The University of Arizona

Faculty Corner: Lesson 3 - Time Management

Content/Organization/Overview

This lesson discusses the importance of time management skills and allows students the opportunity to reflect on their current skills, discuss the advantages to good time management, view time management tips, and obtain a greater understanding of procrastination. In the activities portion of the lesson, students will be instructed to create a weekly schedule, make a long-term calendar, create a daily to-do list, and think of productive tasks that can be done in small periods of wait-time.

Common problems students have with managing time:

  • Little knowledge of how their time is actually spent
  • Procrastination on important tasks
  • Little knowledge of how to create and follow a schedule
  • Too much time socializing
  • Not scheduling enough study time

For discussion:

  • Have students contribute what they are already doing to manage their time.
  • Discuss how students can use day planners effectively. Show different formats and discuss the advantages and disadvantages to using different kinds.

Activities and Assignments that would complement this lesson:

  • Have students monitor their time for a day or two, accounting for each 15-30 minute interval. This may increase students’ awareness of how their time is actually spent.

Follow up:

  • For the midterm examination, have students schedule study time, study goals, etc.