Time Management and Decision Making
Time management is planning and controlling the use of a limited resource; decision making is choosing between alternatives in a systematic way. The exam tests prioritisation tools and the steps of a sound decision.
Core concepts
- Eisenhower matrix: two questions - is it urgent? is it important? This gives four quadrants: urgent and important (do now); important but not urgent (schedule - revision, health, relationships); urgent but not important (delegate or minimise); neither (avoid - idle scrolling). The important-but-not-urgent quadrant prevents later crises.
- Pareto principle (80/20): a small share of tasks produces most of the result, so find the high-value tasks first.
- Common time wasters: procrastination, multitasking, unplanned phone use, poor estimation of how long a task takes, and saying yes to everything.
- Decision-making steps: define the problem, gather information, list alternatives, weigh pros and cons, choose, act, review the outcome.
- Decisions may be routine, impulsive or reasoned. Important decisions deserve time and, where possible, another person's perspective.
Worked example
A student has a project due in two days, a maths test in five days and a friend's birthday party tonight. Reasoning: the project is urgent and important, so it takes today's study block. Maths is important but not urgent, so it is scheduled for tomorrow. The party is neither urgent nor important for the deadline and can be shortened to one hour. This keeps important work protected instead of letting it slide to the last night.
Traps
- Equating urgent with important - a ringing phone is urgent but rarely important.
- Stopping at the choice; implementation and review carry marks.
- Praising multitasking as efficiency.