How an Adult Learner Can Manage Time Well, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Time management is all about how each one of us makes use of his/her disposable time. It is on how we manage our time that determines how productive or non-productive we are in our endeavors. Raymond (2008) defines time management as the process of planning and exercising control over the amount of time spent doing various activities with an ultimate aim of increasing productivity, efficiency or effectiveness in whatever we do. This is a very important aspect in our lives irrespective of whether we are working, studying or even playing. Learning to manage our time well is the single most important tool to being productive. In as much as time management is vital to all of us, adult students find it even more critical owing to their situations. Whereas young students are in college fully dedicated to studies, adult student have to juggle in between work, school, family, finances and personal issues. This is why this paper has intentionally focused attention to time management and the adult learner.

How an adult learner can manage time well

Whereas it is true that adult students have too much on their hands to handle over relatively short time, this need not be an excuse not to learn how to manage time well. Learning some simple aspects of time management, can greatly help you accomplish your tasks without much hassle. This will in the end make you more productive in whatever you do. The following are some of the ways that have been advanced by renowned authors.

Author: Peter J. Stokes, Ph.D., in (2006). Appeared on the Secretary on Education Commission.

According to Stokes (2006) the beginning point to time management is defining your educational goals. This should be in writing to help you meditate over them from time to time. Ask yourself are you studying for personal gratification, to get a promotion, or change a career altogether? After realizing your goals, sub divide them into short term, medium term and long term. This will assist you appraise yourself on a regular interval basis. Secondly, you need to invest in a good PDA. This can be a tablet, smart phone, notebook, net book or any other digital gadget that best works for you. You do not need to be left behind in this fast changing world as far as technology is concerned. This will not only help you communicate but also accomplish tasks and send them on line especially if that is what your instructor advocates.

Another method you can use to manage your time well is refreshing your study skills. After a short or long break from studies and suddenly going back to class, refreshing is necessary to sharpen your skills. This is important because if you have poor study skills, then no amount of coaching on time management will be of any help. Good study skills will save you considerable amounts of time required to grasp a concept besides boosting your confidence. Similarly establishing a good support system with all the relevant individuals that will help you during stressful times is equally important. This includes spouse, children, brother or sister and even parents. By making them aware that you are embarking on serious academic work, it will enlist (at least) moral support during demanding moments.

Author: Morgenstern, Julie. Appeared in New York Times 2006.

Writing on the same topic, Morgenstern (2004) agrees with Stokes on most of the issues. On her part, she adds the following points. One is that you identify where you are wasting time if any. This is vital because if you do not know where you are wasting time, you may not know what to manage in the first place. However, recreational times and short breaks should not be the culprits in this scenario! Recreational time is important as it aids you re-energize in readiness for the next assignment. Additionally Morgenstern says that learn to delegate some other tasks wherever possible. The fact that you are busy working and learning at the same time places a lot of pressure on you to deliver. Therefore, if there are tasks which your colleague or subordinate can do – just delegate. This will spare you some extra minutes or hours to go through that case study just before it is too late.

Another method you can use to manage your time well is to establish routines and stick to them. This will make you have a more relaxed and focused mind set thus relieving you some unnecessary stress. For instance you can make a routine in waking time, break time, meal time and even rest time. Finally yet importantly, make it a habit to prioritize everything you do. This is because not everything that needs to be done should be done at that time, some can wait while others can’t. Thus, it helps to prioritize your activities. For example, you do not need to work past mid night for a term paper that has three weeks to delivery whereas there is a class test the following morning!

Conclusion

Whether you are working, studying or both; time management is a very important aspect in our live that we all need to embrace if we have to achieve our goals. Adult students face more challenges in managing time than their younger counterparts thus this should be understood by instructors so as not to place undue pressure on them. They ought to be given reasonable time to manage their studies, nevertheless this should not be taken as an excuse to poor time management skills. Prudent time management is very important if you are to juggle between work, studies and family at the same time successfully.

References

Morgenstern, Julie (2004). Time Management from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule—and Your Life (2^nd edition). New York: Henry Holt/Owl Books. pp. 285.

Peter J. Stokes, Ph.D., in (2006). Hidden In Plain Sight: Adult Learners Forge A New Tradition In Higher Education, an excellent report written by for the then-Secretary of Education’s

Commission on the Future of Higher Education, U.S. Department of Education.

Le Blanc, Raymond (2008). Achieving Objectives Made Easy! Practical goal setting tools & Proven time management technique. Maarheeze: Cranendonck Coaching