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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Self-Assessment

Where Does My Time Go?

To develop a better sense of your current time management, reflect on:

  • Your current habits. 
    • Consider your likes, dislikes, and energy levels.
  • What you currently have to juggle in your life.
    • Consider things such as work, school, and personal matters.
  • What your average day looks like. 
    • Consider how much time you spend on routine tasks.

If you aren’t entirely sure where your time is going, spend a week keeping an accurate record of where you are spending your time:

  • Be as accurate as possible.
  • Be honest with yourself! 
  • Review your findings. 
  • Were there any surprises? 
  • Ask questions 
    • Was this a typical week?
    • What days or times did I study best?
    • Did I make enough time for self-care and relaxation?
    • What distracted me or prevented me from accomplishing different priorities?
    • How will the decisions I am making right now help or hinder me in the future?
    • How often do I need breaks?
    • When do I feel the most energetic and alert? 
    • Reflect.
  • Think about what you want to change or do differently.

Check out the following resource from Lumen Learning, which provides many strategies and self-assessment tools to help you manage your time.

 

Time Management Inventory

This self-assessment survey will help you identify the time management strategies you use and the skills you need to develop to refine your organization and time management.
Take the survey - Time Management Inventory
Score each statement from one (this is not typical of me) up to five (this is very typical of me).


1. I find myself pacing and planning my tasks throughout the term, and I am rarely stressed about deadlines and commitments.

2. I set aside time every week for planning, scheduling and setting out my priorities.

3. I create a realistic and achievable daily “to do” list.

4. I know which tasks are high, medium and low priority. 

5. The tasks I work on first during the day are the ones with the highest priority.

6. I prioritize the tasks I have to do in terms of their importance and urgency. 

7. I begin working on semester-long projects early in the term.

8. I begin reviewing my notes and studying for an exam from the first week that material is assigned or covered in the lecture.

9. I set specific, achievable short-term goals to help decide what tasks and activities I should work on and determine what I should study.

10. I think about the future, set long-term goals for myself, and understand the steps required to achieve these goals.

11. I leave contingency time in my schedule for unexpected or unplanned interruptions.

12. I take breaks and practise self-care, and I have developed clear boundaries between my social life and work life.

13. I begin my study time with my most difficult tasks first. 

14. I break down my tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.

15. I use small gaps in my schedule to chip away at relatively complex tasks.  

16. I set deadlines for myself if they are not provided for me, and I share my plans and goals with others to increase my accountability.

17. I anticipate things that will distract me, and I manage or minimize those distractions so that I can focus on my work.

18. I complete most of my studying during my most productive hours each day. 

19. I use a calendar or spreadsheet to track all of my assignments and test deadlines.

20. I study one to three hours for every one hour I spend in lecture.

21. I know how much time I spend on the various tasks I complete.

22. I use a study planner to keep track of the hours I spend studying and ensure I review course content at the most optimum times.

23. Before I take on a new task, I assess whether or not I can balance it.

24. I concentrate on one important task at a time, and I avoid multitasking. 

25. I think of being a full-time student as I would a full-time job.


These statements are all strategies to manage your time effectively! 


There are 25 statements in this list, and each is ranked from 1 to 5. Your total score can range anywhere from a low of 25 to a high of 125. If you scored at the lower end of this range – say, below 50 – you need to work on your time management strategies. You have already developed some robust time management strategies if you scored at the higher end of this range – say, above 85. See if you can get all of your scores to a 4 or 5 to meet your deadlines and commitments consistently.

References:

“Time Management Calculator: Where Does My Time Go?” (n.d.). Ferris State University. Accessed at: https://www.ferris.edu/academics/advising/Section5ExploratoryandGateway/time.htm 

The self-assessment survey was adapted from the following sources:

“How Good Is Your Time Management?” (n.d.). Mindtools. Accessed at: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_88.htm 

“Study Skills Inventory.” (n.d.). University of Redlands, Academic Success & Disability Services. Accessed at: https://carleton.ca/mentoring/wp-content/uploads/Study-Skills-Inventory-Redlands.pdf 

“Time Management Inventory.” (n.d.). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The Learning Centre. Accessed at: https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/time-management-inventory/ 

“Time Management.” (n.d.). Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Accessed at: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/media/5538/time-management.pdf