article provided by the Digital Arts Technology Training Institute

The following six techniques are intended to help you manage your time so that you get the most out of your days and weeks. Some of these may work for you and some of them may not. But by experimenting with them, you will soon discover what works best for you. These six tips have been developed by David Ellis in his book, Becoming a Master Student (1998).

When managing time, it’s important to remember that the goal is effectiveness on your part. Focus on the outcome. How you achieve that goal is less important than actually achieving it.

1. Know your values

Instead of thinking in terms of minutes and hours, try to see the bigger picture. View your life as a whole. A good way to do this is by writing a personal goal statement. This brief paragraph describes your values and the kind of life you want to lead. Your personal goal statement might include the following information:

• Your expectations for your distance education course
• Your goal to find employment or to get a promotion at your current job upon completing your course
• Your promise to yourself to spend more time with your family

Every now and then read over your own personal mission statement and ask yourself if what you are doing is contributing to that life. If you can, post your goals on the wall by your desk so they stay in sight as you work.

2. Do less

Managing time is not only about adding new activities to your life; it’s also about dropping meaningless activities from your life. Meaningless activities could be described as those that prevent you from reaching your goals. An activity that is motivated only by habit, such as watching television, falls into this category.

• Make the decision right now to eliminate activities that are keeping you from attaining your goals.
• When adding an activity to your list, consider dropping a current one.

3. Slow down

There are times when hurrying is useful, such as when you are late for a meeting. Generally however, rushing serves no real purpose other than stressing you out.

Sometimes the faster you go, the less you get done because of mistakes.

4. Remember people

• Even though you might be trying to juggle studies, family and work, it is important to fit in time for you to connect with your family and friends.
• Involve your family in your studies and your program. You might get some valuable feedback.
• You can always contact your instructor to discuss your program and any concerns.
• Keep some flexibility in your schedule. Allow extra time for conversations, spontaneous visits and even conflict resolution.

5. Handle it now

A backlog of unfinished tasks can result from procrastinating or postponing decisions. To avoid such a backlog, deal with each task as it comes up.

• Handle each task or make each decision immediately – make that phone call as soon as it occurs to you; finish that assignment you started.
• It’s okay to say no to tasks that don’t fit into your current schedule or don’t contribute to you reaching any of your goals.
  

6. Save Time to Relax

It’s important to schedule some “downtime” or open time for yourself everyday. This is time when you are accountable to no one else and have nothing to accomplish, free of guilt.

• Some ways to relax:
  Spend some time in the park just observing things around you.
• Put your feet up, make yourself comfortable and do breathing exercises for 20 minutes. A few minutes spent this way can give you a sense of renewal. See the Appendix for steps on how to do breathing exercises.
• Spend time in an area that doesn’t have a clock.
• Take time to get away from time. Create a safe, quiet place – your own little haven – that is free of schedules, tasks, or accomplishments.