Paul :: Blog

"Let's Change Our Habit of Procrastination. Tomorrow."

 

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday and avoiding today." –Wayne Dyer. This is a quote I have lived by for the past years. And having this frame of mind is what I believe hinders me from attaining a more excellent academic performance.   

         My being a perfectionist is my personal impediment which leads me to procrastinate. I'm a perfectionist. And since I am one, I must have exactly all the necessary details I need or sometimes, I even want, in perfect order before I begin. For instance, I can’t start working on a project unless I have my music playing or if unless I have something to munch on next to me. Also, I need all my materials in the proper order before starting. Another example is that all my thoughts must be well organized in my head first before putting them onto paper which is why I can’t seem to proceed. And because of all these details, I end up telling myself that it is always too complicated to start at the moment which leads me to postpone and postpone. The result of my perfectionism which is procrastination is the major obstacle that prevents me from a better scholastic performance.

But I don’t think that it is I alone that experiences this. I believe that a majority of students share the same dilemma of procrastination as well. According to a psychologist, William Knaus, an estimated amount of 90% of college students procrastinate and of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators who often end up dropping out of college. 

There are a number of reasons why students put things off or procrastinate. One of these is the setting of the wrong priorities. Most students tend to prioritize leisure and friends more than accomplishing the task. Or students may fail to have clear distinction between urgent and inconsequential tasks. Another is that the student could be greatly overwhelmed by all his tasks that he just ends up just worrying about all of them instead of completing them. Students may also have a hopeless and negative attitude towards the task. They could choose to think that they cannot succeed which may prevent them from getting the work done. Or often, the students tend to work on things that seem to be more convenient first which allows the other more complicated tasks to pile up and make things more difficult. 

All these detailed reasons originate from a certain way of thinking that most students have developed. They seem to have this mindset that they have all the time in the world which is why they keep on postponing and putting things off. If students didn’t take time for granted, they most likely would have a better academic performance. 

There is no actual cure for procrastination but there are several guidelines that may help one avoid it. One must prepare all the necessary equipment needed to avoid going back and forth. The things that aren't necessary for the task must not be in one's work area to minimize distractions. One must also be alert in order to recognize whether one is still focused or already daydreaming. Lastly, the work must be done step by step to avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

Avoiding something doesn't make it disappear. And there is a big difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know. That would be taking action. Following the guidelines may entail a certain extent of discipline but this would definitely result to a more excellent academic performance.

"Let's Change Our Habit of Procrastination. Tomorrow."

 

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday and avoiding today." –Wayne Dyer. This is a quote I have lived by for the past years. And having this frame of mind is what I believe hinders me from attaining a more excellent academic performance.   

         My being a perfectionist is my personal impediment which leads me to procrastinate. I'm a perfectionist. And since I am one, I must have exactly all the necessary details I need or sometimes, I even want, in perfect order before I begin. For instance, I can’t start working on a project unless I have my music playing or if unless I have something to munch on next to me. Also, I need all my materials in the proper order before starting. Another example is that all my thoughts must be well organized in my head first before putting them onto paper which is why I can’t seem to proceed. And because of all these details, I end up telling myself that it is always too complicated to start at the moment which leads me to postpone and postpone. The result of my perfectionism which is procrastination is the major obstacle that prevents me from a better scholastic performance.

But I don’t think that it is I alone that experiences this. I believe that a majority of students share the same dilemma of procrastination as well. According to a psychologist, William Knaus, an estimated amount of 90% of college students procrastinate and of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators who often end up dropping out of college. 

There are a number of reasons why students put things off or procrastinate. One of these is the setting of the wrong priorities. Most students tend to prioritize leisure and friends more than accomplishing the task. Or students may fail to have clear distinction between urgent and inconsequential tasks. Another is that the student could be greatly overwhelmed by all his tasks that he just ends up just worrying about all of them instead of completing them. Students may also have a hopeless and negative attitude towards the task. They could choose to think that they cannot succeed which may prevent them from getting the work done. Or often, the students tend to work on things that seem to be more convenient first which allows the other more complicated tasks to pile up and make things more difficult. 

