Time ManagementStudent Support Centre

Email: helpme@cqu.edu.auhttp://www.studentservices.cqu.edu.au

It’s All About Time

• Time doesn’t drag or fly

• We all get 24 hrs a day 7 days a week

• We can’t ‘manage’ time – all we can do is manage our own behaviour

• It’s up to us how we use that time

• For success at Uni the most important factor is how you use your time

What Really Matters to You?

• Who already has part time work or intends to seek work?

• The greatest interference to study is work commitments

• If you are offered extra hours would you accept?

• A full-time student should restrict work time to 10-15 hours/week

• Would you ask to work less time at assessment time?• If working more hours you might need to withdraw from a course

prior to census date

• Withdrawal after the census date means you will receive a FAIL

• Do you anticipate that work will interfere with your study?

When Faced With a Hard Task….Do You:

• Fail to start, drag through the task, take longer than you planned?

You are the snail - you procrastinate, fail to plan carefully and get caught short when time runs out on you eg you might hand assignments in late. The university may apply a penalty for overdue work.

• Rush into something new, stop when things get tough, cram and rush at the last minute?

You are the hare-rush into something without considering carefully, run out of time and energy when things get tough, try to cram work in at last moment

• Plan carefully, get organised, follow your priorities and do the work?

You have characteristics in common with the thoroughbred, being disciplined in study, hold positive attitude to challenges and have the best chance of study success.

Unfortunately the first style is the most common in university students

Controlling Your Time…Can You Say No?

• You need to devote one hour for every point of an

assignment so: 20 hours = 20% worth.

• You have to make 20 hours available by not doing

something else.

• If you can’t say ‘No’, someone else is controlling

your time.

• Learning to manage your time means

learning to say ’No’.

Prioritise

Term Time is for study.

A Student has three months holiday per year to do all those other things.

During term study needs to be your priority.

What can you drop for this to happen?

Time Wasters

• Inability to say NO• Lack of planning- acting out of habit• Friends interrupting• Wasting time• Procrastination – not getting started• Over- Commitment to sport or work etc• Lack of self discipline- not carrying through on promises• Getting over-tired after raging all weekend• TV and Computer games• Which of these can you minimise?

Why Do We Procrastinate?

• Lack of motivation

• It’s just too difficult

• Feeling overwhelmed

• It’s too boring

• Fear of failure

• Perfectionism

• These are all ways we ‘avoid’ study but if we stick to our goals/focus we are less likely to stray.

• Goals should be specific, measurable, and realistic

Study Myths

Myth Number 1: I work best under pressure

TranslationI can’t work unless there’s a deadline looming like the sword of Damocles over my head.

• Repeating this idea/behaviour reinforces your excuse for putting things off but

• Very few people work best under pressure

Study Myths

Myth Number 2: Deadlines just creep up and surprise me!

TranslationI don’t think about assignments or exams until I become overwhelmed by panic!

• Uni takes no excuses for forgetting due dates. All your course profile due dates are found on the CQU website. If unsure of access, ask for help. helpme@cqu.edu.au

Study Myths

Myth Number 3: I’ll do it after……

TranslationI’m procrastinating again!

• To overcome procrastination, break the task into manageable pieces,

• Eg choose the topic, talk to other students• Work out what you need to do for the assignment• Ask your lecturer or tutor• Start working immediately on researching the topic

SMART Goals

• Specific eg. know what you want to be

• Measurable eg. how many courses can I do this term?

• Attainable eg. if I do 2 courses/term, I finish my degree in 6 years

• Relevant eg. don’t be put off by theory - that’s the nature of

academic study

• Time framed eg. you must complete a 3 year degree in 7 years

You must pass 50% or more of courses in any one term or you will be invited to discuss your academic progress

(Lewis, Justus & Storz, Moni Laui, 1997)

Tips For Creating Your Study Plan

• Utilise your course profiles

• Use a weekly planner

• Plot assessed work on a wall

planner

Completing Your Planner

• Due dates are clearly indicated on course profiles – you can record them on a wall planner

• Do this for all courses with the percent weighting for each one eg worth 10%? 20%?

• Work back one week for each 10% value and prepare accordingly, eg. 2 weeks for a 20% value assignment

• Students who have been away from study for some time may need to give themselves more time in first year.

• Use separate Term Planner and Weekly Study Timetable for assistance.

Focus on ‘do’ dates

NOT due dates!

How Much Time Should Be Spent Studying?

• The Federal government expectation is for 6 hours each credit point per week. viz 12 hours per course

• A fulltime study load is a fulltime job, eg. 35 to 40 hours per week.

STUDY at least 10 hours per course

EVERY week of term.

Create Extra Study Time!

If you get up 1 hour earlier for a year, you have created around 10 additional

working weeks!

So we can be more effective with our time

But

If we waste time

We get further behind

What To Do When You Need Help

Contact Us: Student Support Centre

Building 31 Phone 49309456Web: http://www.studentservices.cqu.edu.au

Email: helpme@cqu.edu.au

Visit us: 8.45am – 4.45pm You may have personal problems, need help with study skills, or

just guidance on how to get started.

PLEASE ASK!

We Can Help You With….

• Personal Counselling including e-counselling

• Academic Advocacy• Study Issues – Optimism Program• Career Information• Student Loans• Mentor program• Workshops – Study Workshops• Chaplaincy• CQ Connections

Remember, it’s about TIME

• May each year at CQUniversity be successful.

• May your time here be profitable.