Study At A Regular Time example essay topic

Success With Organization and Time Managment Returning to college after having been out of the school system for seven years has been quite a challenge. For me, high school was relatively easy; I had a teacher there to hold my hand every step of the way. The college scene is completely different as O'Keeney states, "You " re really on your own when it comes to passing courses". Having strong organization and time management skills has helped make my time at college successful thus far. I owe a great deal of gratitude towards my work experiences. Without them, I would be having an extremely difficult time in college because "As a college student, you will be in complete control of your time and how you use it" (Surviving Freshman Year).

One of the experiences that I gained while working in accounting was the ability to manage time well. With the lack of employees and increasing work-load, I had to be able to complete of all my work in a given time, and needless to say, with almost perfect accuracy. That was a very challenging task, but the only way I was able to keep my head on straight was by placing everything into organized stacks ranging in order of importance. I have taken this experience and reused it for school purposes. One of the goals I set for myself is to select the classes that are needed for my degree in the nursing profession; hence, I need to "Know what courses are being offered, and decide which ones you " re interested in" (Surviving Freshman Year). I looked at the suggested number of credit hours to take and decided which classes would fit into those hours, trying to only include one course that I knew would be difficult.

As it worked out, this semester I have classes all week with the exception of Thursday, when I have no classes. For the days that I am at school, I have anywhere from 3 1/2 to 5 hours of studying time in between my morning and afternoon classes. I use this time to my advantage. It helps keep me on track to "Study at a regular time and in a regular place" (Surviving Freshman Year).

The study rooms in building B are great for those times. O'Keeney's suggestion is to "Find a room at home or a spot in the library that is relatively quiet - and boring. When you sit there, you won't have much else to do but study". I can usually find a room right after my 8 a.m. class and can commit myself to working on homework, reading, and note-taking. Regardless of whether I have school or personal activities, "the secret here is to organize your time" (O'Keeney). I have found a few ways to help keep myself organized and always remember what important event is coming up.

The first way that I have found helpful is by keeping a calendar at home and carrying a planner around with me at all times. On my calendar, I have a list of days that I need to remember such as projects due dates, exam dates, doctor appointments, and due dates for my bills. With having such a hectic life and having to remember all the information from my classes, I need something that will make my life a little less chaotic. Another method I use to help keep me organized is keeping a weekly 'to do' list. Besides, "The best thing about a 'to do' list is that it seems to tame all of those stray 'I have to' thoughts that nag at your mind" (O'Keeney). I pick a date, usually Monday evenings, and write a list of everything that needs to be accomplished for that week including the day it needs to be completed.

I tend to strategize my list; therefore, I can "Get the important things done first. The secondary things you don't finish can simply be moved to your next 'to do' list" (O'Keeney). Having a full-time job as a mom and wife, I dot he majority of my studying is done right here at school. I have also set aside times for studying at home; during the week I may try to get in a few hours of studying after my child goes to bed for the evening. If I am ahead of my syllabus for the classes, I tend to devote a little more time in the evenings to relax with my family; because "You won't be any good to yourself or to anyone else if you don't relax and pack in the studying once in a while" (O'Keeney). I also make it important to have personal time blended in nicely with homework and studying.

My husband and I usually pick a night of the week to have "date night"; this is our opportunity to spend quality time with each other as well as catch up with all the things that have been going on during the week. I cannot express how much help it has been for me to keep organized and manage my time properly. So far, I have been able to keep up my grades and have managed to complete my duties outside of school. Organization has also helped me to have a positive attitude towards everything; in other words, "A positive attitude is the key to everything else - good study habit, smart time scheduling, and coping with personal difficulties" (O'Keeney). I suggest that anyone who may be struggling right now take the time to get organized and see if that makes a difference. Works Cite dO " Keeney, Brian.

'How to Make It in College, Now That You " re Here' College writing Skills with Readings. Ed. John Langan. New York: McGraw, 1985'Surviving Freshman Year'.