S:2 E:6: Time Management

Drs. Rebecca Hines and Lisa Dieker, UCF Faculty members, provide tips and tricks about time management. They share their VERY different approaches to time, but share practical ideas to help students, teachers, and parents with time management. They remind listeners about the importance of approaching time management in a way that works best for the person with a disability - as management styles and practices differ.  Remember questions can be shared on Twitter @accesspractical.  Follow us on itunes or iheart podcasts. 

Transcript

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spk_0:   0:05
welcome to practical access. I'm Lisa Dieker and I'm Rebecca Hines. Becky.,What's the topic this time?

spk_1:   0:13
Oh, I know you're laughing at me and I know you want me to start because the topic is time management and I literally have a deficit in time management. So I'll be happy to share a little bit about that and with pride to accommodate myself. But I can't wait to hear what you have to say, because I will be taking notes. Lisa, in my own case. Interestingly, as an adult, I wrote to my elementary school to find out my some some I Q test scores because I was majoring in special. Ed and I and I understood what all of it meant, And I knew I had gone through the full, you know, range of tests, etcetera. So I just thought I was intellectually curious and they didn't send me Mother report. And so, you know, without going into detail about any of it, one of the recombined, Let's just say I do have a very, very big verbal and performance scale IQ you split and one of the recommendations in black and white when I was in third grade. It's a Becky will continue to need support, managing time and materials. And I really laughed out loud when I read that because, hey, nobody ever can he supported in that Maybe I'd be better at but managing time. You know, it's just an abstraction that start for May. And it is from very verbal person. I am. You know, I the time is just feels artificial to me. It gives me anxiety when people try to schedule a meeting at a certain time because I've been I just per separate over trying to remember that I have that meeting. So I share all of that because most people don't necessarily feel that, but we know that kids with learning disabilities in particular would feel that and would probably likely experience it. And there are some basic things to do. One isn't to myself, and, you know, again at the cape for yourself, set things up in a routine that look for things simple things like learning to use a timer, even thank goodness for cell phones. Because I said timers now, even if it's just to do something simple, I will set an alarm in my phone to go off to remind me, you know, not 10 minutes before, because then I'll still forget two minutes before anything I'm going to do a timer goes off. I often set one timer for 15 minutes before the event, and then I said another one for two minutes before the event, especially in this day and age of Zoom. If I'm gonna be hopping on a zoom call said it 15 minutes or less so that I can at least brushed my hair. But then I've moved on to something else and I gotta, I gotta be reminded two minutes earlier. So as a teacher or a parent, I strongly recommend that everyone teach Children the best way to accommodate themselves when it comes to time. Time was anything missing, and that's that's what I rely on. And I know it sounds simple, but it's got to be such a procedural or it won't work well.

spk_0:   3:29
And I'm laughing at you because you really are extremely productive. And when you you're like a stealth bomber, when you get into something, it's like everybody get out of the way because she's coming in for a landing. But But I think what's awesome funny is you really have created. If that's a deficit, you've created a pattern that I know, and you're really good to communicate with folks. So you used your verbal strength, like, you know, I don't email you. I don't even call you. I usually text you. You respond better to texts and you turn people that. And I think that's another thing. Whatever your style is, let people know where. As you well know, I'm good to let people know that I get really stressed if you make me wait till the last minute of it. It's not like you work well in a crunch, and I do think that makes for a good team. Most people who know us individually when they need us and think we work together. They're a little confused by that, but I think it's also something to think about partnering. So your student, your young adult with a disability apartment with people that have different strengths because you sure don't want have a whole group of people who can't spell hanging out together. Are you sure don't wanna have a cup? All group of introverts hanging out together. Nor do you want a whole bunch of people that are risk takers that are in positive influence to each other. So I think that's the first thing in time management is to take care of each other. Since we're sharing third grade report cards on that, you could guess what might said. Lisa should talk less on. So here we are, making a podcast the super Easy. But it also, you know, said that I really did like to be in a leadership role, and I know that about myself. I don't mind following, but I struggle in following people that I don't think have the same philosophical thinking or the same target. And so again, another good example of knowing yourself for time management. I think my biggest time management tip is I just don't waste it with trivial stuff.  I don't get caught up in petty things. If I do, I event really quick like you might be my first phone call, always when something's bugging me, and then I try to move on really fast. I think the other big tip for me for time management is I love this one minute time manager. It's something that I have a sabbatical. And yes, I'm nerdy enough. It was a time of cassette tapes, so it's a day to steer a little bit, and I took it out from the library again. Remember, the public library has great books, and resource is that you can go and get you could listen to free. You can even get them during this time online. And I listened to that tape literally once a month, and I think the best advice I got from it is that doing a time analysis, I literally saw I had a 40 hour week and a day that time it was still answering the phone and picking up voicemail. Not quite as much email, and I did a time houses on. I was really shocked in a 40 hour week. Less than 10 hours was my own. And so what I started doing is saying all right, if I really only have 10 hours a week that I'm in control of, I'm only going to give myself task for 10 hours a week because I think as humans we think it's a 40 hour work week. We should build a day, 40 hours of work. Well, somebody stops by. Somebody needs a form sign. This is a crisis. And I just found that my job was so intense that I had 10 hours. And so when I stopped scheduling more than three things a day and I start assuming that I only had 10 hours a week to produce something new, I stopped being so frustrated. And I think if you're like me and you're a time management freak, it's just Azizi to be frustrated by trying to do too much. As for you, the structure of time really frustrates you in different ways. But so I think it does come back to knowing myself. But those are a couple of quick tips. You have some other thoughts there. Have a couple more to share. But I wanna ramble on to us since my teacher come talk too much.

