Time Management
Time is one of our greatest resources. Used wisely it can enable you to do the things in life that are important to you. Decisions about how you spend your time will determine many things in your lifestyle including: stress levels and the pace of your day, whether you have time for exercise and wellness, how much time you can devote to family, how much you are able to accomplish in your work.
“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” Carl Sandburg
Time Management
Time management is one of the greatest skills you can develop. Being able to manage your time effectively can mean being successful in your career, getting on the Dean's List this semester, or reaching important life goals like running a marathon or writing a book. In the big picture, time management may determine whether you look back on your life one day and reflect on the wonderful things you in your life you have done, or whether those dreams you had were just that, dreams.
There are many approaches and strategies for effective time management. Different time management issues may require different strategies. For some the issue is becoming more efficient so you are wasting less time. For others, the issue is setting priorities more clearly so you aren’t overwhelmed with too many demands on your time.
College students have special time management issues because of the multiple demands on their time from course work combined with the intense social demands of being in college with the frequent need to include employment. You may also find it helpful to attend a time management workshop on campus offered by the Julia N. Visor Academic Center. You can also talk to a counselor at Student Counseling Services, Room 320 Student Services Building about time management issues. We can help you understand your priorities and help you develop a better plan for making the most of your time.
Books
For the variety of different issues you may have with managing time the book, Time Tactics of Very Successful People, by B. Eugene Griessman is a great resource. This book offers a variety of strategies for a host of different time related problems people face in managing their time effectively.
You may be someone who is very efficient with your time, but find that you are never able to accomplish some of the bigger goals you have set for yourself. Understanding the different ways to allocate your time is addressed in the best selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven R. Covey. We can help you understand your priorities and help you develop a better plan for making the most of your time. This book can help you re-examine how you prioritize your time to make sure you are achieving what you want to achieve in your life.
You may find that you are always rushing and stressed trying to do more and more in your time but getting less organized. The book Time Management: Proven Techniques for Making the Most of Your Valuable Time by Marshall J. Cook may be a good resource for you. This book addresses issues such as "speed sickness" and becoming overwhelmed by to-do lists that are unrealistic among as well as many other topics.