Study Skills and Time Management

1. Study Skills and Time Management Mrs. Wills

2. What will we learn today? • What does a good study space look like? • What does “time management” actually mean? • How can this help me? • What time is my “PLT” or Prime Learning Time? • What does my personal Time Mangement Calculation look like? • Tips

3. My Study Space • Availability • Distraction/interruptions • Materials • Seating • Storage • Light • Temperature

4. Time Management • Time Management: • ⊕ Gives us a chance to decide how to spend a valuable resource • ⊕ Allows us to get the most out of the least • ⊕ Helps us organize and learn how to spend our time • Learning time management methods is a skill no different than learning to speak another language. • If you want to get better at it, you can!

5. What is a “Good Time Manager” • ⊕ plan for the unplanned. • ⊕ follow a schedule that can adapt to changes. • ⊕ get the important things done. • ⊕ are productive. • ⊕ can juggle several activities. • ⊕ have their short and long term goals in mind. • ⊕ may keep a daily, weekly and monthly schedule

6. Try This Method • 1. Each night write on a 3x5 card the 6 most important tasks you have to do tomorrow. • 2. Number them in the order of importance. • 3. First thing in the morning look at the task listed as most important and start working on it until it is finished. Then tackle item 2 the same way, item 3 and so forth until your work or school day are completed. • 4. Don’t be worried if you only complete 2 or 3 items. You’ve completed the most important tasks and any other method wouldn’t have given you more time to work on the rest of the list. • 5. Each night write a new 3x5 card for the next day.

7. Procrastination…ugghhh • What are the reasons we procrastinate? • Perfectionism • Fear of Failure • Confusion • Task Difficulty • Poor Motivation • Difficulty Concentrating • Task Stinks • Lack of Priorities

8. How Do I Know if I Procrastinate Excessively? • I often put off starting a task I find difficult • I often give up on a task as soon as I start to find it difficult. • I often wonder why I should be doing a task. • I often have difficulty getting started on a task. • I often try to do so many tasks at once that I cannot do any of them. • I often put off a task in which I have little or no interest. • I often try to come up with reasons to do something other than a task I have to do. • I often ignore a task when I am not certain about how to start it or complete it. • I often start a task but stop before completing it. • I often find myself thinking that if I ignore a task, it will go away. • I often cannot decide which of a number of tasks I should complete first. • I often find my mind wandering to things other that the task on which I am trying to work.

9. What can we do about it? • Positive Thinking and Self Talk • Prioritize the Tasks • Use Chunking when necessary (best with projects or huge research assignments) • Know your PLT (Prime Learning Time) • Break Big Tasks into smaller obtainable goals • Rewards • Prime Study area • Breaks? • Difficulty • Training of these habits