Work and study, despite some similarities, are still quite different occupations. And the secrets of productivity and proper timing of them also have their own characteristics. This article compiles the best time management techniques for each category. Some of them have direct practical application, while others are motivating. However, it is safe to say that you will be surprised by the results of these exercises. But it will be a positive surprise or not - it depends entirely on you.
Time Management Exercises for Students
The main feature of studying in any educational institution is a rather flexible schedule and a large amount of time for independent preparation. You can take up textbooks at any time, or even spend the whole evening at the computer. In this case, techniques that help organize the right learning environment and get rid of everything that interferes with your main task will be especially relevant.
#1 Identify Distractions
We live in an era where everything around us is competing to get and keep our attention. That's why this is the number one of the time-management exercises on this list. Do it right, and you'll regain hours of your time.
Start by identifying the key distractions that are eating up your time. You may be using your computer for study, but end up wasting time on social media, games, or Netflix. Or you're watching TV while trying to read a textbook.
To do this exercise, take a sheet of paper and write down all possible distractions. Then write in front of each one ways to get rid of it. And don't forget to put it into action.
Here's what it might look like:
- Mobile phone. You are distracted by browsing social networks and making calls. The easy way out is to uninstall the apps and use the web version of the sites. Just log out of your profile every time you sit down to study. Also, put your phone in airplane mode so as not to be distracted by calls.
- Casual web surfing. This happens in the process of finding the necessary information or writing an essay. There is always a temptation to follow any link and read something extremely interesting. Find all the information you need, download it and continue working offline. To do this, disconnect the cable or turn off the wi-fi.
- Video games. Another strong distraction. To get rid of it, study in the library or somewhere at the university. It will also help you hide from pesky comrades who want to gossip with you.
Following this logic, work through everything that distracts you. This will help you understand where your precious time is wasted and immediately determine how to change the situation.
#2 Organization Of The Workspace
Most people (not just students) have no idea how much their workspace affects their productivity. Do a mental experiment and think about how much time is spent searching for the right study materials, trying to figure out numerous deadlines, searching for and downloading the necessary information from the Internet. Keep in mind that you're not just wasting time - you're also distracting your attention, which prevents you from fully concentrating on the main task "learning". That's why a well-designed and prepared working environment will help to increase your productivity and save a lot of time.
Designate a place in your room for study materials — where you will stack folders, books, notebooks, notebooks, etc. If it is a shelf, make separate sections for each course where you will keep all sorts of notes, printouts, handouts. That way you'll always have access to the material you've covered and can repeat it if necessary.
Next, tape your weekly schedule in a prominent place (e.g., on the door). Label it with exams, deadlines for coursework, and other important events. This will help keep all important events in focus and not face them unprepared. Mark your goals so you can see your progress.
Remove any distracting things from your desk — books, posters, photos, and anything else that might interfere with your studies. Aim for minimalism. You need to see your goals and the tools to accomplish them. Anything else goes down the drain.
Finally, download everything you need on your phone or tablet and sort it out conveniently. You want quick access to study materials anytime, anywhere - for example, on transportation or in lines.
#3 Five-step Plan
This technique allows you to quickly categorize your list by priority and get on with it just as quickly. It is especially practical when making a plan for the week.
- List it all: Write down all your commitments and deadlines. So you will see the whole picture.
- Use the Kanban technique: A method that allows you to correctly prioritize your work. Divide all cases into 3 categories according to the time of importance: now, soon, and later. There are always urgent things, things that need to be done as soon as possible, but can wait, and everything else that can be postponed for now.
- Break it apart: Divide large tasks into several small steps. It's hard to write an essay that's 2,000 words at a time. But blocks of 200 won't seem so daunting anymore.
- Start immediately: Do something from the now list right away. You will immediately feel in control of the situation, and a little success will give you extra motivation
- Don't stop: Go back to your plan periodically and move things from soon to now, and from later to soon.
The Best Time Management Techniques For Professionals
Unlike a student, any office (or non-office) worker has a pretty rigid system. He has a workplace and a time in which he comes to and leaves work. In this case, it won't be as important to allocate specific tasks correctly-you've probably already mastered the art of tactics. It's more important to work on strategy, and here are some exercises that can help you.
#1 $86 400
Imagine you were given $86,400. You could spend it only on activities (not physical goods), such as going to the gym, taking foreign language lessons, or working on a personal project. At the end of the day, this money is deducted, regardless of how or what you spent it on. You cannot accumulate it.
Think about what you would spend the money on and stop reading right now and write it down on a piece of paper. Take your time.
Did you write it down?
In fact, we are not talking about dollars or other currencies. Every day we get 86,400 seconds (24 hours) on our account absolutely free of charge, which we can spend on anything.
Compare how you spend your precious seconds to how you would spend the virtual dollars from the exercise.
Finally, think about where you could invest your seconds wisely. You can't set them aside for reserves. You can't bury them in a secret place or open a deposit. You can only spend them here and now and it will be profitable in the future. Or not! It's up to you.
#2 Ribbon Of Life
For this time-management exercise, you will need 100 centimeters of paper tape and scissors.
The paper ribbon will symbolize 100 years of life. However, the average life expectancy is 79 years. So cut off 21 cm from the ribbon - you will be left with 79.
What is your age? Let's say you are 25 years old. Those years are what you might call "sunk costs." There's nothing you can do with them anymore. Cut off another 25 cm (your number of years).
Now the length of the ribbon will be 54 cm. Well, now you have 54 years of life left.
You can't devote all your time to productive activities. You still have a lot of variables to account for: weekends, holidays, sick days. There are 52 weeks each year, so that's 52 Sundays a year. Multiply that by 54 (the length of our tape) and divide by 365. You get 7.6 years. Reduce the ribbon by another 7.5 centimeters.
The same logic applies on Saturdays. Reduce the ribbon by another 7.5 cm. Add to that another 10 state holidays each year, which when multiplied by 54 is 1.5 years - minus 1.5 cm. We spend about 40 days a year on vacation and sick leave. That's about 6 years, so cut off another 6 cm.
So we have 30.5 years left. But that is not all. You need to consider sleep, food, and travel. We spend a third of the day (8 hours) sleeping. This gives 122 days a year or 18 years. Cut off 18 cm. It takes about 2 hours for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Another 4.5 years. Finally, a little more than an hour a day for trips - minus 2 cm. And the same amount is spent on hygiene and other everyday life.
6 years! This is the proverbial time you can manage to achieve the best in your life. Not much, right?
#3 Retrospective
This exercise helps you compare your reality with your main goals and see if you are moving in the right direction.
Take a piece of paper and write on it what you did yesterday (or during the week). Do not write in detail or add comments, just list. Then take another sheet and write on it a list of your 5 main life goals or priorities (there may be more or less).
Now look at both lists and compare them. How much did everything you do throughout the day or week bring you closer to your goal? How much time have you devoted to your top five priorities? And how effective were your actions? I'm afraid you will be in for some unpleasant surprises. You will be surprised how big the gap between your daily activities and your global goals will be.
And so that this reflection does not go to waste, make another list. Write on it at least 5 actions that will really bring you closer to your goal - at least one for each of them. More is possible.
Do this exercise at least once a month to track your progress.
Summary
Although we have divided the exercises into different categories, you can try them all. Find the factors that distract you from important work and think about how you can eliminate them.
Organize your workspace - place all important elements comfortably. Use a five-step plan to quickly prioritize things.
Remember that your day consists of 86400 seconds - invest them wisely. Count how much time you have left to make your dreams come true. And realize that you should start now. Compare your goals with your daily activities and adjust the latter.
We wish you great success!
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