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Time Management for Masters students

Dr Misha Hebel Academic Skills Adviser

Objectives
Reflect on how you manage your time at present The challenges of the dissertation Marshalling your own resources Strategies for prioritising your time and activities

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Why is time management important?

To meet deadlines in good time To have a study and work/life balance that works for you To keep on track with multiple, overlapping projects To cope with unforeseen difficulties and unexpected opportunities Manage the stress be in control of your own destiny To practice an important transferable skill

How do you use your time?

There are 168 hours a week. If you sleep for 56, and study for 35 you still have 77 hours! So how will you spend this time?

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But what about the dissertation? Its big and its meant to be Employers and Universities expect ALL graduates to have completed one You will be expected to plan, research, argue, present and evidence your findings All aspects are equally important

This involves:
KNOWING what you have to do e.g. seminars, collaboration; journal articles; drafts; work; social life - short and long term planning KNOWING what time you have available e.g. time for research; reading; discussion; drafting; reflection; experimentation; prototyping; editing KNOWING how to use the time effectively e.g. staying focused; finding a place/time when you work best; avoiding distractions; obtaining resources in sufficient time

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Procrastinating
Putting off an easy thing

makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible

George Claude Lorimer

Planning by deadlines
You cant control deadlines but you can control how you prepare for them Note key dates Note key activities Estimate how long things will take Build in proof-reading and editing time Block out time in own AND others calendars if necessary Allow contingency time

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Prioritising

However, sometimes this happens

I just feel overwhelmed I get bored when things go on too long I cant concentrate Everything I write is rubbish so I throw it away and start again Ill do anything except what Im meant to be doing

Dont get trapped by a self-fulfilling prophecy

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If you are struggling

Check if you have been specific enough what is your to do list this week First allocate tasks that have specific times and then allocate tasks that are more flexible Keep a list of 30 minutes tasks for small blocks Work backwards from your deadlines http://www.staffs.ac.uk/ask/ Build in rewards

Keeping concentration
Mental warm up (mulling over ideas whilst travelling or during quiet moments) Get comfortable (books, papers, drink) Set yourself a time limit and take breaks If you lose concentration on a specific project, look at the bigger picture

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SMART objectives
If you need to create more focussed objectives then use the SMART structure
Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timed

e.g. I need to check my dissertation draft citations and references are consistent in time for a meeting with my supervisor next Tuesday. I have obtained a copy of the Harvard reference guide from the Library and cleared 4 hours in my calendar. When I have done this I am going for ice cream.

Writers block
It happens to everyone at some point Stress occurs when you feel out of control Focus on something smaller and more manageable until the anxiety disappears Have a break! Find what inspires you to continue Write all you can think about one idea that impressed you Read your work again; do you have anything to add/improve?

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when all else fails

Force yourself to work on your project/assignment/task for five minutes a day. Youll be able to find five minutes and five minutes of solid work is better than nothing. Once youve done the first five minutes, another five wont seem so bad; then another ten wont seem so bad

Make good use of the Brunel Resources

Talk to your supervisor Consult your Subject Liaison Librarians Make an appointment with an ASK advisor Check out Blackboard for Academic Skills (ASk) Resources comes under Organisations Dont forget there are counselling, dyslexia and disability support services

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Resources
Marshall, L .and Rowland, F. (2006) A Guide to Learning Independently. Australia: Pearson Longman. Assignment Survival Kit http://www.staffs.ac.uk/ask/ Time blocking websites http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/stayfocusd-blocktime-wasting-websites/ Online Tutorial for Postgraduates http://port.igrs.sas.ac.uk/managingyourtimetimeea ters.htm#selfdiscipline

Summary
Know what time you have available, what you need to do in that time and prioritise how you might do it Give yourself breaks for your brain to process information thinking time is crucial Good time management and organisation is a skill not a trait it can be learnt Do not suffer in silence, if you are struggling, tell someone sooner rather than later