All these detailed reasons originate from a certain way of thinking that most students have developed. They seem to have this mindset that they have all the time in the world which is why they keep on postponing and putting things off. If students didn’t take time for granted, they most likely would have a better academic performance. 

There is no actual cure for procrastination but there are several guidelines that may help one avoid it. One must prepare all the necessary equipment needed to avoid going back and forth. The things that aren't necessary for the task must not be in one's work area to minimize distractions. One must also be alert in order to recognize whether one is still focused or already daydreaming. Lastly, the work must be done step by step to avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

Avoiding something doesn't make it disappear. And there is a big difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know. That would be taking action. Following the guidelines may entail a certain extent of discipline but this would definitely result to a more excellent academic performance.

"Let's Change Our Habit of Procrastination. Tomorrow."

 

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday and avoiding today." –Wayne Dyer. This is a quote I have lived by for the past years. And having this frame of mind is what I believe hinders me from attaining a more excellent academic performance.   

         My being a perfectionist is my personal impediment which leads me to procrastinate. I'm a perfectionist. And since I am one, I must have exactly all the necessary details I need or sometimes, I even want, in perfect order before I begin. For instance, I can’t start working on a project unless I have my music playing or if unless I have something to munch on next to me. Also, I need all my materials in the proper order before starting. Another example is that all my thoughts must be well organized in my head first before putting them onto paper which is why I can’t seem to proceed. And because of all these details, I end up telling myself that it is always too complicated to start at the moment which leads me to postpone and postpone. The result of my perfectionism which is procrastination is the major obstacle that prevents me from a better scholastic performance.

But I don’t think that it is I alone that experiences this. I believe that a majority of students share the same dilemma of procrastination as well. According to a psychologist, William Knaus, an estimated amount of 90% of college students procrastinate and of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators who often end up dropping out of college. 

There are a number of reasons why students put things off or procrastinate. One of these is the setting of the wrong priorities. Most students tend to prioritize leisure and friends more than accomplishing the task. Or students may fail to have clear distinction between urgent and inconsequential tasks. Another is that the student could be greatly overwhelmed by all his tasks that he just ends up just worrying about all of them instead of completing them. Students may also have a hopeless and negative attitude towards the task. They could choose to think that they cannot succeed which may prevent them from getting the work done. Or often, the students tend to work on things that seem to be more convenient first which allows the other more complicated tasks to pile up and make things more difficult. 

All these detailed reasons originate from a certain way of thinking that most students have developed. They seem to have this mindset that they have all the time in the world which is why they keep on postponing and putting things off. If students didn’t take time for granted, they most likely would have a better academic performance. 

There is no actual cure for procrastination but there are several guidelines that may help one avoid it. One must prepare all the necessary equipment needed to avoid going back and forth. The things that aren't necessary for the task must not be in one's work area to minimize distractions. One must also be alert in order to recognize whether one is still focused or already daydreaming. Lastly, the work must be done step by step to avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

Avoiding something doesn't make it disappear. And there is a big difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know. That would be taking action. Following the guidelines may entail a certain extent of discipline but this would definitely result to a more excellent academic performance.

I am somewhat considered as someone very idealistic, someone with goals and dreams and i also envision my future as something very successful yet there are times that in the middle of this fast paced lifestyle i have, i stop, think and ask myself "what now?" or "what for?" There are times when i get into things thinking that i'll do really good at it like saying "4.0 this term" yet it will come to a point that i will then fall to mediocrity or a level even lower then that. Its not that i am incapable of what i envision myself to be, its just that i tend to loose my drive a lot and that becomes a real problem for a student like me because we get to be swayed int doing things or dropping certain morals if we dont have a firm grip of what we believe ourselves to be.

