TIPS TO HELP SAVE YOUR TIME

Managing your time is important to all aspects of life from studying to leisure. The next time you think ‘There are not enough hours in the day’ try these tips.

1. Some things can be done fewer times
Think about everything you do often and decide what can be done less often. Some things can be done once instead of twice. Identifying those things and acting upon them will help save a lot of time.
If you haven’t already, make a schedule to inform yourself of ongoing projects. Look at it daily but try to update it twice a month instead of every week.
Repetitive things like cleaning the house once every ten days instead of every 7 days may not seem like much but every little bit helps. The house won’t get dirty in those three extra days.
Another example is if you make a work report. Do it every six weeks instead of every four weeks if possible.
The list of things that can be done fewer times can go on forever.
2. Make yourself your competition
Be aware of the clock and resolve to finish an activity by a certain time. Focus on the present task. You can work more efficiently if you get rid of anything that could distract you so.
3. Strive to get more out of 15 minutes
Look for just 15 minutes a day that you could use more efficiently. Ask yourself ‘Is there lost time in my activities?’ Or see if there is a less important activity you can give up. If you manage to save 15 minutes every day, you will win 91 hours every year!
4. Complete little activities first
We naturally want to deal with the important problems first but this ma not be for the best. If we force ourselves when we feel tired, stressed, in a bad mood it is harder to concentrate and easy to lose time. Doing simple activities first will help you finalize something and push up your productivity. And obviously it is always better to know you did something, even if it is small, than to realize you haven’t even started anything.
5. Set a limit on the amount of time you spend on a project
Rather than to try and finish an activity all at once, it is better to tell yourself: “I will work on this for 15 minutes and see how much I can get done during this time”. Focus and try to do all you can during those 15 minutes. Too much time can be as bad as not enough. It can lead to over-thinking and doing the project twice just in different ways. This advice can be used solve problems or projects you have avoided lately.

This is not the only list of tips to manage your time but it is a start. Try these few ideas for a while and see how many things easily fit in a day. It may be more than you think.

10 Tips For Efficient Learning

Learning is a lifelong skill. From birth and throughout life, a person goes on a journey of acquiring knowledge. How this knowledge is gained varies from one individual to another because each one is created unique. There are some people who make little or no effort to learn and yet they do well in school. Others spend endless hours over their books but do not excel at all. Genes may have something to do with this, but more than the hereditary factor, it is the attitude towards learning that increases one’s ability to perform well. How one efficiently studies makes a capable learner. Here are a few tips to make the most out of learning:
1. Take care of your health
People, like machines, also need downtimes. Stress and fatigue due to studying for long periods of time render the brain less effective to absorb data. Hence, adequate rest should be taken. A healthy mind needs a healthy body - see to it that proper nutrition and regular exercise is always maintained.
2. Develop a passion for learning
One should have a thirst for knowledge in order for learning to take place. Attending classes every day, reading and studying for hours, and accomplishing assignments do not guarantee positive results if you do not have that craving or focus to learn. Self-esteem somehow triggers this passion. The higher your self-confidence is, the more challenged you will become to learn faster.
3. Find a study environment that is conducive
Elements in the environment play an important role in one’s quest for learning. A specific study area with ample lighting, privacy, and complete supplies and reference materials are but some essentials for a smooth and stress-free study time. A set routine should also be imposed. Assign a specific time during the day for study. Don’t just "fit it in" your schedule or else you’ll have no time at all.
4. Set goals and targets
In order for each learning experience to be realistic, it is wise to set goals for yourself - goals that are measurable, achievable, time-bound, and flexible. Prepare weekly schedules, taking note of deadlines. For example, to get high grades, extra effort must be taken in studying and preparing for exams.
5. Take breaks in between study sessions
The brain needs to be recharged once in a while as this is when it absorbs all data obtained from studying. Overexertion causes it to repel information and makes studying futile. Do not go on a study marathon. Instead, study in short but frequent sessions and take breathers in between.
6. Engage in study groups
Two heads are better than one – so goes the cliché. Learning with a group is synergetic. You get to share your opinions, ideas, and views, and at the same time it is a venue for clarifying mind-boggling matters. It is also more interesting and challenging because you gain different perspectives or outlooks.
7. Understand concepts instead of memorizing details
Most of the time, students pass exams and quizzes with flying colors. But after a while, their knowledge of the subject matter would already slip their minds. This is mainly due to a wrong approach to learning – that of memorization. Memorization is only short-term "disguised learning". If one develops the habit of understanding concepts rather than focusing on details, the learning process will flow smoothly and will have a long-term impact.
8. Use shortcuts
Applying shortcuts to your study habits maximize your learning skills. You accomplish more when you abbreviate in note-taking, when you focus your notes around ideas instead of taking them down verbatim, and when you put everything straight into your computer. In this day and age, we need to pack a lot of information into a very limited timeframe.
9. Manage your time wisely
Learning is an ongoing skill. Hand in hand with your goal-setting is allotting and managing your time for things to be done – projects to work on, homework to finish, and term papers and theses to submit. Time properly managed is time well spent. Even your time for socializing should be taken into consideration. Remember – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
10. Reward yourself
It is important to make the learning experience enjoyable whenever possible. Try out things that may spark that craving within you to learn – listening to music, perhaps, or engaging in a delightful snack – whatever may inspire you. Continuous hours of studying will not only make you weary but also make you lose interest. The above tips show that devoting long hours to study does not necessarily yield productive results. Studying efficiently and effectively are the key factors to learning better. ------------------------------------------------ This is an excerpt from Mark Patterson's award-winning book "Secrets of LazySmart Students" - every student's guide to getting better marks by working smarter instead of harder. Mark's book will give you incredible tips for time management, self-motivation, will teach you how to kick the procrastination habit and doing great in any exam or written assignment. For more detailed information on what you have read, check out his book now at: https://paydotcom.com/r/9770/BTS50/1062923/

