'Mind Your Library' Resilience Kit

Challenge #4 Struggling with time management

Embrace a growth mindset:

“This is an opportunity for me to review my commitments in a timely manner and experiment with different productivity techniques to find what works best for me. Taking strategic pauses to refocus (even when you feel like breaking down and crying🫂) strengthens your resilience.”

Adopt this two-step strategy:

1. Evaluate and plan 
   Carefully assess your current and upcoming time commitments by creating a realistic schedule that includes all academic, social, and personal appointments. Use a planner or calendar to track tasks and deadlines. When needed, set personal deadlines before actual ones.
2. Prioritize and execute 
   Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, using techniques such as Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix, behavioral activation techniques (“trick” your mind to start with small 10-min tasks) and seeking advice and support from tutors or MWKLSWC counsellors when needed.

Mind Your Library - Maximize your library resources:

• Explore our curated guides, such as: 
  Learning Is Different! Top 3 Hacks and Study Skills and Exam Preparation which offer practical tips on time management, class preparation, and ways to enhance your learning experience.
   
• Get help from our subscribed resources, such as:
  LinkedIn Learning
  Udemy Business
  Short video - Time Management for Students (LinkedIn Learning)
  Short video - Get Things Done - 7 Productivity Hacks you Need to Know (Udemy Business)
   
• Use research productivity tools: 
  Google Scholar Library Link and LibKey Nomad Browser Extension which can help you efficiently retrieve full texts from library subscriptions while researching your topic.

By applying these strategies and resources, you will develop better time management habits and create a more balanced and productive routine.