 

solution:

Looking at my problem, i realized that the solution lies within me, it is all in my will power. The best way to keep my goals is to have a clear picture of it in my head and everytime i am tempted to do things that will affect me i should always remind myself of the things i want and how it will help me in the present or future. I should also always take things day by day. I should always have a short term and long term goal so that my goals dont seem so far a way as i accomplish my short term gaol and at the same time i can grow up to be a very goal oriented individual. I think that as long as I have these ideals in my head I will always have the passion and drive to be a better person.

Did you experience this situation? In the class room, the teacher wants his students to answer a problem. You think that you already know the answer but you are not sure about it, so you cannot raise your hand. Then, somebody takes the chance to answer the question, and unfortunately, it is the same answer as what you were thinking. The sad thing about it, is that it is correct and your teacher admires him. So because of this, you missed the chance of being admired by your teacher..

 

It is an infantile example in our age, but in our life we encounter many situations like this. According to wikipedia’s definition, Hesitation is the act of pausing due to indecision or uncertainty, in either speech or action. Sometimes, it is good for finding prudent decisions, but most of the time we regret our hesitant actions because of the missed opportunities. In my case, specially, hesitation always makes me hard around all situations. Even if in simple questions like, “What do you want to eat?”, I think so deeply and still have no answer about that. I am always not sure about my decision. I see it as very intolerable, and so are other people. But still, I cannot change it.

 

If somebody asks me “Why do you spend all your time watching life pass you by, hanging on to your worry?” I cannot say anything about that. I already know it is a bad thing to do everything, but every time, I spend too much time deciding about the problem. There are still more decisions that I have to do in my life, and it would be very difficult if I still have these hesitations. Based on my experience, actually, hesitation did not bring good result. I could not be a chance taker, and I always find firmed ways through others’ experience. This attitude was still tolerable back in high school, but after graduation, I began having trouble. Until teen age, for example in education, most of student had similar experience and study in their school because it is a basic process for their future life. Consequently, there was no matter that we just follow that stages with same answers of all questions of those and I also adapted to this situation. However, in college, there is no planned answer for all questions and no same way for all students’ education because all of them have different plans for their future life. For me also, all things in college must come from me, without relying on others’ suggestion. So I have to decide alone on how to solve my problems. I do not want to be pushed by others, and I have to decide on my own in every situation because it’s my life.

 

I think that preparedness is the best solution to my problem. Even though I want to be the first in everything, I do not want to rush my decisions because it can spoil everything. However, if I’m a prepared-person, I can drive my things with my opinion on time, and have satisfactory results. There is no hesitation and also no impatience. Nothing is impossible in our in our life if we just prepare for whatever situations we encounter. Effort should be done to lead our life to the better.

Sandoval, Nicole Marie S.

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Introduction

 People have varied natures of dreams. Because of this, the researcher intends to find out what factors influence these particular types of dreams. She also aims to determine the valid dream categories and the common distinct factors that may be causing these.

 Since dreaming is a broad subject matter, the study will look into a number of other related themes and issues as well. The research will further probe into Hobson and McCarley’s (1977) Activation Synthesis Hypothesis. Moreover, the research will also tackle Freud’s concept of wish fulfillment in his psychoanalytic theory and posthypnotic dream suggestion as stated in Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith and Bem’s (1990) Introduction to Psychology. Also, it will delve into the Cognitive Theory of Dreaming. In addition, the research will also include a lot of other studies and articles associated with factors that affect dreaming and dream interpretation as well.

Body

 According to Kosslyn and Rosenberg (2001) in their article, “What triggers Particular Dreams?” certain types of dreams seem to be related to previous episodes that occurred in the day. It is stated there that a dream often echoes a short term lack in a particular stimuli. One instance acknowledged in the book was that of water deprived people for the day dreaming of drinking in their sleep.

 The Posthypnotic pre-dream suggestion (Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith & Bem, 1990) is another possible way that could have an influence on the dream’s content. A study was made using these methods and in the results it showed that some dreams reflected other aspects of the suggestion without the specific elements while others reflected on the suggestion itself.

