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More about time management
Nov. 8th, 2010 12:14 pmMy current AAA magazine has an article about the Pickle Jar Theory, a way to manage to your time. I haven't seen this metaphor before. If you have a pickle jar, you can fill it up with lots of big rocks. Then you can add pebbles. Then sand. Then water. If you add them in that order, you can fit them all in. If you start with the water, you'll never get to the rocks. The rocks are metaphors for your important, large tasks.
Theoretically, this is how I structure my day. I schedule time for teaching and meetings and sometimes for grading or writing, and then fit everything else in around it. In practice, my grading and especially my writing time get pushed out of the way by sand.
My "rocks" for today: Teaching (done), 2 hrs; Office hours (done), 1 hr; PRC meeting, 1 hr; Panera (writing time), 2 hours; Prep time for tomorrow's class, 3 hrs. Hmm, that's 9 hours, not including my pebbles and sand and water. No wonder I have trouble fitting it in!
Theoretically, this is how I structure my day. I schedule time for teaching and meetings and sometimes for grading or writing, and then fit everything else in around it. In practice, my grading and especially my writing time get pushed out of the way by sand.
My "rocks" for today: Teaching (done), 2 hrs; Office hours (done), 1 hr; PRC meeting, 1 hr; Panera (writing time), 2 hours; Prep time for tomorrow's class, 3 hrs. Hmm, that's 9 hours, not including my pebbles and sand and water. No wonder I have trouble fitting it in!