Take Control of Your To-Do List: Part Two

Match a time management strategy with your personality:

"Italian Tomatoes": Originally this strategy used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer -- thus the name. Set a timer and work intensely for 25 minutes before taking a 5-minute break. Looking forward to regular breathers can help you focus and feel comfortable eliminating distractions. (You can check Facebook during your break.) 
 Who: This method is especially helpful for "The Perfectionist" and "The Lounger".

Time Chart: Ever wonder where the time has gone? Tasks often seem to take longer than you expect and the day flies by before you can catch it. A spreadsheet broken up into 15- or 30-minute chunks can help you identify exactly how your time is being spent. Make the spreadsheet for a full week and write down exactly what you do (ex. sleep, eat, socialize, watch Netflix) during this time. 
Who: This strategy works for anyone but is especially useful for "The Lounger" and "The Chatterbox". The "Over-Committer" may find it useful to see that there isn't room for anything else in your schedule.

Unplug: Smart phones and laptops can help you organize but can also suck-up a lot of time. Try taking time during the day to turn off your phone, social media, email, etc. for an hour or two and use that time to focus on things you need to get done (You can use the "Italian Tomatoes" approach if you'd like). 
 Who: This is useful for "The Over-Committer" and "The Firefighter" to tackle current responsibilities before adding more chaos to their agendas.

Visualize: Use a planner and/or a dry-erase board to keep track of everything. This is especially useful for visual learners as it provides a stationary and on-the-go place to keep track of what you need to do. 
 Who: This method may be comforting for "The Perfectionist" who's worrying about missing a detail. "The Firefighter" may find it helpful for zeroing in on priorities. Color-coding tasks can further support this

Take Action! 

• Identify your time-management personality
• Match creative strategies with your individual style
• Use a time chart to figure out where you may be over-committed
• Work in 25-minute increments to increase focus
• If you procrastinate, explore the reasons why

Contents adapted from Take Control of Your To-Do List from Student Health 101 http://readsh101.com/uni.html