TIME MANAGEMENT
SKILLS
Complete Student Ebook — 4-Session Peer Learning Program
SSA101 · Learning Skills in Real Life
Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4
TMS: Time Management Skills | SSA101 Page 2 of 5
Welcome to Your TMS Journey
This ebook is your complete companion for the Time Management Skills (TMS) peer
learning program — a 4-session online course designed to help university students stop
procrastinating and start working with intention. Each session builds on the last, giving you
both the knowledge and the practical tools to master your time.
What You Will Learn
✓ Session 1 — Discover your personal chronotype & understand procrastination
✓ Session 2 — Master the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize like a pro
✓ Session 3 — Apply the Pomodoro Technique & set up digital planning tools
✓ Session 4 — Build lasting review habits & a peer support system
How to Use This Ebook
Read each session chapter before or during your live session. Complete all activities as
instructed — the learning happens in the doing, not just the reading. Bring your notes to each
session for group discussion.
References & Academic Foundation
Breus, M. (2016). The power of when. Little, Brown and Company.
Eisenhower, D. D. (1954). Address at the Second Assembly of the World Council of Churches. [Source of the
urgency-importance distinction].
Cirillo, F. (2006). The Pomodoro Technique. FC Garage. (Original method documentation).
Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review. Psychological Bulletin,
133(1), 65–94. [Link]
Newport, C. (2016). Deep work: Rules for focused success in a distracted world. Grand Central Publishing.
Covey, S. R. (1994). First things first. Free Press.
Duhigg, C. (2012). The power of habit. Random House.
UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. [Link]
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TMS: Time Management Skills | SSA101 Page 3 of 5
Priority Over Urgency
SESSION 2
Eisenhower Matrix · Task Classification · The Art of Saying No
Session Overview
Duration 90 minutes
Format Online (Zoom/Meet)
Mode Lecture + hands-on matrix exercise + role-play
Deliverables Completed Eisenhower Matrix for next week · Draft
weekly plan
Learning Objectives
• Distinguish between 'urgent' and 'important' tasks with precision
• Correctly classify 10+ real tasks into the Eisenhower Matrix quadrants
• Apply the 'Eliminate' rule: say no to Quadrant 4 tasks
• Produce a rough weekly task plan based on the matrix
2.1 Urgent vs. Important: The Core Distinction
The fundamental insight behind the Eisenhower Matrix — attributed to U.S. President Dwight
D. Eisenhower and popularized by Stephen Covey (1994) in First Things First — is that
urgent tasks feel pressing but are not necessarily important, while important tasks
build long-term value but rarely feel urgent.
URGENT:
Requires immediate attention. Creates pressure and anxiety. Examples: ringing phone,
last-minute assignment, unexpected crisis.
IMPORTANT:
Contributes to your long-term goals, values, and outcomes. Examples: studying consistently,
exercising, building skills, planning ahead.
The Core Problem: Most students spend 80% of their time on Urgent tasks and neglect
Important-but-Not-Urgent work (deep study, planning, skill building). This creates a permanent cycle
of crisis management.
Source: Covey, S. R. (1994). First things first. Free Press.
2.2 The Eisenhower Matrix — 4 Quadrants
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URGENT NOT URGENT
IMPORTANT Q1: DO FIRST Q2: SCHEDULE
(Urgent & Important) (Important, Not Urgent)
• Assignment due tomorrow • Long-term study plan
• Medical emergency • Exercise & health
• Critical exam prep • Skills development
Action: Do immediately Action: Block time in calendar
NOT Q3: DELEGATE Q4: ELIMINATE
IMPORTANT (Urgent, Not Important) (Not Urgent, Not Important)
• Non-critical messages • Mindless scrolling
• Some meetings • Entertainment overload
• Minor requests • Trivial tasks
Action: Delegate or minimize Action: Eliminate or time-limit
Source: Covey, S. R. (1994). First things first. Free Press. (Based on the urgency-importance principle
attributed to D. D. Eisenhower, 1954.)
2.3 In-Session Activity — Build Your Matrix
List your tasks for the next 7 days in the table below. Then classify each into a quadrant. Use
this as your actual weekly planning tool.
TASK DUE DATE QUADRANT (Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4)ACTION
2.4 The Elimination Rule: Saying No
Covey argues that the most transformative skill in time management is not doing more, but
eliminating the non-essential. Every "yes" to a Quadrant 4 activity is a "no" to your
Quadrant 2 priorities.
How to Say No Effectively
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• "I appreciate you asking, but I have a commitment during that time."
→ Polite, no explanation required.
• "I can help with that next week — would that work?"
→ Redirects without refusing outright.
• "That sounds interesting, but it doesn't align with my current priorities."
→ Honest and respectful.
Role-Play Scenario (In-Session)
Scenario 1: A friend asks you to help plan a surprise party for tomorrow — you have an
exam.
Your response (practice saying no): _______________________________
Scenario 2: Your group chat explodes with 47 messages while you're in deep study mode.
Your response (practice saying no): _______________________________
Scenario 3: A club asks you to join an urgent committee meeting for an event you're not
involved in.
Your response (practice saying no): _______________________________
Session 2 Key Takeaways
✓ Urgent ≠ Important: protect your Q2 time for real priorities
✓ Most crises (Q1) are Q2 tasks that were neglected too long
✓ Saying no to Q4 is saying yes to your future self
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