Discussion Question #4 After taking the time management survey offered by Mind Tools (2016a), I was able to see that I am presently managing my time very effectively; however, there are a few areas in which I can make improvements. The first area in which I should make adjustments is prioritization. What this quiz helped me realize is that while I always make “to-do” lists, I do not organize the order of tasks that I aim to complete by importance or priority. Often times when I have a long list of tasks needing to be accomplished, I will start first on the items that are easier to take on or do not require as much effort, even though they are nonessential or not time-sensitive. In doing so, I am wasting time on low-impact activities and am
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According to Bast (2016), using this principle helps students work smarter, not harder, by redirecting one’s focus from urgent, non-important tasks to important, non-urgent tasks (Bast, 2016). This is considered a SMART goal because it is specific in that it clearly identifies the action I need to take in order to make improvements in my prioritization abilities and it is measurable because I can create my to-do list and ensure I keep it updated in my weekly planner. I can create this list on Sunday before the week starts and I will be able to refer back to it throughout the week in order to measure my progress on prioritizing and accomplishing tasks in a timely manner. The sub-goal for this plan would be to adequately assign a priority category to each of the items on my to-do list that accurately reflects the urgency and importance of the task. Therefore, I would need to be able to reflect on my week ahead and identify what accomplishments I need to achieve in order to stay on track with my school, work, and personal goals. If I am still not using my time efficiently and find myself spending too much time on nonessential tasks, I can re-evaluate the …show more content…
What I have noticed that happens when I am in the middle of studying or working on an assignment is that incoming text messages or emails will frequently distract me from my work. Therefore, in order to make improvements in this area of time management, I will set aside my phone for two hours each day during the week and devote that time to focused studying. In doing so, I should be able to finish the task at hand much quicker due to fewer interruptions, which will enable me to spend less time studying while still accomplishing the same amount of work (Mind Tools, 2016b). This goal is specific in that it clearly delineates the action that I will be taking to improve my efficiency and it is measurable because I can assess whether I was able to separate myself from my phone for the full two hours. It is realistic for me because I do not consider two hours without my phone too much of a sacrifice and, even more, a specific time constraint has been identified. Lastly, the goals are action-oriented/attainable in that by undertaking this goal, I will be improving the quality of my study time and therefore should see improvements in my grades and other areas of my life affected by time management. Sub-goals include planning an appropriate time and location to spend my phone-free two hours that will maximize my work while minimizing other environmental distractions. If I find that I am still being
According to Bast (2016), using this principle helps students work smarter, not harder, by redirecting one’s focus from urgent, non-important tasks to important, non-urgent tasks (Bast, 2016). This is considered a SMART goal because it is specific in that it clearly identifies the action I need to take in order to make improvements in my prioritization abilities and it is measurable because I can create my to-do list and ensure I keep it updated in my weekly planner. I can create this list on Sunday before the week starts and I will be able to refer back to it throughout the week in order to measure my progress on prioritizing and accomplishing tasks in a timely manner. The sub-goal for this plan would be to adequately assign a priority category to each of the items on my to-do list that accurately reflects the urgency and importance of the task. Therefore, I would need to be able to reflect on my week ahead and identify what accomplishments I need to achieve in order to stay on track with my school, work, and personal goals. If I am still not using my time efficiently and find myself spending too much time on nonessential tasks, I can re-evaluate the …show more content…
What I have noticed that happens when I am in the middle of studying or working on an assignment is that incoming text messages or emails will frequently distract me from my work. Therefore, in order to make improvements in this area of time management, I will set aside my phone for two hours each day during the week and devote that time to focused studying. In doing so, I should be able to finish the task at hand much quicker due to fewer interruptions, which will enable me to spend less time studying while still accomplishing the same amount of work (Mind Tools, 2016b). This goal is specific in that it clearly delineates the action that I will be taking to improve my efficiency and it is measurable because I can assess whether I was able to separate myself from my phone for the full two hours. It is realistic for me because I do not consider two hours without my phone too much of a sacrifice and, even more, a specific time constraint has been identified. Lastly, the goals are action-oriented/attainable in that by undertaking this goal, I will be improving the quality of my study time and therefore should see improvements in my grades and other areas of my life affected by time management. Sub-goals include planning an appropriate time and location to spend my phone-free two hours that will maximize my work while minimizing other environmental distractions. If I find that I am still being