Time Wasters

TIME WASTER SYMPTOMS CAUSES SOLUTIONS
lack of planning 
  • false starts
  • having to go back and do things over
  • not enough time to complete the project
  • failure to see the value of planning
  • impatience to get something done
  • outline the stages of a project
lack of priorities
  • never enough time to get around to the important things
  • unimportant things get done first
  • fear of tackling important projects
  • make "to do" lists and rank items in order of importance
busyness
  • always doing something but never getting important things done
  • absorbed in details and trivia
  • fear of tackling important projects
  • failure do distinguish between busy from being purposeful
  • identify things that need to be done
  • set priorities
distractions and interruptions
  • sharpening pencils, arranging books, channel surfing, E-mail, talking on the phone, playing computer games.
  • poor concentration
  • lack of planning
  • failure to control environment
  • eliminate the temptation
  • plan study sessions 
  • set short term goals that will get you started
overplanning
  • writing list after list of things to do
  • writing a list of lists
  • feelings of being out of control of time
  • lack of confidence
  • get started on things
  • rehearse
boredom
  • unable to get interested in important projects
  • fear of failure
  • fear of commitment 
  • fatigue
  • the stuff is really boring
  • define intrinsic rewards
  • work with people who are interested
inefficiency 
  • spending the time studying but not getting much from it
  • lack of concentration
  • poor monitoring
  • lack of knowledge about the best ways to study
  • failure to set definite learning goals
  • identify the source of inefficiency
  • spend more time planning
  • examine physical condition, concentration, etc.
socializing
  • study time is taken up with talking to friends
  • socializing is fun
  • find ways to link socializing to studying
  • identify those who waste your time with socializing
daydreaming
  • study time taken up with imagining more pleasurable activities
  • fatigue
  • lack of concentration
  • healthy imagination
  • look for the cues to daydreaming (open windows, seats outside the speaker's line of vision) and avoid them