spk_1:   7:10
No, I didn't have a couple of other thoughts. Especially as it relates to kids. And again, even I'm not even keeping as the parent, I have to set a timer on my phone to remind myself to go remind my kids do things. So, I am trying to teach my kids that same system, unfortunately, have the same general profile that I do. So it's just we're all happy group you guys. So if that counts for anything,

spk_0:   7:40
you are the happiest people I know.

spk_1:   7:42
I know. That's just about time in my house. So that's the good news. However, as again as a functional skill because, honestly, managing times a functional skill and increasingly, as jobs change as our society changes, people have to be able to manage their own time to be fully productive. I know Lisa, you've read. I'm sure all all of the changes people will be increasingly independent contractors. You can't. You can't make money as an independent contractor if you don't show up if you don't put in the hours if you don't do the work for the number of hours that you're contacted to do the work. So I'm gonna take it a little bit different tact on this whole idea of time management and think about this idea. You mentioned the word productivity and I mentioned that you're highly productive. One of the reasons and one of the things that I learned from you early on was this idea of accomplishing certain things by certain points in the day. So so waking up and having in your mind a plan of this is what I'm going to accomplish before eight o'clock if I'm if I'm a student. If I'm a kid, what are the basics? And it doesn't even matter If you're trying to encourage your child at home to learn to manage his or her time. Just be very intentional about time and use things like, What are we gonna accomplish by 10 a.m. Guys, let's make sure we have the kitchen clean and we have, mid morning snack ready, you know, but setting a goal around time, even if it feels a little bit contrived. I think it's a good way to get kids to start thinking about it and learning to manage it.

