Time Management - Strategies for Success - Lecture Notes, Study notes of Career Counseling

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Today • Journal #3, HW #

• Time management 1 Reading • Getting Things Done, David Allen (pp. 18–23)
• • Using the Tools (Armstrong)Time Management Tips (Connections)

Time management

Exercise: Brainstorm all the “stuff” that must be managed as a student

• e.g., homework, class meetings, exams, paying for school, etc.
• include big items and small day-to-day things ... Go over these

Exercise: Now write down the system you use for keeping track of this stuff

• e.g., calendars, planners, or even just “in your head” ... Go over these

“Getting Things Done” (GTD)

Q: When you are being really productive what does it feel like?

• a sense of being in control
• not stressed out
• highly focused on what you are doing (not distracted)
• time tends to disappear (dinner already?)
• feel like you are making noticeable progress Programmers often call this being “in the zone” Q: How do you feel when you get out of this highly productive state?
• start feeling out of control
• stressed-out
• unfocused
• bored
• stuck GTD tries to help you get into this state more often and quicker

“incompletes” or “open loops”

• inappropriately managed “internal commitments”
• anything pulling at your attention (when it shouldn’t be)
• unfulfilled agreements you’ve made with yourself
• things you feel a responsibility to change, finish, handle, do something about
• includes everything from really big to-do items to tiny tasks Exercise: 1. Write down two of your “open loops”
• what most “bugs”, distracts, of interests you, or in some way consumes alarge part of your conscious attention?
• can be anything from large stuff to small stuff

2. For each one, describe:

• your intended successful outcome for the open loop
• i.e., what would need to happen to check it off as being done?

3. Write down the very next physical “action” to move the problem forward

• e.g., write an email, sit with pen and paper and brainstorm, talk face-to-facewith someone, buy nails at the hardware store, ...

Q: How do you feel after doing this exercise?

• a bit more in control, relaxed, focused
• more motivated to do something about the open loop
• like you’ve made progress ...
• what changed?
  • – a clearer idea of the desired outcomeand the next action to take (to make progress)