Time Audit

Carola Smith
Time Management

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to reflect on how they are currently spending their time and to assist them in finding ways to utilize their time more effectively.

Description of Activity

The time audit is a self-assessment tool which helps students identify major "time wasters" and make more conscious choices on how to use their time efficiently. Students fill in the time use chart (see hand-outs) and write down how they currently spend their days/weeks. At the beginning of the second week, students are divided into groups and asked to discuss their time use charts with their peers. This discussion gives students a chance to get to know each other and to compare their work and study loads with those of the other group members.
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Materials Needed

Time Use Chart

Application

Suggested amount of time:30 minutes (+ homework assignment)
This activity works best at the beginning of the semester so that students have enough time to plan ahead and to make any necessary changes in their schedules.
I usually introduce the topic with a quick survey asking students how many hours they work, how many classes they take, and how much free time they currently have available. As a homework assignment, students are asked to do the time audit sheet which requires them to keep track of how they spend their waking hours. After students have kept track of their time for an entire week, they are asked to share their time audit sheets with the other students in the class and to identify the major "time wasters" in their time sheets. This activity helps students make more conscious decisions on how they would like to spend their time and allows them to set more realistic academic and personal goals.

 

Related Student Services

Student Health Services provides useful information on time management in the form of brochures, checklists, weekly calendars, and assignment planners. In addition, counselors are available to give classroom presentations on the topic of time and stress management (as well as many others). For information, conduct Student Health Services at ext. 2298

 

 

 

 

this web page was created on 3/12/99 at 10:28:48 AM
and modified on 3/12/99 at 10:28:48 AM