Whats up bloggers, over my first week of this school year one thing that I have really learned is how important it is to manage your time wisely. The normal first week consists of the following: back to school parties, games and events on campus and basic introductory days in the classes. At least thats what I always am looking fwd to. This year all of the previous mentioned things happened but most of my intro days where replaced with jump right in you have work due the next meeting days. Its been a crucial week because I've started in my major this year, Architecture and design, and hitting your due dates are critical. It has been taking all of my time, one small day of no work at all puts me behind deadline for one of five projects due Wednesday and that is just in one of my four classes. I cannot afford to fail these courses but it has been hard replacing my social time for classwork time this early in the year. But I have to do it if this what I want to do in life. If I set aside 2 hours to work on a project it turns out to be a 4 to 5 hour thing and trust me when I say that is not intentional but it is better than putting these assignments off like some of my classmates who are thinking the last minute scramble to get things done is going to work ...not this time! Remember this bloggers, time management can be the difference between a headache and smooth sailing...
Always C.Flue
Flue,
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me about rocks in a glass...not a glass of something on the rocks. Read on. Write on.
Jessica
The story goes that a certain time-management guru was giving a seminar to a group of executives. To illustrate a point he was about to make, he brought out a large glass tank and proceeded to fill it with big rocks until he could fit no more. He then asked his audience, "Is the tank full?"
The executives, many of whom were veterans of innumerable time-management workshops, pondered a while and finally someone ventured, "The tank is not full."
"Correct," said the guru, and he then poured pebbles into the same glass tank. The smaller pebbles slipped easily into the spaces between the big rocks, and soon the tank was unable to fit any more pebbles. He then asked the same question, "Is the tank full?"
Having caught on to what the guru was doing, the audience now responded without hesitation, "No." Once again the answer was correct, and the guru began to pour sand into the tank until it could hold no more. Without bothering to ask the audience yet again, the guru announced that the tank was still not full and started to pour water into it.
When at last the tank was filled to the brim, the guru turned to the audience and asked, "What principle am I trying to demonstrate?" Several in the audience raised their hand, and one of the executives sitting in the front row volunteered, "The tank represents the total amount of time we have, and the objects you put inside represent the work we have to do. By putting in more and more items into the tank even when it seemed to be full, you're trying to tell us that there's always time to do more work."
The guru smiled as he shook his head. "That's a very good answer, and I'm sure squeezing more time out of your day is the whole purpose of most time-management techniques, but it isn't what I was trying to demonstrate."
Bewildered, the audience listened attentively as he continued, "The point I was trying to make is that when you're filling the tank, you have to put the big rocks in first, otherwise you'll never get them all inside. In other words, you have to schedule the most important activities first and fit the rest around them, or else the little things will overwhelm you and leave you no time for the really big things. We all have our big rocks, and I think sometimes the challenge is to make sure the small pebbles and particles of sand do not displace the big rocks from our tanks. "
So, what are your big rocks, and are you putting them in first? If you know what matters to you, what lights up your heart, what brings lasting joy and happiness, what is the next crucial step toward an important long range goal – do that first…and then there will time, energy, and space for everything else.
With these thoughts in mind, we must, from time to time, empty our glasses completely, and reposition the rocks, pebbles, sand, and water as our priorities change.
It's good to hear that you are setting priorities for yourself, I wish I had done the same 20+ years ago. Sounds like you are handling your social life in moderation which can be difficult when you are young but the payoff will be so awesome when you get that piece of paper in your hand, your degree!
ReplyDeleteWay to go, man! I've got a full 20 hours this semester because of mandatory classes for my music scholarship, but I know keeping up with class would be so much easier with an approach like this! There are PLENTY of free parties, but how often do you get education for free? We're here to work, and we're paying to work, so why not? In the long run, it should make things easier.
ReplyDeleteI hear you man. This is the hardest year I'm ganna have in college. I have already turned in two five page chapter summaries. My other two years have been party then work but now it has to be work and the party. But if you work hard but play harder its a lot of fun and you still get your work done.
ReplyDeleteI was hit last year with those intro days that turn out to be full blown class periods of lecture. It's a shock at first. I agree with your comments on time management. It is tough letting go of some social life for the work but I think it is good discipline.
ReplyDeleteI have had to become a lot better at this since moving into my apartment time management is so crucial for success. It really does suck spending your time doing school rather than social time with friends but when you get your degree it will all be worth it.
ReplyDeleteThe rocks in a glass thing ...not a glass of something on the rocks thing was really cool.
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