Keeping a time log

A time log (see below) helps you to check exactly how much time you're spending on different aspects of your life. This can be a useful step towards more effective time management.

• Complete a log each day for a period of several days (preferably a week or two), including a weekend.

  Try to fill in your time log frequently so that you don't forget things. The exercise is much more useful if your record is accurate!

• When you've completed your log, go through it, noticing how much time you use for:
  
  
  • study - including lectures, workshops, independent work
  • paid work
  • maintenance - the things necessary to maintain your life, such as sleeping, eating, cleaning, shopping, childcare, etc.
  • leisure - when you're engaged in leisure activities as part of a healthy lifestyle
  • discretionary - 'free time', which you can use as you choose.

    By adding up the hours you've spent in these ways, you'll gain a picture of the current balance in your life.

• Now ask yourself:
  
  
  • Are there any activities that you'd like to spend more or less time on, or that you could eliminate?
  • Are there times of the day when you work best? Are you using them in the best way?
  • Are there times when you don't study well? Are you using them for other activities?
  • Do you waste time - your own, or other people's?

If you'd like to make changes, or look at ways to improve your time management, refer to other sections of this Study Skills unit.

See also:

• Time log (word doc) to print or download / customise
  
  
• Time log: a completed example (word doc)
  
  
• Overcoming obstacles to effective study in 'Being a student' on this web site.