I was going to post something about time management and my cat Jet unwittingly provided the perfect photos to complement my point as I looked up and saw him peering down on me on one of the beams in the flat!
So, I would like to hear your thoughts on how you manage your time. Life has unquestionably changed for you all since starting this SWAP Access journey. New routines will now be in place, different struggles too arguably, but a worthwhile potentially life changing choice of course.
Are you a better time manager since you started your course? (Perhaps you have been forced into it).
Have you developed a new approach to time management?
What are your secrets to an already effective time management strategy?
I always encourage you to be 'reflective practitioners' as it is something I do constantly as an educator.
Get tapping on the keys below in the comments box!
Cheers,
Mark
Your cat looks like my cat bumblebee!! Anyway I manage my time by preparing everything I need for the kids , uniform clothes formula nappies , the night before which means I won’t be rushing in the morning. I also stick to a bedtime schedule for the children which frees time for homework and blogging 😊! Being prepared in advance for me is the key !!
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with this strategy Ashleigh. I might hazard a guess that some members of the class might be envious of such a regimented way of managing your time. It works for you and that is the main thing. Some of my students had a similar organisational pattern last year. It did mean though that study was often limited to evening time because of parental duties. Some of the students came in on their days off (which isn't always possible of course for a multitude of reasons) and organised small study groups as they didn't feel they worked as well independently. This of course only works if there is a definite focus, as last year's students acknowledged that too many distractions would be a waste of their precious time. Thanks for your comments as always. Mark
ReplyDeleteI wish I could claim to be as organised as Ashleigh, sadly I'm more from the school of chaos.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning is spent falling out with my husband and kids over lost shoes, bags and minds...my New Years resolution is to be more organised, that'll be the 15th year in a row with the same resolution (incidentally, I don't even pretend I'm going to drink less wine now).
I have applied for uni and am acutely aware that if my application is successful I really need to get on top of things and organise a schedule. I find I study better outwith my home where I'm not distracted by kids, husband, pets, wine or the tv. For me finding time to study will likely involve me having to be at uni (or college) outwith normal lecture times and using the resources there.
I do have good intentions to work smarter but I will say, in my defence, I've always been a bit chaotic and it works for me in some ways. I was fairly successful at work before my ovaries got to work and I decided to stay at home. I think I do ok when I feel a bit harrassed and stressed. When I'm not flapping about something work/college related I'm flapping about what I'm forgetting!
My advice...don't copy my technique lol
Great words Laura, and you raise some very important points. The main one is this. We all learn differently, we all think differently, we all manage our time differently. There isn’t necessarily a correct way to go about our daily lives, (in or out the classroom), but it is the end product that matters. I always say have A strategy and if it works, great. Want to try something new? Great, give it a go. I don’t imagine you’d have passed all the assessments for me to this point without doing what’s right for you. It’s working. In my case, I’m very disciplined when marking, developing materials, assessments etc. But I’m very lucky indeed to be allowed a day at home each week to do so. I imagine if I wasn’t producing the goods etc. that this arrangement would soon stop! It works both ways. So don’t get too hung up on the HOW; it’s the doing that’s important. And on that note, it must be Pinot time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark, to be honest I expected a constructive nudge towards being more methodical and organised so appreciate the acknowledgment that we're all different.
Delete....Chardonnay for me these days....
There are many ways to get from A to B and vice versa!
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle, some days I’m organised down to having my tea bag in the cup waiting for the morning brew, other days not so much particularly towards the end of the week. I am lucky though my husband does lunch and dinner so all I need to really need to do is grab and go in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI dare say if he didn’t I’d be hungry, late and not get much studying done once I’m home (after my nap of course) lol
Oh wow, what a wonderful luxury that your husband is there to cook the meals, bravo. When I taught the Masters and PhD students at Herriot Watt, I would announce the breaktimes and the Thai and Chinese learners would immediately have their heads down on the desk and have a nap! Fortunately none of them dozed during any of my classes, phew!
DeleteMy routine is some what different from a few months ago- I've went frm part time work and afternoons in nursary - to college,work, school run, homework and housework building up!! I try to be organised the night before but could never have done all of this without my dad's car and a great support network!! Really paranoid about the future and the workload getting on top of me! But I'm sure I'll manage 🙏🏻 On a positive note I have never slept so well in my life!! Bring it on x
ReplyDeleteI love that you have a very positive outlook even when there is the possibility that workload can creep up on you. Think about strategies, time allocated (I know this isn't easy, especially when you are being mum), the possibility of study groups etc. So far though, it sounds like you are coping very well indeed with the pressures of College life. When I was at Uni, my flatmates called me the post-it note King (amongst other monikers) as I always had a list of things to do, when assessments were etc. I had my dissertation done with weeks to spare and had plenty time to chill out as a result. I guess that strategy worked well for me and didn't do too bad! It is always worth reinforcing the point that everybody is different in terms of learning and managing time. I would never dream of telling somebody how they should do X, Y or Z, but even highlighting the point is a good thing. There will always be the last minute type of students. I have no issue with that. All I ask of all students at every level is to work hard, attend classes, engage with what I am teaching and do your best. I don't think that is too much to ask, and hey, we can all still have some fun learning together too! Thanks for your comments Kirsty, they are pretty insightful.
ReplyDeleteAw thank u! I love reading up and seeing that everyone is different but we will all get there in the end- I think our wee group the swapkins work well Together and we are good and motivating each other on! I would defo be up for a study group- I think a few of the parents might purely because we got no peace at home!!
ReplyDeleteSome learners much prefer to work independently of course but some like to bounce ideas off each other. The key to the study groups working well is in setting objectives and avoiding distraction. Which is easier said than done of course!
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