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Work at effective strategies to deal with pressure - these can vary from taking exercise,
to relaxation techniques such as Yoga, to simply sharing problems with friends. Being assertive
can also help here, for example, politely saying no to the demands of others when you are
pushed for time. Sharing tasks and problems with others will spread the burden and will bring a
fresh perspective to them.
Organising your time
Identify areas of your life where you are wasting time and try to reduce these. A good
way to do this is to log everything you do for a week in meticulous detail and then examine your
record to see how you use (or misuse!) your time.
Develop a regular work routine. Keep your work space tidy so that you can work
efficiently - it's hard to do this if things you need to find are buried under a pile of paper! Work
to schedule so that you meet deadlines in good time - don't leave everything until the last
minute. If you have a difficult essay to write, start by drafting out the structure first- this will
break the ice.
When applying for jobs keep copies of all the applications you have made and keep a log
of the date you applied, result, and a record of all your interviews, plus you were questions
asked. This will help you to keep track of your progress and spot areas where you could
improve.
Using a time log
One useful way to eliminate wasted time is to use a time log. First you need to make up a
chart for the next seven days divided into half hour intervals starting at the time you get up and
finishing at the time you go to bed. Write down what you did in each half hour of the day for the
next seven days. Choose a typical week. An example for one day is given to the right.
At the end of the week examine your time log and ask yourself the following questions:
Are there any periods that I could use more productively?
At what time of day do I do my most effective work? Some people are most alert in the
morning, whilst others concentrate best during the afternoon or evening. Schedule your most
important tasks for these times of day.
A time log can be particularly useful at times of pressure, for example, when revising for
examinations or jobhunting during your final year.
By now you should have been able to identify ways in which you could manage your
time more efficiently, and know some techniques to allow you to do this. You might like to look
at the section on action planning which identifies other ways of organising your work so that
you achieve your goals.
One way that employers may measure your time management skills at interview is via an
in-tray exercise.
Example of a time log:
Monday
8.30 Get up
9.00 Breakfast
9.30 Read newspaper
10.00 Lecture
11.00 Coffee with friends
11.30 Work in library
12.30 Lunch
1.30 Careers Information Room
2.00 Lecture
3.00 Seminar
4.00 Sports Centre
5.00 Dinner
6.00 Listening to music at home
7.00 Work on CV

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