Meeting deadlines for work and school can sometimes seem overwhelming. Managing your time may help you to be more organised and meet the deadlines you have.
Some suggestions for maximising the time you have available:
Set goals
Think about what you need and want to do with your time. From this you can set goals, which may help you to manage your time more effectively. Read setting goals for more.
Project plan
Ever had a big project to do for work or school and never quite known where to start? Write down all you need to do to complete the project and list the order in which you can do this.
This can give some direction and help you to form a timeline.
Use a diary
Writing down appointments, homework, or things you have to do will help you keep track of what’s going on. This way things won’t catch you by surprise.
Use a wall calendar
Having a calendar that shows everything that’s on during the month, or even the year, might help remind you of events that are coming up.
Switch your phone, email or Facebook account off
If you find you’re being distracted by your phone, emails or social networking, it might help to disconnect them. You can always reply to people later.
Try to use each form of communication only once. For example, try to read emails once and turn them into a task, replying or deleting as appropriate.
Be flexible
Sometimes situations change and you may need to re-adjust your goals or work plan to fit in with the changes.
Balance your time
Having a balance of activities in your life may help you avoid burning out. Find time for relaxing, being active and hanging out with friends. Spending time relaxing or re-energising yourself may help you with your work and study.
Talk to someone
During busy periods, we have a lot on our plate and can find it hard to juggle all our responsibilities. If you’re finding life difficult, talk to a teacher, lecturer, or counsellor.