Thursday 8 October 2015

The much awaited article on time management

Lots of students ask me about time management and so, I decided to dedicate an article to this invaluable skill. I am presently doing a course on Psychology and we have been taught the skills of motivation, time management and goal setting in detail.

What exactly is time management?
Not complicating the things, time management is simply the ability to do the right thing at the right time in a way that you end up getting time for everything you want to do!

What is goal setting?
Goal setting is a key ingredient of time management. Deciding a target and working for it is termed as goal setting.

How are goal setting and time management useful (for a JEE aspirant)?
Innumerable ways! You are able to study efficiently. You are able to spare time for your friends and family. You can get time to play a sport and still be a topper!

How do I manage my time effectively?
Well, that's a good question. Having studied in IIT for 2 years and dealing with lots and lots of deadlines, I feel that time management is a skill which is learnt from doing. As I mentioned, goal setting is a key ingredient of time management. So, I believe that to manage time properly, one should be able to set effective, achievable goals.

How do I set effective goals?
So, here are a few tips with regard to goal setting (pardon me if I am going a bit psychological):

  • Set specific goals. Psychology says that setting specific goals results in better output. "I will work on this" is a vague goal, while "I will finish this in the next 30 minutes" is a more specific goal. Studies have found that those who chose the second goal got more output. Also, studies say that maximum effort is not aroused under a 'I will do my best' goal. The ambiguity in the goal specification (I will do my best) allows people to give themselves the benefit of doubt in evaluating their performance.
  • Set difficult goals. Those who set harder goals tend to perform better than those who set very simple goals. Note that the toughness of goal is a subjective term and will vary from person to person.
I strongly believe that setting specific goals helps a lot to manage time properly. For a JEE aspirant, it could be as simple as 'I will solve the first 10 problems of Rotational Mechanics in the next 1 hour'.

You can also make use of appropriate technology. I am sure many of you use internet. You can use the brilliant tool by Google - Google Keep for managing your goals. Writing your goal clearly gives motivation to achieve them.

That was mostly about goal setting. What about time management?
Time management and goal setting are related terms. Set effective goals and you will surely be able to manage time properly. However, there is yet another thing I would like to mention. Students should keep a track of the time they waste in a 'not so important' activity like - Facebook, Television, friends (yes, I believe that spending a lot of time with friends during JEE days is an unimportant activity), etc.
Another important factor which greatly affects your time management is the presence of 'girlfriend/boyfriend' during JEE days. I strongly believe that its a waste of time to be committed during JEE days. I have seen lots of smart friends of mine getting ruined purely because of their girlfriend. Understand that you are merely in class 11th/12th. Life has a lot to offer to you ahead. Presently it is the time to create your identity - an identity as an IITian. It is the time to make your parents proud of you. It is the time to show your relatives what you are! Don't fall into this trap of 'girlfriend/boyfriend' thing, it is merely a waste of time at your level. Do not be sentimental about this issue. Use your brain and not heart, and be logical. Life is not just about a girl or a boy. It is about creating an identity of yours. It is about creating an impact in the society!

I hope this article helps you. Feel free to ask doubts. I would strongly discourage comments seeking advice on 'how to make a timetable'. Do it yourself because no one knows you better than you, yourself!

40 comments:

  1. great article aman. the second last paragraph was like a motivation for jee aspirants.

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  2. Did u completed all the material listed on ur quora ans where u have written books used by u
    Actually i was asking this because their are loads and loads of questions in rd sharma class 12th nd i m not able to complete it just for curiosity i was asking that did u completed all the books listed in it nd how were u able to do so..
    Means were u always solving questions when u r studying ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completed the relevant questions from most of the sources I have mentioned.
      If some question was really trivial, I used to skip such it

      Delete
    2. Okay.
      But my question needs an answer. The problem I have mentioned in it is faced by hundreds of students preparing for JEE advancED and I think this is the only problem that may hide the hard work.
      Please give a solution of it.

      Delete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Done with my FIITJEE correspondence package thoroughly. Can I get a good rank in IITJEE?

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  5. "Use your brain and not heart" these words are awesome.thanks man

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  6. Doubt.
    (Please reply this will help many)
    After studying 1 hour effectively and getting a break of 10 minutes when I get back to study I can't concentrate. With the efficiency of only 50-60 % I waste a lot of time.
    Why this happen?
    How to stop this wastage of time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then try to increase that effective time which is 1 hpur of urs currently :x

      Delete
    2. The system of taking small breaks between study sessions is not new. And it is widely acclaimed. but
      Consider this.

      What if youre taking your breaks too soon?
      The concentration, or rather efficiency/productivity, over time follows a bell curve (google if that seems new to you). You need to analyse your curve to choose a good time to take the break. It may be possible that you're taking your break just before you can reach your peak, and it resets you to a lower position.

