Research_Strategy_Paper

Time Management Sara Milam University Of Phoenix Gen/200 March 7, 2010 Ila Allen Time Management I have a lifestyle that dictates that I must juggle different tasks including being a parent, a caregiver, and a student. All of these tasks can become very challenging to balance at times and require that I keep up with my time management skills otherwise I may lose out on one thing or another. Effective time management for me can be either really rewarding while I’m pursuing my college degree or it can be very frustrating. As a student learning how to manage my time effectively can be the difference between a passing and failing grade, especially if I am not able to devote time to my assignments that have to be completed at a set time. For me as well as others that struggle with managing our time effectively it is very important for us to develop a research strategy to overcome this dilemma. When it comes to gathering information to help solve the problem of managing time effectively Carter, Bishop, & Kravits (2007), state that “a careful analysis of how much information you need, how much time to spend gathering it, and whether the information is relevant.” For the problem of time management the information being gathered will be generated by a person analyzing their own schedule. This would be the first step in information gathering, identifying a person’s time-related needs and preferences. The best way for accomplishing this task is for a person to determine what part of the day they are most productive, look at their current time-related habits, and then to make a list of preferences that will help them to establish a routine that works for them. At this point in time the next step is to build a schedule incorporating the information the person as gathered. During the process of building a schedule it is often helpful to get a planner to help keep track of important goals, responsibilities, and deadlines. It is also important to prioritize this information in order to complete the more significant tasks first. After becoming organized with the help of the schedule it is time to move on to the next step of using time saving techniques to help manage time. As a student a person has a number of techniques that can be used to help manage their time including planning a regular schedule, using a calendar to keep track of commitments, incorporate to-do lists, and making use of not only the course syllabus but the other array of resources that are available through the University (Carter, Bishop, & Kravits, 2007). The final steps that are needed is fighting procrastination and being flexible. As a student in general it can be natural for any of us to put off an assignment for any number of reasons. Of course there can be a sudden change that can happen to any well planned out schedule as well that can add to the stress of anyone’s life. Being flexible with the changes and handling them intelligently will aid in a person’s time management skills. When it comes to procrastination and a flexible schedule having effective time management skills should make it so these two are not even a factor. Now that a person has gathered the appropriate information and analyzed it the next step is to evaluate what was learned. With any problem there may be a number of solutions that are likely to help solve it so it is important to take into consideration the pros and cons of the solutions presented to choose one that will work best for a person. Once the person settles on a solution the can then move forward to put the solution into action solving the problem. A person must use critical analysis in order to come to a proper solution that will work for them. Developing a research strategy will greatly aid a person in finding an effective solution to any problem including a time management one. Being able to research, analyze, and implement a strategy to improve a person’s time management skills will help the individual not only complete tasks on time, but will reduce and minimize their stress related to this problem. Reference %20%20%20%20_self)