 In reference to one of Baron’s (1992) articles in Psychology: Second edition, it is possible that external events are incorporated into a person’s dream. In an experiment, Dement and Wolpert, (1958) sprayed water on participants in REM sleep. And in majority of the instances, participants accounted that there was water in their dreams.

 In chapter 8 of Domhoff’s (1996) Finding Meaning in Dreams: A Quantitative Approach, it proposes that there is a relationship between our thoughts and behaviours while we are awake and the categories and contents of our dreams. The chapter implies that the concerns people express in their dreams are the concerns they have during the time they are conscious and awake; their dreams correspond to what they think about or do in their waking life.

 Raija-Leena Punamaki (1998) conducted a study for the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology; she tried to determine the impact of culture, a violent environment, gender, and age in dream content. Her study was conducted on 205 children in three groups: 80 Palestinians living in a violent environment and 45 Palestinians and 80 Finnish people living in peaceful areas. The findings confirmed that living in a violent environment affected dream content more than personal and culture factors.

 According to Schone, Sok, Myers and Hollinger (2001) in their recent study “Factors That Influence Dreams” they also attempted to determine factors that affected people’s dreams. From their findings they were able to conclude that gender is a factor that affects a person’s dream. In their results, women had more dreams regarding sex and violence while men had more dreams regarding examinations. However, their findings also indicate that there are no particular correlations between people having similar courses and similar dreams. Thus, this implies that courses may not be a factor that would affect the nature a person’s dream. Lastly, they were able to prove that their hypothesis regarding the correlation between where one lives and one’s dreams was correct. Based on the resulted graphs of their study, people living in each dorm did have dreams independent of people of the other dorms. However, despite all this, according to them, their study turned out to be subjective in a lot of ways which is why it may still not be considered to be completely valid.
 In Hartmann and Basile’s (2003) journal study “Dream Imagery Becomes More Intense after 9/11/01” their results indicate that traumatic events like the attacks of 9/11/01, for instance have a detectable effect on dreams. According to the study, it particularly increases dream image intensity. Also, these findings are consistent with previous ones that dream image intensity rather than dream length and content can be considered a measure of emotional arousal.

 In reference to Delorme, Lortie-Lussier, De Koninck’s journal study Stress and Coping in the Waking and Dreaming States During an Examination Period, they found out that incorporation dreams did not reveal more stress, negative emotions and more coping strategies indices than dreams without incorporation.  But a significant negative relationship was discovered between emotions of harm and threat in waking and negative emotions in dream content.

 According to Ullman’s (1973) article Societal Factors in Dreaming; all elements in dreams have social referents. They may have their source in the tools, symbols, and even events of social living. Furthermore an element also has a social or objective meaning which corresponds with the needs of the dreamer and makes it available to the dreamer in his sleep.

 In Hobson and McCarley’s (1977) Activation Synthesis Hypothesis, it states that that dreams are a mere accidental incident caused by firing of neurons in the brain. The body's motor system then receives these random fired signals, but due to the paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, the brain is faced with a paradox. And the dream is its form of attempting to explain or make sense of what has occurred.

 Freud (1900, 1953) believed that the reason we dream is because of wish fulfilment which is an unconscious attempt to fulfil needs (especially sex and aggression) that cannot be expressed or that are not satisfied while awake. However, the Cognitive Theory of Dreaming as stated in Santrock’s (2003) Psychology suggests that there is no real symbolic content in dreams unlike what Freud claimed. Dreaming only entails problem solving, memory and information processing.

Conclusion

 Based on all these findings, the researcher can infer that there is truth that environmental factors play a big role in the influence of people’s dreams. As stated by Kosslyn and Rosenberg (2001) certain types of dreams seem to be triggered by episodes in the day where in there is a short term lack of a certain stimuli. In addition, dreams may also be influenced through the posthypnotic pre dream suggestion (Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith & Bem, 1990). Baron (1992) also claimed that external events like spraying water on the participants in one of the experiments may be incorporated into dreams.

