Counselor offers time-management techniques
by Tiffany Davis, reporter

    In order to improve time management, people need to realize how much time they spend on certain tasks and how much time they should spend on those tasks, a South Campus counselor said last week.

    Lilia Covio-Calzada, counselor, used a self-discovery technique to define the way people really spend their time.

    “We need to prioritize our life so that we can spend the amount of time necessary for studying,” she said.

    School should be high on the list of priorities, Calzada said.

    “If you find that you’re not earning the grades you want, then you should begin managing your time now,” she said.

    Students were given a handout to help them determine how many hours are needed to earn an A. The handout recommended studying two hours per hour in class for an easy class. It recommended three hours of study per hour in an average class and four hours per hour in a hard class.

    In other words, if the material in the class is difficult to learn, it is necessary to spend more time studying for that class.

    “If school can’t be worked into your time, maybe you should reduce your course load,” she said.

    Calzada said several different factors could lead to poor grades.

“Too much time spent preparing to study and not enough time actually studying is one of them, but there is a resolution to that. If students would study when they are most alert, it would help them accomplish more,” she said.

    “Last but not least, students should set realistic goals for the amount of time intended to study,” she said.

Calzada explained that a lack of an adequate study plan could cause problems too.

    “If students know what they are responsible for, they can schedule a set number of chapters per study session,” she said.
Studying in short time blocks with short breaks in between may help relive fatigue and wasted time, Calzada said.

    “If you’re having difficulty deciding what and when to study, begin with the most uninteresting and/or difficult subject first, and then schedule time slots during the week for all of your classes,” she said.

    Students should make sure there is time to eat and sleep properly, Calzada said.

    “Sleep is often used as a time management bank. Students tend to take a few of their sleeping hours for extra studying and socializing. This makes study time less effective and less productive,” she said.

    Calzada urged students to arrange time for socializing and relaxing instead of missing out on their sleep.

According to her handout, everyone needs a social life, yet balance is necessary in our life.

    “Time management is making the best use you can of that most precious resource—time. It is knowing a system for helping you meet your goals. It is using practical tips for using your time effectively and succeeding when facing stumbling blocks of procrastination. It’s knowing yourself, your habits, your goals and your peak time,” she said.