Managing Smaller Tasks

Now that you have a long-term plan for your semester, you will learn how to create a short-term plan to guide you from week to week. Let’s say that you have been assigned an essay and have scheduled 2 weeks to do it in your long-term plans. The first step is to learn everything that you can about the assignment. Read all the documents and pages related to the essay as soon as possible and ask any questions you have immediately. By reading the assignment, you learn that you need to write an eight page essay that includes ten sources along with a reference page.

Now it’s time to create a to-do list, but having a to-do list that says “write essay” can demotivate you. A single huge task is less motivating than a number of smaller tasks. You can apply the chunking strategy to break the essay into a number of smaller tasks. For example:

1. Write thesis statement
2. Research
3. Write outline
4. Write first draft
5. Edit and write final draft
6. Reference page

By checking off each smaller task as it is completed you will be able to see how much work you have done. Crossing small tasks off your list is better for your mental health, and more likely to motivate you to continue, than to have a single task that remains on your to-do list even after days of work.

Breaking an assignment into chunks allows you to reward and pace yourself as well. Let’s use Justin as an example. He is assigned to do the same eight page essay and also schedules 2 weeks to finish it in. To the right you will see week 2 of his plan. Click the image to see a larger version.

Justin also adds some strict rules to his plan that act as rewards and encouragement. He is not allowed to stop working before 4pm even if he has met his goal, but he is allowed to stop any time after 4pm so long as he has met his goal.  This way, he can reward himself with an early evening off and also he can keep working and get further ahead if he is having a good day. He also does not allow himself to work past 8pm even if he has not met his goal for the day. By scheduling in some relaxation time each night, he is able to avoid becoming burnt out. Finally, he has a day listed as “contingency time”. If he was unable to complete the essay by Friday, he will spend the day working until it is finished. If it is finished, then he will reward himself with a day with his friends.

Creating Your Own Plan

Justin’s plan works very well for him, but it may not work for you. You might have a full time job, or no job, and he only has one course where you might have many. He also hasn’t scheduled in readings or other assignments. Look at your calendar and choose a week. Create a schedule that includes. Use the time audit you completed earlier to help you.

Justin's plan was created with Google Calendar. It is free and can be used by anyone with a computer, but most cell phones should also have a free calendar program installed. You can also use a physical day planner.