Time Management and Stress

 
The practice of managing the daily activities surrounding one’s life remains to be an important aspect shaping adaptability to the current trends of the environment. With today’s fast-paced and relatively dynamic lifestyle, it is essential to look into opportunities that can generate effective avenues that can manage time and stress accordingly. Each of these elements promotes the viability to make things possible and adhering towards personal goals. Thus, these two important elements establish the foundation of achieving success remains to be seen and manifested.
Reflecting on these current applications with my given schedule of classes and individual activities, significant observations can be seen in my ability to address the issues of stress and time management. Since majority of my time is involved with study, the value of determining which one needs considerable attention remains to be seen. This is congruent with the condition that to achieve competence under this area, careful attention must be made with the elements that shape an individual’s approach in handling tasks associated with time (Mind Tools, 1999).

Looking at this data further, there are two things that I realized when I was going over the schedule and the things I did. One important aspect that this schedule shows limited opportunity for my part to engage in other activities. Instead, my day is always comprised of three to four classes per day. This goes to show how hectic my schedule is to balance other areas I also want to engage in. Another relevant observation during this time frame revolves around my ability to handle and create a discipline to wake up around 6:30 in the morning and prepare for school. Despite its relative consideration on the value of time, I feel that this remain an important aspect that connotes how I adhere towards disciplining myself in areas such as punctuality in class and anticipating the traffic and burden that may come during rush hour time. This avenue remains an important component shaping one’s ability to recognize and develop the necessary values pertaining to one’s ability to manage and influence achieving tasks and goals for the specific time (Peel, 2001).
However, I would prefer to spend more time in sleeping as I only get six to seven hours of sleep instead of the required eight hours. As a student, concentration and focus are important to do all tasks effectively. In my case, I find it hard to concentrate especially during examinations because of lack of sleep (Mind Tools, 1999). Thus, I would also prefer to spend less time with my friends and watching TV to allocate more time in my studies on school days. I will jus allot my weekends to do these social and personal activities. All these speak of a balanced student life because I will see to it that my priorities are set properly and given time accordingly.
In addition, I thought I spent more time in doing each of my requirements for school and just enough time with my friends. Looking at it now, I only spent half to a full hour on a required task and I that I allotted a long time with my friends on school days. This is perhaps because I rush on my school tasks and thought that I had done enough for these and that I enjoy the company of my friends, respectively.
Generally in my life, the areas of stress that are evident are the times when I had to accomplish school requirements and tasks. At that time, these academic tasks make me restless and want to escape, thus, I had to meet and talk with my friends to ease the pressure. Over time though, I learn to allot more time to these to avoid being pressured and stressed with lack of time and concentration to accomplish all my requirements. Realistically speaking however, stress is unavoidable especially if one has a lot of responsibilities on his or her shoulders. As for me, what I can do to relieve my personal stresses is get more sleep and prioritize my studies on school days and allot my weekends for personal and social activities. This way, I get to have adequate rest, enough for me to focus on school work, and managed time for social and personal growth as well.
Looking at these time logins for a three-day period, I can say that I have not been very effective in handling stress and managing my time well. However, I did what I can with my routine. Seeing this now, there is much that I need to do in terms of prioritization and proper time allotment. If I managed my time effectively, then I would have more time to engage in other activities for my holistic development.
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Time Log-ins
Time
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
05:00:00 AM
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
05:30:00 AM
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
06:00:00 AM
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
Sleeping/Resting
06:30:00 AM
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
07:00:00 AM
Breakfast and prepare for school
Breakfast and prepare for school
Breakfast and prepare for school
07:30:00 AM
Go to school
Go to school
Go to school
08:00:00 AM
Travel Time
Travel Time
Travel Time
08:30:00 AM
09:00:00 AM
Class starts
Class Starts
09:30:00 AM
Examinations
Creation and development of team project
10:00:00 AM
1st Class starts
10:30:00 AM
1st class ends
Create an oral report about an important discussion in class the other week
1st class ends
11:00:00 AM
Break Time (study at the library)
Break time, engage in sports
11:30:00 AM
Eat Lunch
Class ends
Lunch time
12:00:00 NN
Chat with friends
Meet with friends outside campus to have lunch
Surf the Internet
12:30:00 PM
Chats with Friends and freshen up for the next class
Freshen up and rest
01:00:00 PM
2nd class
Read the required reading for the next class (review)
2nd class
01:30:00 PM
Classroom activities
02:00:00 PM
Quiz
2nd Class
02:30:00 PM
Class ends
Discussion about a subject that I really like about
Class ends
03:00:00 PM
Break Time (snacks)
Break Time (snacks)
03:30:00 PM
Address personal matters
Class ends
04:00:00 PM
3rd class
Read up on additional readings related to the previous class
3rd class
04:30:00 PM
Lessons about specific specializations
Apply key ideas related to the previous lessons discussed in class
05:00:00 PM
3rd Class
05:30:00 PM
4th class
Discussion of activities
4th class
06:00:00 PM
Recitation
Providing review for final exams
06:30:00 PM
Class ends
Class ends
Class ends
07:00:00 PM
Go to the library for additional research work
Goes out to the mall with friends
Engage in socialization and interaction with members of my organization
07:30:00 PM
Head Home
08:00:00 PM
Eat dinner and head home
08:30:00 PM
Eat dinner
Eat Dinner
09:00:00 PM
Arrive at home
Arrive at home
09:30:00 PM
Watch TV
Arrive at home
Watch TV
10:00:00 PM
Finish work project
10:30:00 PM
Watch TV
11:00:00 PM
Sleep
11:30:00 PM
Sleep
Sleep
12:00:00 MN
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep
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References
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Mind Tools. (1999) Introduction to time management. Retrieved December 20, 2009,
from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_00.htm
Mind Tools. (1999). Rest, Relaxation and Sleep. Retrieved December 20, 2009, from
http://www.mindtools.com/stress/Defenses/Rest.htm
Mind Tools. (1999) Stress Management Techniques. Retrieved December 20, 2009, from
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_TCS.htm
Peel, K. (2001, September/October) Time Bandits! Today’s Christian Woman. 23 (5)
Retrieved December 20, 2009, from
http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dire
ct=true&db=rlh&AN=5128298&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site