Mind Building

All exercise for the mind does not need to be boring. Going away from the how to lists we find many times hobbies can help us improve. One of the more productive hobbies is mind puzzles. Mind puzzles can be fun to solve but also rewarding. Often times they encourage and challenge you to look for new ways to solve problems.

There are various types of puzzles including some of them to help you build your vocabulary. Vocabulary puzzles can be built in several ways but remember as you start a puzzle, your mind will naturally start to look at all angles of a problem to find solutions. The puzzle should be used to break away from preconceptions that stop us.
Using the same grid of letters we’ll start with a simple puzzle and move onto a more difficult aspect of the same puzzle. Look at the puzzle below and create a list of words. Notice that the first set of letters is the English alphabet. You will probably be able to find words like, wet – much – honk – me – take – we – can – make – go – time – by – fine – your – Tim – and – the - pie, easily enough.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Z Y O R V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H O B C
C K F A W Y C K A E I O U C K R W E T P I O
H O F N T O E O M U C H C T O U C H C O E F
H ON K C H M E I O U I M U T O T A K E A E F
W E C AN M A K E G O U D T I M E B Y F I N E
T A K E Y O U R T I M A N D S O L V T H E P I E

Now to make it slightly more interesting the words you are looking for make the sentence ‘She drank too much coffee’
You should have found at least one of the words already. Expand your thinking so you are not only looking for the letters to be on the same line. After you find the complete sentence in the puzzle, keep building your vocabulary by searching through the puzzle. Now continue farther by trying to find some longer words. Searching at all angles until you feel that you have found enough words.

Vocabulary building puzzles encourage you to solve mysteries, finish stories, or build a list of words. Regardless of the type of puzzle you participate in, they will bring you rewards. They help you to have the ability to solve problems effectively. When you participate in mind puzzles often your memory, IQ and other abilities will be enhanced. Do not expect to do a puzzle and then wait a month to do another. Mind puzzles will help you develop healthy skills only if you use them frequently.

The Key is Concentration

A skill that will be used for the rest of your life is learning to concentrate. It is a skill you use while studying and can be applied to any kind of work. The key to concentration is focusing on the task at hand to eliminate any possible distractions. It is common to read through material and discover you have no idea what you have just read or, attend presentations and have difficulty paying attention to what is being said. To help you stay focused here are some suggestions.

When scheduling, try to stick to a consistent and efficient routine. If possible avoid studying at different times. Studying one day late at night and the next day in the afternoon is counter-productive. Once decided, avoid conflicts, by marking down these times in a scheduler or on a calendar.

Where you study needs to be quiet. Find a designated study spot free of distractions. This is so necessary that if you live in a noisy house or dormitory you may even have to go to a study room like the library outside your residence.

You need to remember to take study breaks. Take about a 10 minute break for every hour. Make it anything different in a different location. Get up and walk into another room and listen to music, grab a snack, or play a game. This brief rest is needed to refresh the mind so it does not wander.

Day dreaming can easily become a struggle while studying. Thinking about plans for the night or tomorrow’s events is not uncommon. Avoid daydreaming by asking yourself questions about the material as you study it. This will keep your mind focused.

A separate but related subject is presentations. If you have trouble focusing during presentations look over the notes of any related talks. Also read the material pertaining to the presentation beforehand so you can anticipate the main ideas that will be covered. Make yourself show outward interest. Having an attentive expression and posture will self-motivate internal interest. Just as it is important to resist distractions with study it is equally important during presentations. By sitting in front of the room you are away from disruptive occurrences and people. This move will allow you to focus on the presenter.

You will find that by learning this skill you have increased the control you have over some of the factors that govern your life. Only a few minor adjustments in your studying habits can go a long way in improving your concentration.