 A violent environment more than gender and culture had a greater impact on dream content according to Raija-Leena Punamaki (1998). A dangerous and brutal environment was associated with vivid dreams of persecution and aggression. Moreover, the main results from Schone, Sok, Myers and Hollinger’s (2001) study indicate that difference in living areas and gender affect the variance of people’s dreams. Finally, based on Hartmann and Basile’s (2003) journal study, results show that traumatic events also do have a measurable effect on dream image intensity.

Sandoval, Nicole Marie S.

Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Introduction

 People have varied natures of dreams. Because of this, the researcher intends to find out what factors influence these particular types of dreams. She also aims to determine the valid dream categories and the common distinct factors that may be causing these.

 Since dreaming is a broad subject matter, the study will look into a number of other related themes and issues as well. The research will further probe into Hobson and McCarley’s (1977) Activation Synthesis Hypothesis. Moreover, the research will also tackle Freud’s concept of wish fulfillment in his psychoanalytic theory and posthypnotic dream suggestion as stated in Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith and Bem’s (1990) Introduction to Psychology. Also, it will delve into the Cognitive Theory of Dreaming. In addition, the research will also include a lot of other studies and articles associated with factors that affect dreaming and dream interpretation as well.

Body

 According to Kosslyn and Rosenberg (2001) in their article, “What triggers Particular Dreams?” certain types of dreams seem to be related to previous episodes that occurred in the day. It is stated there that a dream often echoes a short term lack in a particular stimuli. One instance acknowledged in the book was that of water deprived people for the day dreaming of drinking in their sleep.

 The Posthypnotic pre-dream suggestion (Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith & Bem, 1990) is another possible way that could have an influence on the dream’s content. A study was made using these methods and in the results it showed that some dreams reflected other aspects of the suggestion without the specific elements while others reflected on the suggestion itself.

 In reference to one of Baron’s (1992) articles in Psychology: Second edition, it is possible that external events are incorporated into a person’s dream. In an experiment, Dement and Wolpert, (1958) sprayed water on participants in REM sleep. And in majority of the instances, participants accounted that there was water in their dreams.

 In chapter 8 of Domhoff’s (1996) Finding Meaning in Dreams: A Quantitative Approach, it proposes that there is a relationship between our thoughts and behaviours while we are awake and the categories and contents of our dreams. The chapter implies that the concerns people express in their dreams are the concerns they have during the time they are conscious and awake; their dreams correspond to what they think about or do in their waking life.

 Raija-Leena Punamaki (1998) conducted a study for the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology; she tried to determine the impact of culture, a violent environment, gender, and age in dream content. Her study was conducted on 205 children in three groups: 80 Palestinians living in a violent environment and 45 Palestinians and 80 Finnish people living in peaceful areas. The findings confirmed that living in a violent environment affected dream content more than personal and culture factors.

 According to Schone, Sok, Myers and Hollinger (2001) in their recent study “Factors That Influence Dreams” they also attempted to determine factors that affected people’s dreams. From their findings they were able to conclude that gender is a factor that affects a person’s dream. In their results, women had more dreams regarding sex and violence while men had more dreams regarding examinations. However, their findings also indicate that there are no particular correlations between people having similar courses and similar dreams. Thus, this implies that courses may not be a factor that would affect the nature a person’s dream. Lastly, they were able to prove that their hypothesis regarding the correlation between where one lives and one’s dreams was correct. Based on the resulted graphs of their study, people living in each dorm did have dreams independent of people of the other dorms. However, despite all this, according to them, their study turned out to be subjective in a lot of ways which is why it may still not be considered to be completely valid.
 In Hartmann and Basile’s (2003) journal study “Dream Imagery Becomes More Intense after 9/11/01” their results indicate that traumatic events like the attacks of 9/11/01, for instance have a detectable effect on dreams. According to the study, it particularly increases dream image intensity. Also, these findings are consistent with previous ones that dream image intensity rather than dream length and content can be considered a measure of emotional arousal.

