school.  When you employ sound time management strategies, it does not mean you will be able to slow down or speed up the time.  The success of time management depends on you.  It is really about managing yourself.

Moreover, you will be utilizing proven time management techniques in order to be organized.  If you are not organized, then everything will be in disarray.  It is then necessary to put things in order so as to achieve efficient and effective performance.  And this will motivate you to become more productive and contented.  Time management simply pertains to your responsibilities and the choices you have made in utilizing your time.

We have the following nine time management tips for graduate students.

1.  You will have to have a calendar and school planner.  Put some space where you will include your appointments, lists to do and assignments. Make use of a yearly, monthly, and weekly calendar.

You are required by the graduate school on long term perspective of time. Formulate a plan at least two years ahead with an annual calendar which will be divided into months.

2.  Allocate time in planning and organizing.  Everyday, make it a point to check your calendar, take note of your future assignments, and your lists must be consitently updated.

3.  Divide the tasks and assignments into smaller portions.  It makes it more manageable and easier to tackle.

4.  You should be able to determine your set of goals and the time needed to finish them.  An example for this is when you set deadlines which are realistic for every phase of finishing a large assignment like a term paper.

5.  You would do well to classify your tasks according to priority.  The total picture should be taken into consideration.  You decide which is the most important among your to do items.  Which assignments will be due this week?  Which assignments will take more time and effort to finish?

6.  You must be flexible all the time.  Be mindful that there will always be distractions and interruptions which will hinder your daily schedule. Make room for necessary adjustments of your time.

7.  You should be able to know the time wherein you are most productive.  Discover your biological highs and lows.  Are you at your best in the morning?  Or are you an afternoon person?  Schedule your entire day accordingly.  You must reserve the most challenging task during the time when you are at your best to do something.

8.  Don’t be ashamed to say no to a person if you unable to do it.  It is something that you are honest with him.  There are occasions wherein you will be given extra courses, responsibilities of job, activities which are outside your schedule.  It is important to examine carefully how relevant these things are to you, before you decide to accept them.

9.  The time wasted should be used properly for productive purposes.  Are you aware that you spend so much time  commuting and standing in lines waiting for your turn?

Always bring a pocketbook so as to redeem the time that is usually wasted.  Take with you a minor assignment which could be done easily.   You could also use the time to make some changes in your planner.  With the additional amount of minutes, you are able to do more.

Tagged with:

Filed under: Uncategorized

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!