Estimated Time: 2 hours
Time Management is one of the executive functioning skills that is important for effective learning. It can be defined as "the ability to use time efficiently and effectively in the accomplishment of set tasks and goals." This is a skill that a lot of people struggle with, and it can have a significant impact on your ability to learn well. Therefore, in this section we will explore some common time management challenges, as well as some tips and tools that can help you improve your ability to manage your time.
Meet Ada
Ada, a first year student as Kibo, possesses immense potential, but she struggles with poor time management skills. Ada's days often lack structure and organization. She frequently finds herself procrastinating, leaving tasks until the last minute, and struggling to meet deadlines. The lack of a clear plan or routine contributes to a constant feeling of overwhelm, as she tries to juggle coursework, coding assignments, and other responsibilities.
Due to her poor time management, Ada often finds herself spending excessive hours on non-productive activities such as scrolling through social media, watching videos, or getting lost in unrelated interests. This leads to a vicious cycle of falling behind on important tasks, causing stress and anxiety. Ada's disorganized approach also affects her ability to prioritize effectively. She often tackles tasks based on urgency rather than importance, which leads to neglecting critical assignments and sacrificing quality in her work.
Additionally, Ada struggles to estimate the time required for each task, resulting in frequent underestimation or overestimation. This leads to time pressure, rushed work, and compromised learning opportunities. The consequences of Ada's poor time management skills begin to show in her academic performance. She receives lower grades than she is capable of, as she struggles to dedicate sufficient time to studying and fully grasping complex concepts. Ada's lack of structure also hampers her ability to collaborate effectively with classmates and take advantage of valuable learning opportunities.
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Now that we've learned more about time management, and some common challenges. Let's explore some tools and techniques that you can implement to improve how you use your time. We will look at:
Time Auditing
The Eisenhower Matrix
Calendaring and Planning Your Time
Time Blocking
The Not To Do List
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Summary of questions from the video:
How am I actually spending my time?
How important are the things I am doing?
Are there distractions that I can minimize or avoid?
Am I making time for what's really important?
You can find a good template for a time audit here .
Here is what you can do with the information that you get from your completed time audit:
Compare your perception of time versus reality
Analyze the priority of task categories
Identify time drains
Improve your ability to estimate how long certain tasks actually take
Identify the non-negotiables in your life, and prioritize them
Make small, manageable changes over time
🗣 "If everything is important, then nothing is."
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The second sheet in the time audit template shared above also contains a template for the Eisenhower matrix.
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Read the following chapters on how to create a:
Termly schedule
Weekly schedule
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Meet Emeka
With meticulous planning and strategic execution, Emeka effectively navigates the demanding world of studying computer science. Emeka begins each week by conducting time audits, tracking how he spends each moment to optimize productivity. He prioritizes tasks, tackling the most critical ones first. By time blocking, he dedicates specific hours to coding, studying, and personal development, eliminating distractions. Emeka relies on calendars and to-do lists, maintaining a visual representation of his schedule and ensuring no task goes unnoticed. Regular breaks and leisure activities are scheduled to maintain work-life balance and prevent burnout. Emeka's peers marvel at his organizational skills and ability to accomplish remarkable feats within demanding deadlines. Through his disciplined time management, Emeka sets himself up for a future full of limitless possibilities in the world of technology.