Skip to main content

Home/ NEINursing/ Time Management
Tanyah Holloway

Time Management - 69 views

started by Tanyah Holloway on 09 Mar 12
  • Tanyah Holloway
    #1 Tanyah Holloway on 09 Mar 12
     
    Is anyone else having a problem with time management and meeting your study requirements, my life is just so busy at the moment and work commitments in overload. any helpful suggestions to make better use of my time.
    many thanks Tanyah
  • Shawn Sheridan
    #2 Shawn Sheridan on 09 Mar 12
     
    Yes, Tanyah, time management is a very real issue when studying externally. I will add a post to the NEI Nursing online blog with some tips that you can peruse at "your leisure" :)

    Hopefully you will glean a few insights that will help you. The best tip I can give you is to set a regular time for your studies each week; let everyone who is likely to "need" you at this time know you are NOT available; and get into it. This is YOUR time - most people will respect your commitment to your learning.

    Having a timetable & displaying it to others will also let them know when you are not available. It will also encourage you to stick to that time. If you are "caught" doing other things in that set apart time, you will feel guilty you didn't use your time as you promised you would.

    Another tip: if someone wants to have a chat: stand up. They will be less likely to be comfortable taking your time if your body language is sending a message saying: "I'm busy and not available". If you remain seated when they interrupt, you are sending a message that you have time to spare.
  • michelle hudson
    #3 michelle hudson on 11 Mar 12
     
    Thanks for the post and the ideas of working through, like you Tanyah I too am busy at the moment.. Selling our house so we have had people come through and buying another moving in 3 weeks... Life certainly is crazy at the moment:-) Just keep reminding myself of the end result and how wonderful that will be.. See you Monday
  • Vivian Evans
    #4 Vivian Evans on 11 Mar 12
     
    Yes so many things keep us busy - planned and the unexpected. Moving house is up there with the stressful things to do Michelle! I just spent the weekend involved in our local show and moving a room and that was exhausting and still not finished.
    Have you a location you can study, complete tasks and connect to class (e.g. work place or local library) during your move?

    Vivian
  • Lisa Staff
    #5 Lisa Staff on 13 Mar 12
     
    I gave up tv and face book (big distractions) when studying @ uni. I also gave myself managable goals or tasks. Slow, steady & regular study will eventually help you reach your goal.
  • gavin flanagan
    #6 gavin flanagan on 13 Mar 12
     
    life is what happens while your busy making other plans.I like your advise Shawn about the timetable which i strive to do but sometimes things pop up,education at work for example...im actually considering dropping a day at work so my work load (study) does'nt get on top of me
  • leisa tully
    #7 leisa tully on 13 Mar 12
     
    I find that being in a seperate room to everyone else and a sign on the door that states" class in progress" works wonders for me. I also do extra time on the Mon and Wed after class as its still fresh in my head and always do half a hour to a hour after tea.
  • Teresia Bellia
    #8 Teresia Bellia on 13 Mar 12
     
    Normally I set aside atleast one hour per night to help me get into the routine of studying. I make sure that my four kids are sound asleep. Sometimes i get engrossed in the topic and by the time i stop a couple of hours have gone. just getting into the habit
  • Vivian Evans
    #9 Vivian Evans on 13 Mar 12
     
    Thanks for sharing your great ideas
  • michelle hudson
    #11 michelle hudson on 14 Mar 12
     
    there are some great ideas in there for keeping me on track thanks everyone
  • kim rattle
    #12 kim rattle on 14 Mar 12
     
    I too have struggled with balancing study, kids, work, etc,. I am lucky enough to have a study buddy. This has kept me honest with my time because I am helping her as much as she is helping me.
  • luke grimbeek
    #13 luke grimbeek on 14 Mar 12
     
    yes, it is probably best to set aside time to study
  • Allison Moles
    #14 Allison Moles on 14 Mar 12
     
    I find i am struggling to keep up but i have a seperate room to go into & find my Study head lol, i leave my mobile phone in kitchen and try to limit distractions, i have been trying to find a balance with study, work, family, housework etc. I have even been taking my books into work with me when i'm on night shift & try to get some done when its quiet & in between calls. I keep my goal of becoming a EN & i find this keeps me motivated to keep going :-D
  • Tanyah Holloway
    #15 Tanyah Holloway on 14 Mar 12
     
    thank you everyone for your ideas and suggestions, it looks like Im about to make some major changes to my life if i want to achieve my goal - course completion. Better get to it.... :-)
  • Carol Leeder
    #16 Carol Leeder on 14 Mar 12
     
