Remember how we discussed time management skills yesterday? Well, I thought would tell you some dirty little tricks that will most likely enhance your managing of time. Are you ready to hear these juicy tips?
There is one ‘secret’ of time management that most people don’t know about. It’s fairly common that most of use mind maps, to do lists and other related tools to improve their efficiency but not many a men use the following device which I view as a secret weapon of , namely…
The Timer
Yes you heard me, a simple timer. Why would I need to talk so much about this obviously simple function which most cell phones, computers and similar electronic devices have installed in them? Well, because it will simply help you form and manage your deadline.
Think about it for a moment, if you want to finish your homework or prepare for an exam and you only have 1 hour on you; don’t you think having a timer next to you will put more pressure on you? It sure will, seeing each minute as it disappears will literally force you to produce results.
Secondly, remember to actually lay down the pen when you hear that alarm going off (just a simple alarming sound without music, this works best). It’s important that you take some rest from your studies.
I often get my ideas not when I’m strictly focusing on a subject but later on when I’m contemplating it from another more subtle context such as when taking a walk. This is how you can plan your day with a timer.
Yesterdays posts:
¤ Multitask – Why should refrain from doing it.
¤ Time Management Skill – Is it worth pursuing?
About the author
Webmaster of www.study-habits.com & author of The Study Guide PRO, Abderisak Adam shares study tips, techniques and guides to the student community. As a student of civil engineering at Chalmers University of Technology he focuses on matters relating to engineering, mathematics and physics.
His chef d'oeuvre, The Study Guide PRO, can be purchased as a digital copy.
I find that using a kitchen timer or oven timer works well to keep your mind focused on a task. It is true that when there is a set amount of time that you have to complete a project or assignment, you will get more done and are more focused on the task. It is also amazing on how much you do get done in a short amount of time. Another helpful hint that I use to get more done is get up early in the morning and study when my mind is fresh, instead of trying to stay up late at night to study. I get alot more done in less time.
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I really appreciate these articles. Do you have any tips for getting all of your homework done when you are short on time because of after school sports? I have volleyball right after school and don’t get home until 7:00pm. On Mondays I am on the Yearbook Staff and that takes until 5:00. I have volleyball everyday and find myself falling behind in my studies…thanks!
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admin Reply:
September 26th, 2010 at 3:32 am
Thanks for the uplifting comment, glad you enjoyed reading our content.
To answer your question; it’s not all that difficult to mix studies with extra curricular activities. The secret lies in organization, you need to separate between “school time” and “non school time”. Begin today by making a schedule of all the different (daily/weekly) activities in your life and organize them by importance. This way, you’ll know which one to give up in case two activities collide.
A daily planner is an indispensable tool for all students, you can read more about planning & organizing your studies under the time management section on this site. I’m intending to release a couple of free printable daily planners, schedules and task managers in the near future so check back soon!
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DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR REMEMBERING FACTS, I CAN READ SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AND STILL TURN THE PAGE AND NOT REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS?
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SHEILA BERTKE Reply:
May 25th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
YOUR POSTS ARE GREAT LOVE TO READ THEM,VERY INTERESTING!
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