Students learn time management skills

By Eric Krol

A small crowd learned how to properly manage their time Tuesday night at Douglas Hall.

Mark Ludden, graduate assistant at the Learning Assistance and Study Skills Center, Jensen Apartment A-2, 140 Carroll Avenue, spoke for an hour to about 10 students on how they can use their time wisely.

“School is an investment,” Ludden began. He compared the future economic gains from higher education to alternative uses of the money and time spent in college.

Because a higher education degree leads to higher earnings after graduation, it’s worth the sacrifice now, he said. It’s helpful to learn to manage time wisely now, he said.

Sponsor Anita Coward, a resident assistant at Douglas Hall, said that she brought Ludden in because she has worked with LASSL before. “I had a time management workshop when I was a freshman, and it helped me to put my priorities in order,” she said.

In order to manage their time better, Ludden recommended students use monthly, weekly and daily planners.

The monthly planner is used for long-range plans, while the daily planner is more of a flexible “to do” list, he said.

“I plan a week at a time first,” Ludden said. “This is the most manageable of the three,” he said.

Ludden then gave a six-point plan for a weekly schedule.

The first step is to choose one hour per week for scheduling, Ludden said. This is the most important step because it starts the process, he added.

The second step is to schedule fixed activities, such as classes, meetings, a favorite television program or even working out, Ludden said. This will give the schedule a skeleton to work with, he said.

The next step is to highlight any tests, quizzes and papers due within the week, Ludden said.

“The fourth step is to provide enough time for number three,” Ludden said. Plan all study and preparation time, he said.

The fifth step is to plan regular study time. This step should be subordinate to step four, he added.

Ludden said the final step is to schedule flexible activities. These are reserved for last because they’re negotiable.

Ludden said schedules should be realistic and flexible allowing students to stick to them despite unexpected activities, he added.

LASSL provides individual attention and one-hour workshops for groups, Ludden said. Individuals can set up an appointment by calling 753-1221.