    Some good ideas I use some of them already
  • manda newell
    #17 manda newell on 14 Mar 12
     
    I find having my own separate study area is very helpful. I only use it when im studying and not for anything else. Have no distractions around me such as mobile phone and also use some ear plugs to stop any out side noise. Hope this is helpful best of luck :)
  • sharron thomas
    #18 sharron thomas on 14 Mar 12
     
    I surf for 1/2 each day and anything I find I add too favs immediately, then log on about an hour before class and read the stuff i've saved and complete some of the resourse books.
    My only prob atm is everything I have written is in pencil and still trying to train my adult son that tues/thurs mornings I'm not available
  • Terry Davies
    #19 Terry Davies on 14 Mar 12
     
    i have exactly the same problems between the kids life its self and trying to get some study or even the work i have to get done is a bit impossible so good to read some of these ideas thanks Tanyah for asking the question and know your not alone
  • Brooke Jolley
    #20 Brooke Jolley on 14 Mar 12
     
    yes good ideas :)
  • jolliffer
    #21 jolliffer on 14 Mar 12
     
    i find that i am struggling to keep up, i have my own room for studying.in it is hard with working,famliy,study but i find if i spend at least 4 hrs when i can try to do it every day to catch up
  • sharron thomas
    #22 sharron thomas on 14 Mar 12
     
    Also suggest lots of RED or GREEN CORDIAL
  • Kerry Kirk
    #23 Kerry Kirk on 15 Mar 12
     
    having a diary helps me and trying to stick to that
  • Robyn Preston
    #24 Robyn Preston on 15 Mar 12
     
    with work and having being sick I' am finding it a bit hard to get to it
  • Chelsea Brown
    #25 Chelsea Brown on 15 Mar 12
     
    Locking myself in the study and focusing on the assessment at hand, nearly always it is last minute as per usual busy lifestyle, but this is when I am least distracted!!
  • laurenstyles
    #26 laurenstyles on 15 Mar 12
     
    There are some great sggestions on here! think i might make up a timetable, i start permanent rostered shifts soon so this will allow me to have some stability in my study hours and will help put myself in a routine! thanks for all the helpful tips folks!
  • virginia frazer
    #27 virginia frazer on 15 Mar 12
     
    I don't watch much tv, i mange my day buy doing things in secshions, an hour here an hour there i'm abit of a night owl so i study more at night for 2 to 3 sometimes 4 hours i have found soft music helps me concentrate like nature sounds and mozart funny anouth it helps my mind relax more to take more in. cheers i hope that helps alittle
  • Vivian Evans
    #28 Vivian Evans on 15 Mar 12
     
    Thanks for sharing everyone!
  • hm6743hm
    #29 hm6743hm on 15 Mar 12
     
    harold mcelhinney
    I have a daughter doing her diploma in child care SHE hogs the internet. I can use the net when she is asleep. Mobile dosnt work here always
  • Vivian Evans
    #30 Vivian Evans on 15 Mar 12
     
    Harold - is there a way you can negotiate with your daughter as your diploma is as valuable as hers. (though she may not think so!) Perhaps quarantine some hours in a time slot when you are not too tired... or perhaps focus on printing off info so you can follow it up later off the internet.
  • Shawn Sheridan
    #31 Shawn Sheridan on 16 Mar 12
     
    What a challenge you have on your hands (on top of everything else!). I like Viv's suggestion about negotiating but if that fails (and it can) when she "forgets" her part of the deal, you could download some free software from Mediavention that actually limits the amount of internet time she uses.

    At the end of her session, it will simply "timeout" & the screen will white out. No further access will be allowed until you enter the parental password. Maybe this would also train her to be more efficient in her use of the internet? This could be set up for as many users as you need.

    Link to software page: http://mediavention.com/groundhogmain.html the software is free but you need to register to download it.
  • Shawn Sheridan
    #32 Shawn Sheridan on 16 Mar 12
     
    Apologies - I should have mentioned there is a short video about how to use this software on this page; the main points to consider in your situation are as follows:
    This software includes:

    * Curfew system (Allows you to choose when the computer can be used and when it can't)
    * Password protected un-install (Only parents can remove GroundHog)
    * Auto child time reset (at 12:00 midnight) (No need to restart the computer)
    * Easier Blind reset (Drop down replaced the complicated blind settings)
    * Longer Parent time option (Up to 480 minutes now)

To Top

Start a New Topic » « Back to the NEINursing group