spk_0:   9:29
Yeah, and I'm laughing cause we're getting ready to move and Mother's Day is coming. I've been cleaning out all those beautiful artwork, you know, that finger painting my Sunday between Picasso. I have burnt his his early works, but I was lapping the most cause There was a Mother's Day card and it was obviously like first grade. But does your mom like, What is she good at? And it says what your mom doesn't like And it said ever being late. It didn't just say being like medicine, ever. I was like, Okay, he didn't know early on side was important. And I think that's important to say, because I know it's equally you joke about time, but it's equally important that your kids don't miss deadlines, and I think as young adults, that's where you want your stay. You're your young adult to get to you. But as a child with a disability again, it's easy to say, Oh, but they're just not ready to learn again. That's why go back to comparing Piers. And so I have three small things to think about. When is I think at a very young age having a three hour window like, What are we going to do in the next three hours? You know, we're gonna get dressed, We're gonna get in the car and drop you off at school, and I'll pick you up much, whatever that might be. So in the next three hours, whereas I think when you're when you're young, your child becomes more of a young adult in adolescence having a three week window. You know what? You've got karate every Tuesday and Thursday. Like I plan out the next three weeks just so I know what landmine is coming. It's like, Oh, yeah, three weeks from now I have to be out of my house or three weeks from now. I need to take my driver's license tests so that I'm starting to think about those things, or three weeks from now is my nine week course exam that I have to pass the gradual way. Those are the kinds of things that I think we do too late sometimes for kids with disabilities, and then we all get in a panic. So that's That's my one big and my 2nd 1 is I live and die by Alexa or Google Home, even me, who's extremely organized. I sent reminders all the time, especially in this weird environment where my structure is a little bit gone. You know, don't forget it, 3 p.m. To do this or to do that and then I know you and I are a big believer, and I know many of our students are using the Pomodoro method and rule is 25 minutes on task. 10 minute break, five minute break Somewhere in there, I actually believe of your Childs. Really Young do tend to 1 10 minutes. One minute. Often it's to again you're teaching them 10 minutes is it's starting to persevere, and I think that's what time management is. Is that perseverance? You have amazing perseverance. You always go across the finish line. You just run really fast at the end. I did to run at a different pace at whatever the strength is of your child. If there a last minute person, I think that's a good thing. But again, giving them that structure and keeping in mind. We always want accomplish more than we really just don't assume you can clean the house rush 13th get them out the door, get their clothes. I I mean, my list is always too long, and I've learned less is more for time.

spk_1:   12:21
I think I think that's an important. That's an important point because I intentionally make my list too long. Yeah, and I'm very forgiving of myself. When I don't get everything, I move it to my next chunk. I feel fine about it, but that's but that's part of it. Two minutes also skill, because you do. You know, I do like to say set goals that that will keep me motivated. You mentioned Lisa that idea that some of us are sprinters when it comes to time. I think I think a lot of people sprint. It's just a difference in when you sprint. So what we do know physiologically is that some people, used time as a motivator. And for some people, it literally is a. It's a physiological release of this endorphin that some people get when the assignment is given my going to get that done, because if I don't, I'm gonna feel anxiety as it gets closer to the deadline. But for other people, you don't even get that release. You really don't get that kick until it's almost there. And that deadline. That impending deadline doesn't cause anxiety. It's what actually releases that big inner G rush that makes you able to do it. And I think a lot of people I know a lot of people in teaching are are the types who have used, you know, planning of a consistent method of of getting things done and something on track and and and being well prepared. But for those of us who are more deadline driven, we still produce. We just. The important thing is to know that you have to build in a consistent pattern so that you are reliable and, as you know, and as we joke about, you are exactly right. I am sprinting at the end, but I can't get my thoughts all together until the end is very near. It's really literally hard for me to do that and my final actual tip and tool. Interestingly, he because I'm very most of a technology person, but because of this visual perceptual difference, I you literally every year going by a big best calendar, and I tape it on my wall and a hand right in marker, cause if it's a thin line pin, I will not see it. I write big things on a calendar for myself. It's not attractive, but I have to do it because I will otherwise like. I don't see that to see it every day, to really get it in my mind and have something cemented in my mind so that I will not miss important deadlines. I just tape up a regular desk calendar. It has to be big enough that I can read it from across the room and I will look at it all day. And that's you know, that's that's a way that I accommodate. What truly is a visual perceptual difference?

spk_0:   15:20
Well, and for me, I'm a techie person, too. But it's got to be paper, and I have the three week out and I have that each day of the week. Three things I'm gonna accomplish. I actually believe it or not. Very forgiving, cause I number them 123 and if I don't get to three, I'm like, Alright, that gets moved, maybe to the next day as a one. But what's funny is I have to A My adrenaline rush comes from marking it off yet one. Yeah, to when I get to three. So I guess I run a sprint every day and and find that same adrenaline rush. But I think that's what you have to do for for your child with a disability is not assume somebody's gonna figure it out For them. It has to be feed out for themselves. My son is a note maker. Note taker. My husband is not, and yet they both are very successful. Get things accomplished. So think about the people in your life of boy brain we know tends to do things in a little bit different way than the female brain. And so, if you're a mom, uh, think about what went with different in those those rooms. But I do think the biggest thing is to use time as a motivator. But don't use time as an anxiety producer to the level that your dysfunctional I think that's the ultimate piece of time. So thanks for joining us today. And if you have a tweet for us, please send it to @accesspractical.