AIU Online CareerPointers Time is the most precious element of human existence. The successful person knows how to put energy into time and how to draw success from time. --Denis Waitley
HOMEADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AIDDEGREE PROGRAMSVIRTUAL CAMPUSCONTACT USCLICK TO TALK January + February 2006, Issue 34
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  Finding Time In Busy Lives
Time Management By Betsy Balachandran
What one thing does everyone in the world have an equal amount of? Time. How you put your time to use can make or break many areas of your life. Being able to successfully juggle all activities in your life is very important, and there are methods to ensure that you manage your time effectively.

Set Goals and Priorities
Why are setting goals and priorities important to time management? By understanding what you want to achieve, you will be able to see clearly where you need to concentrate your efforts. You will also be able to quickly identify distractions that can lead you off course. Setting specific goals can also be very motivational and help you see yourself in your ultimate achievement and get you to subconsciously think about how to get there.

Goals should be measurable. There is no sense of setting a goal if you don't know when or how it is accomplished. Set goals that can be measured and have milestones that can be easily identifiable. Set up a timeline of when you should achieve your goal, and when you should be halfway there. This will help motivate you along the way to see partial success. Goals should also be achievable, where you can see a realistic path of accomplishment. This doesn't mean aim low! Goals are normally challenging. But you certainly will give up easily if your goal is to become a billionaire by the end of the year.

Get organized
A simple "to do" list is an easy method to solid time management that will help get you organized. You can have a written out list or keep track of your tasks on a computer. By writing out a list all of your goals, tasks, reminders, etc, you can easily organize yourself according to deadlines and priorities. Review your list on a regular basis, planning your days and weeks accordingly. It can also ease your mind from having to remember everything you need to do! Keep a schedule or calendar of things going on in your life, important appointments, deadlines, etc. This will help you remind you of upcoming events and better prepare you for what you may need to do beforehand. It is also a good idea to avoid clutter in your workspace. That could be in your home if you are conducting a job search or attending school or also in the office. Having a clear organized workspace can help you do your tasks more efficiently.

   Click here to learn more about "Finding Time and Being Organized for a Successful
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Don't Procrastinate
Procrastination is something we are all familiar with - putting off the things you really should be doing right now! It can be caused by lack of interest, fear of failure, lack of priorities, or simply not knowing where to start. Telling yourself "I'll do it tomorrow", "I'm not in the mood", or "I'm waiting for the right time" can pull all your time management plans to a screeching halt.

With so much on your plate, it is essential to your success to identify feelings of procrastination and promptly address them. This bad habit usually gets worse and can really affect you reaching your ultimate goals. Procrastination also usually results in guilt or stress and can contribute negatively to your time managed tasks, not to mention unnecessary. Oftentimes people put off tasks to do something they consider interesting but have no contribution to their overall goals. For example, you don't need to watch that rerun of "Friends" you have already seen three times. To avoid procrastination, reward yourself for completed steps along the way, and understand that there is no better way to get things done other than to do them. Don't put off until tomorrow if it can be done today!

   Click here to learn more about "Effective Stress Management Techniques"

   Click here to learn more about "Balancing School and Work"

For more information please contact our Career Services department at 877-701-3800 ext 15060 or careerservices@aiuonline.edu.

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Finding Time and Being Organized for a Successful Job Search
Effective Stress Management Techniques

Balancing School and Work
In Focus
Time Management
Finding Time and Being Organized for a Successful Job Search
Effective Stress Management Techniques
Balancing School and Work


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