 In reference to Delorme, Lortie-Lussier, De Koninck’s journal study Stress and Coping in the Waking and Dreaming States During an Examination Period, they found out that incorporation dreams did not reveal more stress, negative emotions and more coping strategies indices than dreams without incorporation.  But a significant negative relationship was discovered between emotions of harm and threat in waking and negative emotions in dream content.

 According to Ullman’s (1973) article Societal Factors in Dreaming; all elements in dreams have social referents. They may have their source in the tools, symbols, and even events of social living. Furthermore an element also has a social or objective meaning which corresponds with the needs of the dreamer and makes it available to the dreamer in his sleep.

 In Hobson and McCarley’s (1977) Activation Synthesis Hypothesis, it states that that dreams are a mere accidental incident caused by firing of neurons in the brain. The body's motor system then receives these random fired signals, but due to the paralysis that occurs during REM sleep, the brain is faced with a paradox. And the dream is its form of attempting to explain or make sense of what has occurred.

 Freud (1900, 1953) believed that the reason we dream is because of wish fulfilment which is an unconscious attempt to fulfil needs (especially sex and aggression) that cannot be expressed or that are not satisfied while awake. However, the Cognitive Theory of Dreaming as stated in Santrock’s (2003) Psychology suggests that there is no real symbolic content in dreams unlike what Freud claimed. Dreaming only entails problem solving, memory and information processing.

Conclusion

 Based on all these findings, the researcher can infer that there is truth that environmental factors play a big role in the influence of people’s dreams. As stated by Kosslyn and Rosenberg (2001) certain types of dreams seem to be triggered by episodes in the day where in there is a short term lack of a certain stimuli. In addition, dreams may also be influenced through the posthypnotic pre dream suggestion (Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith & Bem, 1990). Baron (1992) also claimed that external events like spraying water on the participants in one of the experiments may be incorporated into dreams.

 A violent environment more than gender and culture had a greater impact on dream content according to Raija-Leena Punamaki (1998). A dangerous and brutal environment was associated with vivid dreams of persecution and aggression. Moreover, the main results from Schone, Sok, Myers and Hollinger’s (2001) study indicate that difference in living areas and gender affect the variance of people’s dreams. Finally, based on Hartmann and Basile’s (2003) journal study, results show that traumatic events also do have a measurable effect on dream image intensity.

    A parabola is a two dimensional curve that matches the path a tossed object such as a ball follows. Each point on the curve is equally from a fixed point called focus. Unlike parabola, Hyperbola is a u-shaped that face in opposite direction. The fixed point called focus in the hyperbola has two in the principal axis. When you graph the two you will find out that hyperbola is like a two parabola that facing in opposite side. Unlike also tha parabola, hyperbola have auxilliary rectangle.

         Do you have your own goal in your mind already? Usually, teenagers decide their paths or goals when they graduate high school whether they want it or not, because they are going to choose their courses in college. Maybe some of them know what they want and can do, but some of teenagers haven’t decided their path yet like me. Maybe because they haven’t found something they are good at. I am still thinking what I am good at, because I want to study something I want to learn with interesting.

           When I was young, I thought I am good at drowing or something, but I realized that I am not. So, my mother told me just study hard, so that I will find out someday. Then, I just studied. When I graduated highschool, I was so confused about my future and my path, because I had to choose what college I have to go, and what course I have to take in college. Finally, I just chose management even I am not that interested in it, and I have no idea what I am going to do after graduation.

          One day, I told mom about this, and she gave me an advice that there is nothing to worry, if I keep doing my best the things which I have to do now, then I will find out someday. It made me think positive about my future, and I realized that to know something I want, I need to think and see much wider through having a lot of experiences, because a lot of experiences will make me to realize a lot. I will find out someday, if I keep doing my best for now, and most teenagers have this problem, and this is just our step to be an adult.

