I definitely am a huge procrastinator. These days all tasks get completed as their deadline looms. It is unfortunately getting worse. Making a list has always been a very effective tool for me. I really need to get back to doing that. :-)
Greg
Yes, it's usually best to invest a little time planing how to complete a task before jumping in. This small time investment can have a big savings in the long term.
Yes, it's amazing how much we evolve and change from being students to employees in the workforce. When working with students, we must remind ourselves of this evolution when we feel frustrated with their lack of time management skills.
I have a tendency to wait until the last minute to do tasks that I feel are timely, and from what I have learned in this module, I plan on breaking down my to-do lists so that I do not feel so overwhelmed. This will help me to prioritize my tasks and not procrastinate.
If I were taking this course when I was a student, every answer would be the opposite of this reply. I make lists, use the calendar and task list in Outlook, send my self texts, and, when my schedule is really maxed out, I put notes on my dashboard.
I like schedules. I plan my week based on tasks that I need to complete. I sometime find that if I have a big task to complete I am more effecient if I take time to think about the task and how I plan to complete it rather than jump right in and tackle it without out contemplating it.
It's great that your to do list serves both student needs as well as your needs Joel. When you are organized and in control of your schedule, your students really benefit too.
Mr. Brookstein,
That is a great idea. I rarely share any more than the daily schedule/syllabus with the students. If they have that information, they too can be prepared to tackle the week's events.
James
I usually do a weekly to do list. This helps me plan out my personal as well as work life. It also helps the students to know what is coming up later on in the week as many of my students are adult learners and working full time.
Yes, many instructors experience the same challenges Frances. We procrastinate the tasks we don't want to perform. We move forward on the ones we enjoy. Finding a way to balance both tasks that we like and those we don't is key.
I find that if I do not have a to do list, I attempt to commit things to memory and that greatly impacts my stress level. When I write them down, I know that I can go back to my list at any time and view the notes. I sleep better when I have taken a few minutes to write things down.
James
Yes, it's hard to imagine how people function without to do list Robert. At a guess, they spend a lot of time trying to commit key tasks to memory.
It's funny, but I have become a procrastinator for certain duties, only. I tend to be one that has to complete everything just so! Drives everybody else crazy, but I tend to over organize and can be quite verbose!!
The procrastination has got to stop, however. I must start using a "to do list" again as I used to do. I really get stressed out if I procrastinate on a report that goes to someone higher up!
I have no more excuses thanks to this training!
I am from the era of the "old school" and as such have made. use. revise and use a to do list as a way of life. I do not understand how anyone can function without a to do list. By using this to do list I am able to keep the priorities up to date and I am able to accomplish what needs to be done in the order necessary. I am not a procrastinator and I do rely on the to do list to keep me on the right path.
Typically and historically I have been a severe procrastinator who used the excuse that I worked better under pressure. That being said, what I would normally do is put everything off until the last possible moment and then rush to complete before a deadline or twelve.
Currently, I have been making "to do" lists and trying to complete as much, or all of it, in a given day. This has helped keep me task oriented and focused.
One thing that I am going to do is complete the smaller, quicker, projects first to get them out of the way so I can focus more on the more complicated, time consuming tasks. The only prioity above that will be an "immediate attention" item, task, or issue.
Frank Wylie, MSCJ/Forensic Psychology, LCDCIII, ICADC
I have used task prioritization in the past and it works wonderfully. Apparently, because of certain life experiences, I let fear creep in regarding other people's control in my decision-making regarding priorities. I have always felt that prioritizing works well for me and I intend to continue this process in the future. I have been working on the issue that others control my time and find that I have begun to improve recently. Who has control? I do and I must to be my most competent!
Do you find this to be true for others Dr. Read?
Usually the tasks that are most important and urgent for me to complete I accomplish them right away. My problem is completing tasks that are not considered urgent. I don't complete less urgent tasks in a timely manner so I end up having to rush to complete them later. What I have learned in this module about task prioritization is to change the order in which I accomplish each task so I won't forget about less important tasks later. After reading this module I will change the order in which I prioritize my tasks.
Kim
I do meet the deadlines on my to do list, but this module reminded me that there are times when urgent items don't necessarily follow deadlines.
Yes, sometimes priority is defined by when a task has to be completed. Other times it's based on who gave you the task or who will receive the outputs of that task.
Yes, that's a common problem Gina. It's often tempting to complete easy tasks first. It's ok to knock out a few of these tasks but eventually we've got to work on complex and less desirable tasks too.
