Reaching The Finish Line

For the final tech assignment we were allowed to choose the strategies which helped us the most this semester. The topic that contained the most strategies helpful to me was Time/Task Management. I decided to use the Time Wasters Strategy and Building Blocks to Finish. The use of these strategies helped me to see what I needed to do in each of my classes, and how to successfully finish the last assignments for each. They both helped me in the past, so I felt that choosing them for this tech assignment was the right choice.

To remember the reasons I procrastinate and what kind of assignments cause me to procrastinate I reused the Time Wasters strategy (shown below). As a visual learner I listed down what my Time Wasters were and which tasks caused me to use those Time Wasters, giving me a nice view of the connection between the two. I noticed how my Time Wasters increased this time around as opposed to the last time I used this strategy. I found that whenever I had online assignments such as Mastering Physics or WebAssign for my PHY 222 and MAT 295 courses, I would tend to use Time Wasters like Social Networking sites or YouTube to put off finishing those assignments. I would also use Time Wasters such as playing Xbox to avoid studying with a study group to review material for finals. Using this strategy helped me to again see how certain tasks would cause me to procrastinate. Now that I know what causes me to procrastinate, I don't allow myself to use the Time Wasters I have around me. When I do online assignments I log out of all social networking and video sites and close them so that I can only focus on my assignments. To make sure I studied with my study group I also put the controllers for my Xbox away so that I wouldn't be tempted to play and waste time.

Time Wasters Strategy

The second strategy I chose to use for Task Management was the Building Blocks to Finish Strategy (shown below). This strategy allowed me to set up a reasonable schedule to follow to complete all assignments leading up to the final one in each of my classes. This last week I had two tests and a project due, along with the final homework assignments in my other classes. On the date of the final assignments for each of my classes I would highlight that days to see what needed to be done to prepare for that specific day. By doing this I would chunk the task and write down what I would need to do exactly in order to prepare myself for the upcoming assignments. This strategy was very effective as it served as another visual aid to my schedule and how I needed to effectively use my time in the last days of this semester.

Building Blocks to Finish

Overall, the usage of both of these strategies allowed me to get organized for the final week of classes. I can now anticipate what's going to come and properly prepare by managing my time. As finals are quickly approaching it is good that I found strategies to use that can keep me on track to performing well in each of my classes. I am really glad I was able to participate in the online blog with Team Orange this semester as I learned a lot of helpful strategies that I plan to use for the rest of my time as a student at Syracuse University.