How to Manage your Time in the University
If there is one thing we have in common, it is that we have all been given 24 hours. What setssome of usapart depends greatlyon what we do within these 24 hours. The most outstanding people among us are the ones who do the most relevant tasks within these 24 hours.
Never before have we lived in a world where information is as ubiquitous as it is today. The reality is that as much as we try, we are never going to get on top of all the things we need to do, even if we do not waste a second out of the 24hours we have been given.
The key to effective time management and overcoming procrastination has been summarized in these 10 proven steps:
- Set the table
Before you decide what should be and what should not be on the table, you need to have clarity of purpose.
If you have your goals clearly defined, it is easier for you to beat procrastination and get more done in less time.
- Plan every day in advance
This is the 29th law of power according to Robert Greene. When you plan, you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances.
The simplest way to plan your day right now is to take out a note pad and make a list of everything you want to achieve this year, narrow it down to a monthly list then to a weekly list and finally to a daily list.
Remember the six “P’s”:
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance
- Consider the consequences
Ask yourself “what are the consequences of doing or not doing something?”
Important tasks have long-term potential consequences, something that is unimportant has few or no long-term consequences.
Whatever it is that falls under your most important task, you should set it as a goal and make a plan to achieve it immediately.
- Focus on your key result areas
As a student, have you ever asked yourself “why do my parents pay my school fees?”
If you do not have the answer to this, it is difficult for you to perform at your best. Your school fees has been paid for you to achieve some specific results which are to: learn, make good grades and graduate with a recognized certificate.
Any other thing outside this is secondary and should get the least time.
When you identify your key result area, you must then focus all your resources on achieving it.
- Obey the law of forced efficiencyThe law of forced efficiency says that “there is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”
Only do activities that represent the most valuable use of your time.
- Prepare thoroughly before you begin
Always remember that hardwork beats talent anytime and anywhere.
One of the most proven ways to beat procrastination is for you to get everything you need ready to work in advance.
- Put the pressure on yourself
“Do you start a little earlier?”
“Do you work a little harder?”
“And do you stay a little later?”
If you do all these 3 then you’re pushing yourself well enough.
A lot of us wait for others to push us or for deadlines to force us into completing tasks, but none of these two things are certain (not every work has a deadline of course!)
Bottom line: we should be our own driving force.
- Practice creative procrastination
Remember that you may never be able to complete all your tasks, so that makes procrastinating on low-value tasks even more important.
From your list of important things to do, pick out the most relevant, get started with it until it is fully completed.
- Slice and dice the task
Our most important task usually appear to be so large and formidable when we first approach them. The best way to handle any task is to start, taking it one part at a time until it’s finished.
- Review
Review these rules and principles regularly until they become ingrained in your thinking and actions.
The completion of tasks triggers the release of a hormone, endorphins, in our brain. These endorphins give us a natural “high.” When we complete our most important tasks, the endorphin rush boosts our confidence and creativity which stimulates us to do even more.
What you shouldknow is that all these skills are learnable and by repetition, you can master all these steps.
Reference
Brian, T 2001, EAT THAT FROG, Berrett-Koehlr, USA.
