University of Washington
Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
Instructional Center

Time Management Tips

Always use:

• A calendar
• A to-do list
• A master schedule

Building Your Master Schedule

On a blank master schedule:

• Write "Class" (e.g. ESS 101) in all the time blocks that you spend attending classes, labs, study groups, or workshops.
• Write "Work" in the appropriate time blocks.
• Write "Trans" in those portions of the time blocks in which you travel to and from campus and to and from work.
• Block off with an X realistic amounts of time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Block off and write F-H in blocks of time committed to inflexible family/household responsibilities or personal care. (e.g., laundry, pick up sister, cook, shower).
• The empty time blocks are those available for study time and leisure activities. Always schedule study time before you schedule leisure time.
• Block off 2-3 hours of study time for every credit you are taking. (e.g., if you are taking 15 credits, you will block off 30-45 hours of study time.)
• Try to keep study hours as close to corporate hours as possible: 8am – 5pm.
• Finally, any leftover hours are your own to do with as you please. Reward yourself for your efforts.

Tips

• Don’t overdo it
• Keep your schedule realistic
• Set priorities
• Be flexible and allow for trade-offs
• Remember to allow for more time during midterms and finals
• Study some everyday

After one week, evaluate your master schedule. Ask the following questions:

• Did you over or underestimate the amount of time you needed for each course?
• Did you find some conflicts? Can they be resolved?
• Did you find some scheduled study time inconvenient? Can they be rearranged?
• Did it help you get more work done?

Ideas for Managing Your Time

Establish a routine.

• Treat study time as if it were your job
• Choose a practical time when you are alert
• Pick a quiet place free from other distractions

Set goals – what do you want to learn?

• Are they specific and measurable?
• Are they challenging and realistic?
• Do they have a beginning and a finishing date?

Stay attuned to notes, lectures, text.

• Look at your lecture notes for what was stressed
• Remember questions the teacher asked
• Read subheadings of text or discussion questions at the end of the chapter

Start all assignments.

• Develop a time table
• Do most difficult and boring subjects first
• Schedule according to due date
• Prioritize your work
• Visualize large projects as a series of small steps
• Prioritize your assignments
• Devise a schedule: ½ - 3 hours for each hour of class
• Alternate activities: reading-writing-reading-writing, etc.
• Study 50 minutes, take a 10 minute break
• Do not schedule more than 3 hours study time in a row without a break. This is true: Studying long = studying wrong!
• Schedule specific tasks
• Use last ½ hour for review and memorizing

Studying for exams – one week before exam.

• Reserve 1 hour for review for each chapter covered
• Reserve 1 hour review for every 1-2 lectures
• Add an additional hour for homework review
• Study some every day
• Save some "insurance time" for extra studying

Analyze your time.

• To change, you must understand how you use your time
• Decide how you want to use your time in the future
• If study time were your job, would you get a raise, or be fired?

Studying on the run.

• Write main points of a lecture or chapter on master summary sheet or note cards
• Keep master summary sheet or note cards handy so you can study in the car (when someone else is driving!), on the bus, between classes, etc.
• Tape record main points and listen to them in the car, or while jogging/walking, etc.

Outside activities.

• Don’t spread yourself too thin
• Have a good balance
• Use your most alert time for studying and use down time for TV, laundry, visiting, etc.