How Students Can Improve Their Self-Discipline and Time Management Skills

Introduction quantify centering, although its verge may be a misnomer, is about managing your conviction with a focus on movement of doing and complemental those things which you want to do and which need doing. (Adair, J., Thomas, N. 2004, p.4). A good clock management strategy can be accompanied by a range of techniques in managing time when passing a certain task or goals within a pay equal to(p) epoch. There are numerous types of students around the world ranging from preschooler to teeming time studies to representing adults, including myself, look ating part time courses. Students tend to procrastinate and get take awayed from counselling their meet. Therefore, it is important for students to manage their time well and train their self-discipline since young to stay focus in their studies. In this essay, we allow for be focusing and applying suggestions outlined by Adair, John (1987) and Masterton, Alisa (1997) to discuss more(prenominal) on how students ca n improve their self-discipline and time management skills. John Adair Time draw offmentOther than being organized or efficient, John Adair believes that time management should be goal-driven and results-oriented. There are ten conventions of time management as outlined by John Adair as follows Develop a sense of personal timeIt is important for us as a student to understand and analyses how to spend and improve the time available to us as the first step to change. Students can keep a record of their time spent such as daily time log and then review it after a few sidereal days. By doing this, it pull up stakes swear out the students to understand how they return responded to various tasks at different times of the day and may place or improve accordingly to their needs. In fact, students will get a much better pure tone such as the feeling of satisfaction for the way they spend their time.As mentioned in Adair, J., Thomas, N. (2004, p.9), students are to ensure the followi ngs in order for them to improve the practise of timeYour time is spent according to a clear sentiment of your priorities and main responsibilities.You isolate the unimportant and ruthlessly prune out unnecessary or unproductive activities.You flow any free time (i.e. free from meetings or other peoples demands) to create substantive and usable time of your own.Tasks are simplified where others would not beadversely affected.You are not doing tasks which could be performed by others.An example of time logSource Adair, J., Thomas, N. (2004, p.8) Identifying long-term goalsIt may be worth for students to shine and identifying their long-term goals as it provides them with a sense of purpose and direction to acquire. Any potential conflicts can in any case be recognized during this process. For instance What do we want to be in 3 or 5 years time?What strengths and weaknesses do we have?How can we improve?Walt Goodridge provides 5-steps approach which can be put together into i mplement for students to fate up their goalsStep 1 Find your WhyIt is crucial to understand the flat coat when doing certain things.Step 2 Write your goals downThis motivates students to work for their goals.Step 3 Quantify your goalsStudents should ward off doubts or creating fuzzy goals. They should bespecific when scope out goals.Step 4 Break them downIt will be much easier and manageable for students, especially those who love to procrastinate, to accomplish their goals by breaking down them into smaller parts.Step 5 Develop a strategyStudents should prioritize their task by working out a plan to accomplish their desire goals.Make middle-term plansMiddle-term plans can be seen as running(a) plan which may help students to achieve their long term-goals by setting out who? What? When? Where? How? And Why? Adair, J. has set out an acronym to set targets which are known as S.M.A.R.T.Specific the target must be clear and unambiguousMeasurable a concrete criteria is needed for measuring the progress in achieving the target Attainable it emphasizes the importance of targets that are veridical and attainable Relevant the target must be in alignment with other targets whether it is worthwhile or right time etc. Time bound the target to be set within a time frame, for instance, a target date, to help students to focus their efforts in completing their task before the due date. Planning the dayAdair, J (2004) also emphasizes that the golden rule is to shape the plan an outline for each day by listing the various components. This can help students to categorize and prioritize in congeneric to the goad and importance task accordingly. Students need to understand and distinguish important and urgent term accordingly. Important activities have a result which leads to the operation of students goals while urgent activities require immediate attention which often associated with the achievement of someone elses goals. Student may use below Time Management Mat rix which is a useful tool to set their priorities.Time Management MatrixSource Adair, J., Thomas, N. (2004, p.14) Students may face difficulties in juggling with so many responsibilities. Therefore, students should also include in their systems for identifying what must be done today, should be done today and what baron be done today (Adair, J., Thomas, N. 2004, p.15) Make best use of your timeThere are certain times where students are more productive than other times. Therefore, it is a must to know which of the quality times students are mentally alert and consistent in performing their task. Breaks in between will also help students to work in concentrated burst. However, students should not take this opportunity to procrastinate in between. Organize office workStudents will need a convenient place to study that is free from distractions in order to be able to focus better. It is also prudent for students to avoid on spending so much time teaching which can be easily forgotten .Therefore, it is encouraged for students to follow the following stepsStep 1 ferment your environmentAs mentioned earlier, it is important to have a convenient environment to study. There are many things which can distract students from doing their work diligently. Therefore, students have to find ways to overcome these challenges and manage their self-discipline.Step 2 Establishing a daily routineIt would be much easier once the students have created a routine to manage their plans. This may thus help to avoid procrastination and improve self-discipline. Manage meetings effectivelyIt is encouraged for students to prepare well in advance before attendance to any workshops or classes to enable them to have a clearer idea on the concepts that are relevant to that picky workshop and thus being able to contribute to the discussion. Delegate effectivelyIn students context, it may be a principle which is indirectly in relation to getting others to take some of their workload to enable them to have more time to study. For instance, a working student may request the boss to delegate some of the work responsibilities to someone else so that he/she can leave work at reasonable time to study at home. This may increase the opportunity for students to have more free time to study. Make use of affiliated timeStudents can make use of their available time more effectively to increase their achievement level. This can be done by doing productive activities to schedule alongside which have to be committed to other activities in their daily routines or during waiting time and travel time. For instance, student may use the opportunity of the long lunch break by reading through and through some of the lectures or articles. Manage your healthIt is vital for students to look after their energy and stamina levels as time management is about ensuring that they maximise their available time wisely. This is to ensure that students do not suffer any time deprivation through illness of mind or body. In other words, it is important for students to have a well-balanced life.Bad management in both time and stress can push either of them out of control. Students are and so encouraged to keep themselves healthy and stress-free during their break times by doing certain activities which will helps to clear their mind.Alisa Masterton Time ManagementOther than Adairs (1987) list of ten principles for better time management, Alisa Masterton (1997) also outlines a similar list which may assist students as follows PlanningPlanning helps student to have an overview of the needs to be done with given due date in order for them to accomplish or achieve certain task.PriortisingStudents tend to start prioritizing on tasks that await urgent however are actually which are not the most important ones. Therefore, it is prudent for them to do things that are of equally important. No time squanderStudents should avoid doing things that are not important to prevent themselves fro m wasting any unnecessary time.Learning to say noStudents must avoid from doing task or taking on tasks which does not fit them in. For instance, when they became too pre-occupied and stressed with their own workload, they may not be able to do things effectively.Controlling paperworkIt is important to be organized to avoid missing datelines, losing important things which may lead to waste of time in searching for missing items.The diary as a toolHaving a diary may help students to keep track of what needs to be done with the given due date in relation to the plan and priorities which has been set out.ConclusionFrom time to time, students may face problems in doing their task efficiently and effectively. The main challenges are procrastination and distraction or even having trapped of perfectionism which may hinder the chances to success and thus results in failure. Students who practice good time management skills is often that they are more productive, having more energy to achiev etheir task or goals, feeling less stress, having the ability in getting more things done. Both Adairs (1987) and Mastertons (1997) time management techniques are helpful for students to manage their time well. Students can balance their time management strategy that works best to be more effectively, productive and thus improve their self-discipline.