Tips, tutorials, and commentary on pedagogy, productivity, and technology in higher education.

Tag Archives: time management

How 15 Minutes Can Save 24 Hours of Stress

January 29, 2010 in Life, Productivity by Julie Meloni

A 15-minute break at the end of the day (or any time, really) can set you up for a successful next 24 hours.

3×3

January 12, 2010 in Life, Productivity by Natalie Houston

The start of the spring semester (or winter quarter) is both all shiny and new and a bit worn and familiar. 15 minutes and three index cards or three pieces of paper can help you quickly clarify your goals for this semester without feeling like you have to start all over again at the beginning.

The Now Habit

November 30, 2009 in Productivity by Natalie Houston

As we approach the end of the semester, many people in academe (faculty and students alike) discover that they have been or currently are procrastinating about something. Neil Fiore's book The Now Habit can help.

GTD Contexts and Academic Work

October 15, 2009 in Productivity by Natalie Houston

One of the central concepts of David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology is that your lists of next actions should be organized by context.

What’s Working?

October 1, 2009 in Life, Productivity by Natalie Houston

Today marks the beginning of a new month -- a good time for taking a few minutes to assess how things are going. It's easy at this point in the semester (whether you're 4 or 7 weeks in) to feel caught up in just doing stuff: teaching, meetings, grant proposals, recommendation writing, and oh yeah, your own writing and research. So, a simple question. What's working?

An Introduction to GTD (Getting Things Done)

September 22, 2009 in Productivity by Nels P. Highberg

GTD is an acronym that a lot of professionals throw around, and Prof. Hacker has been asked more than once to say more about what it is and why academics might want to know about it. This post provides a general overview of the system.

Are You Spending Time on What Matters to You?

September 21, 2009 in Life, Productivity by Natalie Houston

Last week, I recommended tracking how you spent your time for a few days (or ideally for the whole week) as a first step in evaluating and possibly refocusing your decisions about what you do and when. In today's post, I explain how to think a bit about what your current goals and priorities are, not just in your work, but more holistically.

Where Does Your Time Go?

September 14, 2009 in Life, Productivity by Natalie Houston

If, like me, you look around after the dust settles at the beginning of a new semester, and wonder now how am I going to find time for X? this tip is for you. It's an exercise I repeat at least once a year, sometimes more frequently depending on what changes have been taking place in my work, in my life, or in my goals. It's an exercise that involves time tracking and creating categories of life goals.

An everyday essential: the timer

September 1, 2009 in Productivity by Natalie Houston
Productivity gurus of all sorts, ranging from Merlin Mann to the Flylady (aka Marla Cilley) recommend using a timer.   You probably already have one, or two, or more timers easily to hand (in your wristwatch, PDA, or cellphone; on your computer; or on your kitchen counter).  But knowing how to use it can make all [...]