“Time management doesn’t exist.”
Everyone at some point seeks to have excellent time management. However, the overwhelming need to plan out daily, weekly or monthly events can be stressful and exhausting. Sometimes the amount on one’s plate is just too much.
On Nov. 4, 32 students learned about time management with Jeneé Dana, the author of the No. 1 best-selling and award winning, “Have Fun & Get It Done” at Clarence T.C. Ching Conference Center. Delta Epsilon Iota (DEI) Honor Society members also learned from the entertaining and informative author on Nov. 6.
As Chaminade students signed in for the workshop, they were greeted with an assortment of cupcakes, a hint that guest speaker, Dana, promotes having fun. She used her experiences and effective images related to the topic to connect with the students.
Part of her presentation, was having students write their priorities and values. Students from the audience listed values such as studying, work, having fun and hanging out with friends.
With a busy schedule it’s hard to keep in touch with friends and family. Dana told students when she was attending college, she and her best friend lived across the street from one another and even attended the same university but saw each other maybe once a year. She explained that people are busy and it happens.
“It’s all about, is it on your values and priorities list? If friends are on that list for you, it’s just about making sure that you’re making time for them” Dana said. Whether it’s a ten minute phone call or going out to lunch or to the beach, or skyping with them if they’re in the mainland.”
Along with trying to keep in touch with friends and families, students wanted to know how to make an effective to-do list, because a to-do list can have several tasks on it but some may not even be important.
Dana explained that students should draw a line down the middle of the paper. At the top of that paper, put down three to eight goal-producing activities. At the bottom of the list write down everything else that needs to get done, so that one will be able to easily see what needs to get done and get closer to that goal.
“What I always recommend, especially I tell my business owners is delegate from that bottom list as much as possible, even if you need to trade with your roommate. Try to get as much of that bottom list delegated out as much as you can, so you don’t even have to do it,” Dana said.
Among the many images Dana used, the picture of a chicken and egg with the words “happiness or success” caught the attention of many students. The image represented which comes first: “the chicken or the egg,” in this case “happiness or success?” Dana explained that in order to be successful one must be happy first. Otherwise, just like the picture of targets, one will be striving to constantly beat one’s goal, striving for success but not exactly happiness.
“It was good. I really enjoyed it,” said Faith Leasiolagi, a junior. “How she put how you have to be happy first in order to be successful. I mean, in order to be happy we have to prioritize our values, so if we’re happy we’ll be successful.”
Leasiolagi expressed that she felt this workshop was different from all the rest, because the topic of Time Management related to her current situation as a full-time student. Unlike other workshops she’s attended, this one had a large audience.
“It was always hard to get kids to attend, but this one hit the spot. Like, a lot of kids were interested,” said Leasiolagi.
Alicia Ford, a junior in Academic Achievement Program (AAP) and a DEI member, attended to get some tips on time management. Ford felt the most beneficial tip for her was to study 80 percent the day or night before an exam, where Dana pointed out to study the most important information that was pointed out by an instructor.
“Her tips were helpful as they made you look at things in a new light,” Ford said. “She took a basic task like studying and revamped it to make it more beneficial and fun.”
