Resource 7 Proactive Time Management Tips

Our friends at The Weingarten Center have lots of tips for helping you maintain your productivity without reaching the burnout stage. Here are 7 of our favorite tips!

1. Weekly planning. Have a weekly planning meeting with yourself. Plan six weeks out and add tasks directly to your calendars. Pro tip: Weingarten Center has a semester calendar you can print out on an 11"x17" sheet of paper!

2. Create a daily schedule. Make sure when you’re scheduling things you also schedule time for yourself.

3. Group related tasks together. By grouping activities together that are similar in nature, your brain does not have to jump from one type of thinking to another and you gain momentum.

4. Backward planning. Break larger tasks down into smaller tasks so that you can achieve on a daily basis. Pro-tip: Weingarten Center has project planning documents to help you do this!

5. Take breaks. Go take a walk in nature, doodle, or work out—something that won’t strain your brain or your eyes.

6. Eliminate distractions. Controlling your attention means effectively managing internal and external distractions. Avoid multi-tasking for higher quality work done faster.

7. External Accountability. Work at coffee shops or Grad Center for ambiance. Join a small study or accountability group. Pro-tip: The Grad Center can match you with a writing accountability group

Find more tips from The Weingarten Center on proactive time management at: https://weingartencenter.universitylife.upenn.edu/academic-support/study-tools-and-strategies/