Helpful Time Management Exercises and Tips
Here's a good way to examine your time management habits.
Fill out the Weekly Time Budget to see where your time is spent. This worksheet
functions like a checkbook record, only the balance is reflected in hours of time for the week. You
may end up with a shortage, or you may find you have extra hours.
Weekly Time Budget Worksheet
Total number of hours available 168
-
Minus hours in class per week __56____
- ___7___
Minus hours of study time per week
-
Minus hours of sleep time/personal hygiene per week
___63___
Minus hours of committed time per week (e.g., job, church, regular
- ___6___
meetings)
- ___7___
Minus hours of meal time per week (include coffee stops!)
- __7____
Minus hours of exercise per week
- ___7___
Minus hours of family time per week
- ____5__
Minus hours of laundry, shopping, personal errands per week
- __2_
Minus hours of television per week
- ___4___
Minus hours of email, video games, social media, etc.
Minus hours of other recreation per week (movies, parties, - ___3___
etc.)
Minus other (miscellaneous) - ___1___
___168__
Final Balance (+ or -) __
Adapted from [Link]
Next complete the Daily Time Budget below. This worksheet uses the same categories as the Weekly
Time Budget but asks you to remember the past week in detail. You can get a weekly total for each
category by adding across the chart and recording hours in the right hand margin. Then compare an
actual week with your best guess on the Daily Time Budget.
Daily Time Budget Worksheet
Think back on each day for the past week and account for all your hours as accurately as possible.
Activity Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Total
Class hours 6 7 6 6 7 4 5 41
Study hours 3 2 1 2 2 2 1 13
Sleep, etc. 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 52
Committed 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 9
(church/bibl
e study)
Meal time 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 9
Exercise 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 13
Family 2 1 2 1 3 3 4 16
Personal 3 1 3 2 4 5 4 22
Email, etc. 4 2 1 2 2 2 1 14
Television 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 7
Other 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 6
Now make a list of all the things you want to get done this week. Then divide up tasks into a daily To
Do List. (Many of your daily tasks are regular events and do not belong on the list.) If you are
organized, you will find that you are working on things that are important instead of responding to
things that feel urgent! Organization brings a wonderful sense of calm with it and makes you feel like
you have more time instead of less time!
Key Points for Time Management and Effective Studying
• Study 2-3 hours per week for each class
• Do not pile up your hours during finals week or during the hours/days before exams and paper
due dates—you’ll only stress yourself out
• Spread the hours throughout the weeks of the semester
• Spread the hours throughout the days of the week
Time Savers That Can Make Your Schedule Work
• Learn to say NO—be assertive with friends
Adapted from [Link]
• Begin; avoid procrastinating
• Plan the day, the week, and the semester
• Set goals so the emphasis will be on the tasks most important to you (prioritization)
• Learn and practice self-discipline
• Learn to listen effectively
• Seek the help of experts (books, manuals, advisors, faculty, friends, family, etc.)
• Expect to succeed
• Finish each task before starting another
• Avoid interruption
• Have a place for everything; keep or return everything to its place
• Study difficult/boring subjects first, so you’re “fresh”
• Study at the best hour of the day, according to your personal needs
• Study with intervals, pace yourself, and plan ahead
• Use “waiting time” effectively (use 3x5 cards, always carry your notes or a book)
• Have a consistent place to study, where you know you work best
Adapted from [Link]
MY GOALS FOR THIS WEEK
Make a habit of daily exercise.
Take time out for self-care.
Have a healthy snack.
Go to bed early.
Drink enough water each day.
Go over all my notes.
Watch my favorite you tuber.
Rearrange my room.
Ensure to finish all my assignments.
Listen to a motivational speech.
Write something positive about myself.
Do some yoga.
Improve in math.
Improve my writing skills.
Read some positive quotes.
Watch a movie with my family.
MY DAILY TO DO LIST
Make a habit of daily exercise.
Drink enough water each day.
Have a healthy snack.
Listen to a motivational speech.
Write something positive about myself.
Ensure to finish all my assignments.
Go over all my notes.
Improve in math.
Improve my writing skills.
Rearrange my room.
Read some positive quotes.
Take time out for self-care.
Do some yoga.
Watch my favorite you tuber.
Watch a movie with my family.
Go to bed early.
Adapted from [Link]