Time management...

When becoming a proffesional Graphic Designer, the mastery of time management will be a very important skill. To succeed in life you need to have the perfect balance between work and play.

We had a time management talk, and had to write down what we spend our time doing, the results were a bit shocking and i realised i need to learn how to manage my time effectively in order to gain the most out of my degree program and life in general.

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Activities:

College activities:

- coursework
- essay writing
- updating blog

Domestic activities:

- washing
- cleaning
- cooking
- re-organising my room
- sleep
- getting ready in the mornings or nights out
- food shopping

Social activities:

- shopping
- cinema
- gym
- going on nights out
- TGI Fridays
- free bus
- facebook
- texting
- phone calls
- bbm
- watching TV

Other:

- Argos part time job

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General activities in percentages: on a weekly basis

- drinking 15%
- practical coursework 5%
- computer based coursework 10%
- social networking 25%
- self TLC 10%
- organising 2.5%
- personal care (gym) 2.5%
- boring jobs (cleaning ect) 15%
- Argos 15%

College activities in percentages: on a weekly basis

- blogging 15%
- mac room 15%
- CTS 2.5%
- eating 2.5%
- taught sessions 20%
- self directed study 25%
- lectures/ seminars 5%
- talking with friends 10%
- using the lift 5%

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After reviewing my own 'time spent' i found that i spend a bit too much time on things like facebook or texting when i could be doing uni work, im not very good at time management but i always get my work done. Its a case sorting your priorities out first (which dont include checking facebook updates) and then relaxing, theres no point trying to relax when really you know you have work to do.

I now have to do a week planner recording everything i do with my time... could be interesting.

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Week diary of my time:

Friday (following the time management session):

- 2 hours spent doing nothing at all!
- Went home and done literally nothing, just sat there and listened to music.
- Went to sleep for an hour at 5.
- Woke up and rang my mum for 20 minutes.
- Made dinner took 30 minutes.
- Friend came round and watched films for about 4 hours.
- Went ot bed.

Saturday:

- Woke up at 08:30.
- Got ready for work took an hour and a half.
- Left for work at half 10.
- Jumped on the free bus took 10 minutes.
- Before work i ordered my mum some stuff took 15 minutes.
- Worked at Argos 11:15 till 4.
- After work caught the free bus and went home took 20 minutes.
- Got home and made dinner took 30 minutes.
- Went to the shop for a few bits took 40 minutes.
- Went to the cinema with flat mate for 2 and a half hours.
- Got in and went to bed about half 1.

Sunday:

- Got a day off work for some reason, so went shopping.
- Got up at 10 and took an hour and a half to get ready.
- Went shopping all day till 5!
- Had dinner which took 30 minutes.
- Friend came round and watched a film for 2 and a half hours.
- Went to bed at 10:30.

Monday:

- Woke up at 07:00 for uni.
- Got ready 7 till 8.
- Had breakfast took 15 minutes.
- Pottered around till 08:40 and then left for uni.
- Got to uni at 09:00.
- Sat and chatted with friends till 09:30.
- Had a talk by Fred which was very inspiring!
- Had a lesson with Amber all afternoon.
- Got home at 4.
- Chilled out for an hour.
- Made dinner took 30 minutes.
- Rang mum which took 20 minutes.
- Rang friend which took 30 minutes.
- Watched TV for a few hours whilst doing uni work.
- Went to bed at 10:30.

Tuesday:

- Got up at 08:30.
- Got ready which took 2 hours including having breakfast too.
- Left for uni at 10:45.
- Got to uni at 11:05.
- Worked in mac room till 1 (brief: collection 100).
- Afternoon workshop looking at grids.
- Went home at 4.
- Made dinner which took 30 minutes.
- Rang mum for 20 minutes.
- Went for a run for 20 minutes.
- Came back and had a shower for 20 minutes.
- Made card glasses for collection 100 brief for 1 hour and a half.
- Friend came round and we went to the cinema for 3 hours.
- Came in at 10:30.
- Done uni work till 12.
- Went to bed at 12:15.

Wednesday:

- Got up at 09:00.
- Done uni work literally non stop all day till half 3.
- Got showered and went to staples to buy card which took 15 minutes.
- Came back and made dinner which took 40 minutes.
- Went to Morrisons which took 1 and a half hours.
- Unpacked shopping and had a drink for 20 minutes.
- Done uni work for a few hours.
- Went ot bed at half 10.

Thursday:

- Got up at 07:00.
- Got ready for uni for an hour.
- Had breakfast and pottered around till around 08:40.
- Went to uni.
- Arrived at 09:00 and chatted with friends till half past 9.
- Had a moving image workshop all morning.
- Went homne at lunch time.
- Done uni work for 2 hours.
- Cleaned flat for an hour.
- Had a shower and done my hair which took about an hour.
- Done some more uni work for an hour.
- Made dinner which took 40 minutes.
- Went to staples for 20 minutes.
- Sat in my flat mates room and watched her TV for 40 minutes.
- Friend came over to watch a film and chill for 3 and a half hours.
- Went to bed at half 11.

Friday (up till second time management session):

- Woke up at 06:00 to text friend.
- Slept again till 07:00.
- Got up at 07:00.
- Got ready and had breakfast till 08:40.
- Went to uni and worked till half 11 for TM session.


After reviewing how id spent my time during the last week i found that i do a lot of faffing around and procrastinating, but i always get my work done on time, so its okay. I guess everyone has their own way of doing things and managing their time. I did used to write a to do list nearly everyday but since coming back after christmas i think ive become a bit lazy. After this session and talks with Fred and Amber i think its about time i got my ass in gear!

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Long term Goals:

- What do you want to achieve by the end of the course?

I hope that i will get a good grade for my degree and that i gain a wide knowledge of Graphic Design and just enjoy my time here at uni.

- Do you want to own your own business?

Yes i would like to one day have my own business, not really sure what i want to do after uni exaclty yet, but that is one thing i would love to do at some point in my life.

- What is your ideal job?

To be honest i havent got a clue right now, maybe something relating to my degree or maybe something within Art Therapy, who knows.

- Do you want to work in this country or abroad?

After uni i would love to go to Spain to do an internship, im going to take Spanish lessons at uni. After this and some point in the future i want to go to America to work and see how it goes. To be honest i want to travel everywhere!

- What special interests are important to you?

I think im the sort of person that finds almost everything interesting, but in terms of my career i would like to in some way do something that helps other people, like from different backgrounds and stuff. I really enjoy Graphic Design obviously, but i just dont know what i want to do yet!