Improve Your Time Mangement - Create More Balance in Your Day
Budget your time as you would your money.
- Find out where your time is going. Monitor your time for two weeks.
- Make a schedule and stick to it.
- Schedule a time to study and stick with that time as firmly as any other appointment. If you are a full-time student, regard studying as your primary job. Study for each class at least twice a week on non-consecutive days. (Three times a week is better.)
- Vary activities and the time when you study. Don't plan to study more than four hours straight (except for creative endeavors). Use mornings as well as evenings.
- Avoid time thieves such as the telephone, computer games, television.
- Make a "not to do" list. You might decide not to talk on the phone more than 15 minutes, volunteer for any jobs until after mid-terms, or accept dates with people you don't really like.
- The Counseling Center offers free time management workshops, contact their office at 813-974-2831.
Watch your health. Illness wrecks your schedule.
- Eat right, exercise, and sleep 7 to 9 hours in 24. Getting sick will destroy your schedule! Sleep and eat on a regular schedule even on weekends.
- If you get ill, visit the Student Health Center which is staffed with physicians, nurses, and other medical providers. Basic office visits are free to all students. If you require additional services, they will even bill your insurance. Please call 813-974-2331.
Make a Plan to avoid getting stressed - Having control of your time helps you avoid stress.
- Schedule a time to plan your weekly schedule. Sunday night is usually best.
- Make semester plans. Take a long view when you schedule:
- What papers or projects are due?
- When are exams?
- What appointments,' celebrations, or obligations are coming up for the semester?
- Don't leave things to the last minute.
- Schedule due dates at least one day before they are due; a week is better.
- Look over reports at least twenty-four hours before they must be turned in.
- Get gas on the way home instead of planning to fill the car in the morning.
- Do your shopping over breaks and have plenty of food on hand.
- Before you go to bed, plan for the next day.
- Select clothes. Put things in briefcase or bag. Put things in the car.
- Get directions, phone numbers, supplies.
- Make up the next day's list of things to do. Try to do just one more small task before you go to bed.
Working out reduces stress. Check out the stress-buster options at the Campus Recreation Center, or call 814-974-3177. If you find yourself over-stressed, talk to someone. The Counseling Center offers free, confidential advice by trained psychologists and counselors. For more information, please call 813-974-2831.
Rick Temple, Ph.D., Psychologist,
USF Counseling Center