           I have a friend who is a working student, she prioritizes her work over her studies. She finds it hard to balance her time for studies and for work, as a result she failed in some of her academics. Well, to start, time management is straightforwardly defined as the management of time in order to make the most out of it. It is a skill few people master, but it is one that most people need. You can’t actually manage time, it just is. What you really manage is your activities during time. I personally experience having a difficulty in time management. It is hard for me to balance time in studying and in doing other stuffs like watching television, texting, playing games, hanging out and a lot more. I can say that time management is a common problem with most of the students. Wouldn’t you agree? Most of us are having a difficult time in thinking how to do given tasks that should be submitted the next day and yet having so little time to do it. This is where time management comes into place. Not having enough time to do everything a person wants to do is a result of poor time management. Poor time management hinders us in doing tasks that is suppose to be done, like studying, doing homework’s, projects and so on. For example, in a pile of work, we sometimes thought that we could easily do one task in just an hour, but when we’re actually doing it, it takes longer than one hour for us to finish the task because instead of managing our activities properly we end up not managing it at all. Therefore we are unable to do some of the things we should do. And when this happens, our grades are affected.

            One of the reasons why poor time management occurs is because of lack of self discipline. Discipline is learning how to control yourself on doing something that is not really needed or is not that important. Learning how to discipline yourself makes it easier for you to manage your activities for you now know which to prioritize first. When a person fails to discipline himself or herself poor time management takes place. Second is that, this problem occurs maybe because of the fact that most people do not understand the value or importance of managing activities. You’ve probably heard the saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” At the project/task levels, poor planning is one of the main reasons projects fail, fall behind schedule or miss their deadlines. Planning is one of the most important activities in time management. Most of us think that planning is just a waste of time, it is not really needed, we don’t have enough time doing it, and our work or schedule is unpredictable. This way of thinking is wrong because as a matter of fact, according to a site I found, it has been estimated that every minute spent planning can save three in execution.

            Time management is important for it helps you make conscious choices so you can spend more of your time doing things that are important and valuable to you.

            There are many ways on how you can improve poor time management. One is by planning what you are supposed to do. All you have to do to escape poor planning is to learn how to plan effectively and do it consistently. How? Here are some tips that can help you plan effectively. Write things down. A common time management mistake is to try to use your memory to keep track of too many details leading to information overload. Using a to-do list to write things down is a great way to take control of your projects and tasks and keep yourself organized. Prioritize your list. Prioritizing your to-do list helps you focus and spend more of your time on the things that really matter to you. Plan your week. Spend some time at the beginning of each week to plan your schedule. Taking the extra time to do this will help increase your productivity and balance your important long-term projects with your more urgent tasks. All you need is fifteen to thirty minutes each week for your planning session. Learn to say no. Many people become overloaded with too much work because they over commit; they say yes when they really should be saying no. Learn to say no to low priority requests and you will free up time to spend on things that are more important. Identify bad habits. Make a list of bad habits that are stealing your time, sabotaging your goals, and blocking your success. After you do, work on them one at a time and systematically eliminate them from your life. Remember that the easiest way to eliminate a bad habit, it to replace it with a better habit. Don’t do other people’s work. Are you in the habit of doing other people’s work because or a ‘hero’ mentality? Doing this takes up time that you may not have. Instead, focus on your own projects and goals, learn to delegate effectively, and teach others how to do their own work. Don’t be a perfectionist. Some tasks don’t require your best effort. Sending a short email to a colleague, for example, shouldn’t take any more than a few minutes. Learn to distinguish between tasks that deserve to be done excellently and tasks that just need to be done.

            Planning helps you get a clear picture of all the things that you are working on and what still needs to be done. Planning allows you to identify all your projects and tasks and gain a much better understanding of what it will really take to complete them. Without planning, you won’t have a clear idea of what you need to do and you won’t be able to prioritize your time properly. 

SOURCES:

www.wikipedia.com http://www.d.umn.edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/strat/time_manage.html http://www.timethoughts.com/timemanagement/PTWorstPractice_PoorPlanning.htm