Page 79 - Keys To Community College Success

talk risk and reward . . .

Risk asking tough questions to be rewarded with new insights. Use the following ques-
tions to inspire discussion with classmates, either in person or online.
■ What time management issues do you see others face? How do they handle them?
What happens when they take risks—or don’t?
■ When you come up against a roadblock to an important goal, how do you react—
with risk-taking or retreat? What is the result? If you want to change how you “get
unstuck,” what adjustments would you make?
CONSIDER THE CASE: Sarah found herself in a situation where she sensed she needed
to take action, but didn’t know what or how. Have you ever been in a similar place, feel-
ing paralyzed by a problem and unable to figure out the first step? If you had a friend in
this type of situation, how would you motivate him or her?

■ Schedule downtime. It’s easy to get so caught up in completing tasks that you
forget to relax and breathe. Even a half-hour of down time a day will refresh you
and improve your productivity when you get back on task.
■ Schedule sleep. Sleep-deprived bodies and minds have a hard time functioning,
and research reports that one-quarter of all college students are chronically sleep-
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deprived. Figure out how much sleep you need and do your best to get it. With
adequate rest, your mind is better able to function, which has a direct positive
impact on your schoolwork.

One last overarching strategy: Be flexible. Sudden changes can upset your plans.
Although you cannot control all the events that occur, you can control how you respond
to them.
For changes that occur frequently, such as a job that tends to run into overtime, set
up a backup plan (or two) ahead of time. For sudden changes, such as car breakdowns,
or serious changes, such as failing a course or a major health issue like the one Sarah
experienced, use problem-solving skills to help you through (your course this term may Values, Goals, and Time
include more detailed information about problem solving). Your ability to evaluate
situations, come up with creative options, and put practical plans to work will help you
manage changes.
Resources at your college can help you deal with change, as well as with any sched-
uling or time-management problem. Your academic advisor, counselor, dean, financial
aid advisor, and instructors can provide ideas and assistance.

Time Management Is Stress Management
If you are feeling more stress in your everyday life as a student, you are not alone.
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Stress levels among college students have increased dramatically. Stress factors for col- STRESS
lege students include being in a new environment, increased workload, difficult deci- Physical or mental strain
sions, and juggling school, work, and personal responsibilities. reaction to pressure.
or tension produced in
Dealing with the stress of college life is one of your biggest challenges. But here’s
some good news: Every time-management strategy you are reading about in this
chapter contributes to your ability to cope with stress. Remember that stress refers to
how you react to pressure. When you create and follow a schedule that gets you places
on time and helps you take care of tasks and responsibilities, you reduce pressure. With
less pressure comes less stress.

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