Every Learning Process Has a Beginning and an End

Are you not sure what to take notes on? Does it stress you out to look over your notes? Do you get stressed when you prepare for tests? If the answer is yes to any of the previous questions here are some suggestions to take you through the studying process.
Before going to any lecture, read the assignments. This builds a background for the information that will be presented. It will give you some familiarity with vocabulary and concepts, which can be especially helpful if the subject matter is unfamiliar. Try to make time to actively read. As you go over the material, underline and highlight important information. If you don’t have time to read the entire assignment, skim the material. This way you at least have some advance knowledge of the important points.
It may seem so rudimentary that it does not need to be said but I have to say it anyway. You need to go to the lecture and take notes. Most presenters will emphasize points of importance. Be ready, be attentive and write during the entire class. Don’t stop taking notes until the lecturer is done. Since many presenters will cram any information that they missed into the end of the lecture you will need to pay attention until they are finished. When you take notes use abbreviations. Whether you use a standard shorthand or your own private system, get as much detail as you can.
As soon as possible after the lecture look over the notes and make any additions or corrections while the material is still fresh in your mind. Pay special attention to any parts you didn’t understand or missed. Ask someone else who was there for help so you can fill in the missing information.
Try to boost self-confidence by passing all your first quizzes. Make up a list of study questions and definitions and practice saying this information aloud. You can do this by yourself or with another person. Study for short periods over several days instead of waiting and trying to cram everything in in the last minute. Finish with a review the night before.
When exam day arrives use the following strategies to make all your hard work pay off. It is important not to be hasty. Take the time, before you begin, to read directions carefully and look over the test. Start by answering all the questions you know first. Getting the questions that you are certain of out of the way will not only get you sure points but also help build confidence. Now start over at the beginning and be careful not to leave any blanks. At least try to answer even if you are not sure. It is better to have an answer that might be correct instead of leaving the space blank and certainly incorrect. Be aware of the time and manage it. Don’t rush, but don’t go too slow. Finally, after you have completed the exam, take a few minutes to it look over to be sure you have answered all questions and that your answers make sense.
By investing a small amount of effort in the process from the beginning you will enjoy the rewards at the end.

Develop The Skill of Skimming

Remember the last time you looked something up in the phone book. You looked for the name and didn’t read any more than was necessary. You might even have used your finger to guide your eyes. We call this type of reading scanning. We do it everyday with book indexes, dictionaries, etc. Another type of reading is skimming. It uses the same type of skill mechanically as scanning but a different skill mentally. The difference is with scanning you know what you are looking for and, with skimming you don’t.

Because of everything we have to read, learning to skim material is getting more important all the time. There always seems to be a never ending supply of material like manuals, proposals, and news stories but less and less time to read them.

Since you don’t know exactly what you are looking for, first read the title, source, author, and look at any pictures.
Then ask yourself four questions.
1) Who is this piece likely to be focused on?
2) What is this piece likely to be focused on?
3) When is this piece likely to have taken place?
4) Where is this piece likely to have taken place?
Next; with these questions in mind, direct your eyes down the column of print. Clues to who and what can be found by looking for names of people, places, things, ideas, numbers. Clues to how and why are gotten from words like therefore, whenever, until, because, and instead.

When you first learn skimming you may only pay attention to the words in bold type, italics, digits, or capitalized words. This is natural but, you will soon come to see new or unusual vocabulary, so that as you become an efficient skimmer your span of perception will develop and your ability to make connections will increase.

Make skimming a step you always take before you read any article of factual or practical material. Skim everything you intend to read before you make a final decision whether to read, discard, or study the material. You will soon be able to detect the most important facts, strange vocabulary, and words that are clues to important relationships.

It's a good idea to skim everything in mass media. This keeps your skimming ability sharp and also keeps the necessary skills from deteriorating. Aside from practice, you may even find after going over the title and first paragraph, you have gotten all the information you need or want.

Finally, develop a read-skim pattern to use for rapid review. Reviewing frequently and rapidly is the best way to remember information from notes or long text materials. Skimming is a very useful tool for studying, so learn it and use it!

Keep Supplies in a Homework Kit

It’s time to do homework. You scour the house looking for a pencil but then you need a pencil sharpener. Ten minutes later you find one and finally sit down to start your work, but then where’s the calculator? You find it, only to discover that it is low on batteries. There have to be some in the house, but where? If you find your typical study session unfolding like this, then here are a few suggestions to help make finishing your homework easier.

Don’t waste a lot of time looking for homework supplies and making sure they are ready to be used when you are ready to study. Instead you can use a homework box or supply kit of some kind to keep it all together so when it comes time to do homework, everything is in place for you. You will enjoy no running around, no scouring the house and no wasted time.

Any kind of box will do. You can use a storage tote, an old shoebox, or even a drawer. The key is to keep everything you need in one place, ready to go. Make sure the tote or box is placed conveniently and it should not move from the spot you give it.

Make sure everyone knows that these supplies are for studying, and not for other activities. These supplies should stay there, and only be used for homework. You may even want to label this supply so there is no confusion as to its purpose.

Pencils and crayons should be sharp, calculators fully equipped with fresh batteries, markers with lids tightly attached. When it comes to studying, there are few people that want any more struggle or stress than is necessary. Keeping all materials and supplies handy and ready to go will make your studying not only go smoother, but possibly quicker. And who wouldn’t want to shorten the time they need for studying?