5 Keys for Student Productivity

Douglas S. Brown, Esq.December 7, 2013

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About You

About Me

Time Management Truths

5 Keys to Greater Productivity

Our Agenda

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Can we manage time?

Time Management = Choice Management

100% Control of our Choices

Structure = Freedom

Time Management?

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Internal Rationales ◦Not enough time◦“But I know where everything is!”

External Pressures◦Always-on technology◦Clients and colleagues◦Non-negotiable deadlines

Natural Resistance to Change

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1. Keep the end in mind

2. Invest in planning time

3. Block & tackle

4. Manage interruptions

5. Commit to continuous improvement

5 Productivity Keys

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Why are you in the program? What do you need to learn in this course?

Course objectives?

How will success be measured?

Got Syllabus?

What is your outcome?1

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Your favorite methods of self sabotage? Procrastination? Indecision? Having to be right? Not saying “NO”? Not saying “YES”? Lone Ranger? Tolerating? ADD? CDA?

How are you spending your time?

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1xPlanning = 4x in Productivity

Planning Horizons◦ Course◦ Week◦ Day

Syllabus to Calendar◦ Assignment due dates◦ All other known events

Invest in Planning Time2

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All essential activities

Use Categories Share your Calendar

Block time for your essential activities

Block & Tackle3

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Include Travel Time (to and from) Actual Start Time in Descriptive Subject

Calendar – Schedule Whole Event

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1. Planning Time

2. Production Time – Getting Stuff Done Work School Work

3. Communication Time

4. Administration Time – Bills etc.

5. Development Time Improving Yourself Recharging

Group Similar Tasks

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Outlook Tasks

Evernote

Things for MAC

Ta-Da List

Remember the Milk

Binder / Notepad

Single Task List

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Pre-Course◦ Calendar all assignments◦ Pre-Read Assignments, and block calendar time◦ Will you need time off for big deadlines?

Pre-Week◦ Readings & Assginments

How much time do you need? What kind of time. AM/ PM / Lunch? Block & Tackle

Time, Pressure & Creativity. Not.

Academic Deadlines

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Myth of Multitasking

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Do the first thing Review coming days Scan days ahead Adjustments? Select Tasks Estimate time Fill the “white space” Block Tackle

Daily Checklist

TIPS:

ADD 33%TRACK FOR A WEEK

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK!

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Important or Urgent?

Urgent but

Not Important

Importantbut

Not Urgent

Not Important and

Not Urgent

Urgent and

Important

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Multitasking Adrenaline Addiction Not

◦ Reading Syllabus◦ Reading Instructions and Rubrics◦ Proofreading Papers◦ APA / Bluebook◦ Plagiarism ◦ Leaving Easy Points on the Table

Traps to Avoid

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Turn off alerts!◦ Email, Facebook, Twitter, Phone etc.

Phone Interruptions◦ Establish Timeframe◦ Routine Scripts – What to Say

Self-Imposed Interruptions◦ Use a Timer

Manage Interruptions4

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Physical Space◦ Dedicated to Work◦ Productive Physical Space◦ Notebooks / Supplies◦ Electronic Space◦ Saving

Books & Notes Blackboard Work

Emotional Space

Create a Workspace

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Is it really?

Trying vs Doing?

The cleanest car in school?

Emergency?

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How many times do you walk to the mailbox?

Multiple Emailboxes

University’s Email

Blackboard setup

Batch Email Responses

Email

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Email Format for Action

1. Greeting

2. Action Needed

3. Context

4. Attachments

5. Conclusion

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Clean email body1. Greeting

2. Action Needed

3. Context

4. Attachments

5. Conclusion

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Self Management

SkillsMindset

ChoicesRoutines

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Commit to Improve

Progress

Peak Plateau

Danger Zone

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1. Commit to the Calendar2. Identify Blindspots3. Make Blocking & Tackling Routine4. Support One Another!

Bonus Tips:Annotated BibliographyMaster NotebookReflect & Remember

Action Plan

Insanity is doing the same thing

over and over again

and expecting different results!

Albert Einstein

A student in Einstein’s class…"The questions of this year's exam are the same as last years!" "True," Einstein said, "but this year all answers are different."

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Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.(Registration at 3:30 p.m.)

Location: CBA Law Center, New Britain, CT(Free Parking in garage across from CBA after 5:00 p.m.)

$25 for Members http://tinyurl.com/CBA121013

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Douglas Brown 203.651.8110 | Doug@SuccessTrackEsq.com