Organisation and Time Management

 

Aim of the session:

The aim of this session is to provide you with tips and ideas on how to improve your organisation and time management skills in order to better your approach to learning.

 

Planning and organising your time

 

Organising and planning your time and activities in college is a very important skill to master. But why? Some of the reasons include -

 

• Keeping on top of your workload

• Completing homework, assignments and projects

• Handing in work on time

• Organising your time effectively

• Preparing for exams

 

Knowing what you will have to do in the future and planning for it today will give you an edge in your studies and allow you to make the most efficient and effective use of your time.

 

Developing good organisational and time management skills will also benefit you in the future. Being able to effectively organise and plan what you need to do and when is a crucial skill to learn, whether you are eventually going on to university or employment. As the expression goes - failing to plan is planning to fail.

 

Consistency and sustainability are key factors when organising your workload and time. Make sure that you’re not doing things at the last moment or attempting to cram too much into too little a time period. For example, you’re much less likely to do well in an AS/ A level exam if you leave your revision to the last moment. Plan for a longer-term revision period and give yourself the time to absorb and remember the learning.

 

Another way of looking at this is the idea that you should snack, rather than binge. Small, easily digested, bite-size chunks of learning, (sections of an assignment, revision blocks, etc.), are preferable to trying to do too much in one go and getting burned out or fed up.

 

This leads nicely on to the next aspect of good organisational skills, and one that can easily get overlooked - plan breaks into your work. It’s important to be as fresh as possible for whatever you’re doing. Planning for treats can also be a great idea too! Just make sure you allow yourself a treat after you have completed something and use it as a reward for a job well done.

 

Make sure you have everything you need in order to complete the task successfully, whatever it is. This could be something as simple as ensuring that you turn up to class with the appropriate items, (study file, pen, calculator, USB Drive, textbook, etc.), or something more in-depth, such as ensuring you have all of the data, research, references, etc. that you will need in order to complete an assignment or project. Always be prepared!

 

Your tutors will give you key and landmark dates/times throughout the year. Make a note of these. Once you have them, a good tactic is to work backwards, planning your time effectively from when a piece of work has to be handed in, (for example), to when you need to start it, and everything in between. This should ensure that you give yourself enough time for the task and you are able to plan for the workload and time commitment to complete it successfully.

 

Task 1:

 

Answer the following  questions:

 

Do I usually turn up on time for classes?  

 

Do I keep appointments?

 

Do I manage to fit in most of the things I need to do? E.G reading,homework, attending classes, work commitments

 

Do I find I often have to rush things at the last minute?

 

Do I meet deadlines?

 

Have I developed a study schedule or planner?

 

Do I use time efficiently?

 

Do I make the most of my spare moments?

 

Do I have time for myself to relax?

 

What do your answers suggest about how well you manage and plan your time now?  Do you need to change any of your attitudes to time in order to manage your studies well?

 

Write down your action points.

 

Task 2. Complete this short Time Management learning unit.

 

http://goo.gl/hNjNax

 

It’s a good idea to record what you are planning to do so that you know what your plan is and so that you’re effectively organised. How you do this is up to you. You could write it all down in a journal, put it all in an electronic calendar, or store it all online somewhere. However you do it, it’s important that you have a system that works for you.

 

Looking ahead to later this term when you will be preparing for exams it will be important that you plan well and time management will be very important.  Planning for revision can be a daunting task and being able to manage your time well can help you do this immeasurably. No matter how you record and organise your plans, it can be beneficial to have a dedicated revision timetable. Again, this can be a paper copy or an online version - whatever suits you best. One online example that you can use is https://getrevising.co.uk/planner, and it’s free!

 

If you are properly organised then your time in college will be productive and efficient, allowing you to be successful on your chosen course as well as leaving you more time to do other things you really enjoy.

 

Task 3: As a homework activity, use the above tips to start keeping a better track of your time and begin to organise your work and activities. Try out some above ideas and see what works for you.

 

“A goal without a plan is just a wish”

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry