Better Information Retention

 

 Effective Use of Time

A) Types of time

There are three types of time - chronological, progressive, and functional.

The most important is functional time. For example, we need to eat breakfast every morning. The other two types are used less often: progressive time is used for activities that happen in a particular order or run a certain course over a limited period of time (e.g., an exam), and the third kind is chronological - the type I am talking about here since there isn't any other kind that starts with "c". We don't have enough hours in the day to do everything we want, so it's important to maximize your use of these three categories.

In order to use your time most effectively, you must understand how to use these three types of time.

Exam question: Discuss how each kind of time can be used effectively.

B) Using functional time

There are some types of functional time that you have to do at a certain time every day or week - like eating meals, homework or doing laundry. You need to make sure that you get these types of tasks done in the appropriate amount of time! In addition, sometimes it is important not to cram your calendar with too many things on different days. For example, if you have an exam on Monday, try not to schedule anything for Sunday night.

C) Using progressive time

 You can use progressive time if you are involved in a hobby or if you simply want to be able to set goals and progress towards them. We call it "progressive" because it's an iterative process - each day is a new step along the way towards the completion of your goal. You should be clear about what you want to accomplish, and then make sure that you take steps to get there throughout the week. This can help prepare you for life outside school; think about which skills or talents that would be useful in a job, for example.

D) Using chronological time

To effectively use chronological time, you need to focus on one event at a time. This can be helpful if you have a task that you need to get done and it is going to take a while - like studying for a test or working on a long paper.

You should have only one thing on your mind, so that you don't become stressed out and find it hard to concentrate. You could also try using music so that when your concentration starts to wane, you can listen to your favorite songs. Also, always make sure that you know how much time you have left for your project - this will help keep deadlines in mind!

E) Get the most sleep!!

It's good advice for everyone out there - students and adults alike. Here's why: if you feel rested and energized, you can do everything more effectively.

Exam question: Discuss the importance of getting enough sleep.

F) Making the most of your time

You can accomplish a lot if you set a schedule, write it down, and follow it! You could also try to develop an effective to-do list - in fact, there are several ways to make these lists that allow you to make the best use out of them. You might want to try breaking large tasks down into smaller steps; for example, when I have a ton of reading for class I just break it up into 10 minute chunks.

Exam question: Discuss different ways to use your time effectively.

G) Do as much as you can as quickly as you can

This is a great method for making the most of your time. You could try to do all of your work in 10 minutes or less, to get it done and begin the next thing! Breaking down tasks into smaller ones also comes into play here - think about how long it actually takes you to write something down on a piece of paper. You could break down larger tasks into smaller ones or even just focus on those that are vitally important.

H) Delegate tasks

This is another great way to make the most of your time. If you have a highly tedious task that you keep doing over and over again, getting someone else to do it for you could help to reduce your stress significantly. This can be difficult though - if you are trying to get them to do something the way that YOU like it, don't forget to provide feedback so that they can improve.

I) Do one thing at a time

This is very important! It may seem like it would be simple - after all, we multitask all day! Unfortunately, when we multitask our brains become overloaded and make decisions based on the most urgent things instead of what's most important at the moment. Instead of thinking about your homework and the test you have tomorrow, try to concentrate on one thing at a time! Being able to focus on something is a valuable skill; it will help you make good decisions about what is important.

J) Make working in groups more effective

This could be a very useful technique - practice working alone first and then try to bring people into your group projects. You can make them learn by experiencing things themselves instead of hearing about it from someone else's perspective. Also, when you don't feel like doing something by yourself, it may be easier to do something with other people who are willing to do the same thing with you.

K) Take smaller steps - talk it over with others

If you're studying for an exam, brainstorm liberally and then narrow down your ideas to what's most important. This can help spread out the information so that you don't get overwhelmed. You could also ask someone else to review your notes with you, or perhaps they could even practice the exam with you! Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it; this is important in college and life outside school as well.

L) Set realistic deadlines

This is another way that we can make sure that we are effective when we use our time. Try to set deadlines for everything - including reading papers or books and watching videos. If you set a deadline for doing a project, it could help you stay focused and even motivate you to do better.

M) Recognize your work

This is another good technique to use. When we are done with something, we could take some time to think about how useful it was and what we've gained from the process. Think about all of the skills that the material has taught you; what have been your key takeaways? Think about how you could use those skills in your daily life, whether they be in class or outside school. You can also try to write down these types of things, so that you don't forget them!

Exam question: Describe one thing you've learned from studying through college.

N) Create an environment conducive to learning

This is important - we need to learn how to learn as well as how to teach. Try using different learning techniques so that you can get the most out of your college courses! This might include:

o Reading out loud instead of silently (this helps you make sense of the information better).

o Substituting certain words, such as "and" for "and", or "as if" for "as".

o Keeping a note of vocabulary words for later use, so that you can remember them.

o Listening more carefully - this works best when it's your turn to speak directly after someone else has completed something.

Conclusion

When we write, we are given an opportunity to learn and develop skills! We can try to read between the lines for conclusions, relate different pieces of information, and understand a topic in greater depth. The skills that you develop can help you in all aspects of your life - from schoolwork to job applications! When we take the time to review these things, it might be easier to improve on them. It is worth it - don't give up on your writing!

Exam question: Discuss a skill that you have developed through college.

We can always learn more about things that we are interested in, even those that seem like common knowledge.