      Everyone is different, and hence its wiser to borrow ideas and not entire schedules. Do take breaks, but decide yourself what frequency would suit you best

      cheers
      blog co-author

      Delete
  7. I am in a coaching where 100 people qualify every year an arround 30 get IIT out of 500......every student is 90+in tenth....and i am lying in bottom 200 there.....i work very hard....but i know hard work is not important but smart work is ......i want to ask what makes a diff. between smart study amd hard study and what do rankers differently do ????...i read theory and solve questions.....thats all ....still at exam hall i get 39% and topper goes 70%......i think am i doing some thing very wrong......like i am trying to fill a bucket with a whole at bottom and insted of shutting that whole i am pouring lot of water more and more.....1.5 years left

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "i am trying to fill a bucket with a whole at bottom and insted of shutting that whole i am pouring lot of water more and more"
      You sort of understand your problem
      Maybe you are not studying the right way
      Maybe you are working hard while actually you are not!
      Maybe you need more time to grasp something as compared to others, and that is absolutely fine! In fact, I was also quite dumb initially. It used to take me a hell lot of time to understand what the book is saying or what the teacher is teaching. However, I practiced a lot and that helped!
      If you feel you are not getting output by studying for 5 hours, study for 7 hours!
      Simple enough!

      Delete
  8. Aman sorry for asking this question under irrelevant post
    I'm 2017 jee aspirant I had started jee preparation this month till now I was doing basics only Due to some reasons I was not able to join coaching ,next year I will join coaching.
    Now my question is
    QUES :When should I do jee previous year questions at end of completion of syllabus or after completing each chapter ?
    QUES :As I had started preparation late and not joined coaching this year will I able to do well in competition ? (I'm trying my best in preparation)
    PLEASE AMAN ANSWER MY QUESTION AND SHOW ME RIGHT PATH ....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ANS 1: "after completing each chapter"
      ANS 2: "yes"

      I have answered your questions

      Showing right path: Go through the blog posts. They will surely help you see things from a different perspective

      Delete
    2. thanks aman,
      one more question in maths coordinate geometry should I buy arihant sk goyal or do coordinate geometry from TMH
      which will be better if I want to do from 1 book out of 2

      Delete
  9. Bhaiya
    Im enrolled in Fiitjee's four year classroom program for jee-18 Im presently in class 10th ...how should one bring a change in study pattern ( books ,study hours ,leisure activities )while shifting from 10th to 11th ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This post (http://amangoeliitb.blogspot.com/2014/03/to-be-winner-start-early-post-for-those.html) isn't exactly related to your question, but I guess you should give it a read!

      Delete
  10. What do u recommend?. Seeing the solved examples first or directly start solving on our own. ?(Assume that I hv only read theory of that chapter)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd suggest covering the solution and trying to solve it yourself. Whether or not you get it, do take a look at the author's solution. It will surely help you better!

      cheers
      blog co-author

      Delete
  11. Bhaiya which test papers u used to solve except fiitjee aits for advance n how many did u soove approx 6 hrs papers?

    ReplyDelete
  12. That moment when i dont know where i commented ...to check if you replied .
    but still take 2 .
    Hey aman!
    I'm 2016 Jee aspirant ...
    I had brain tumor ..due to which my studies fell like a falling curve ...with hardly few months left can i get into nit atleast. ..none of my concepts are clear ...i dont be able to solve any complex problems ..i have dc pandey set of 5 books ..and balaji prabhath kumar for inorganic ...Dp bahadur for physical ...(ordered op tandon . Sk goyal coordinate lglee organic...seeing your post ) ...i was a 10 pointer ....brightest in our batch ...but now after my recorvy as i look at my position i'm hardly able to score 30 ..i feel like giving up every now and then. . The people who were getting lesser marks than me now score in 200 ...m very frustrated at my fate . kindly help me. .
    can you just gimme and idea on how to prepare a timetable.
    a large amount of money was spent on my treatment , my parents are relyin on me sir .
    I was so excited for jee 1.5 yrs ago ..i feel like its all over now .
    i want to get into a nit atleast . Kindly help . Since i have monthy collage test next month ..2 preparatorys in jan . Then lab exams ...its not even a week since a recovered . i feel like im in a drowing ship

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  13. Bhaiya, I want help actually I got trapped in a situation. Earlier I got good ranks in tests held in coaching institute but in between I got depressed I always stay depressed. And then I got distracted in relationships issues and atleast that girl ruined my life and ditched me.. I still stay depressed. Can u please give me tips how to concentrate on studies and avoid all distractions plz help me bhaiya

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  14. Please bhaiya tell me how to crack jeeadvance in 5 months?I am purely dedicated for it.

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  15. Please bhaiya help me.i am in class 12 from cbse board and want to crack jeeadvance 2016 in 6 months? Please tell me what to do?I am confused?

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  16. Hi , Aman
    Currently I have finished my 11th exam and vacations have started. My tuitions are there for 6 hours a day for 6 days a week. I still have some 3-4 topics to perfect in each subject of 11th jee . how many hours should I allot got 11th and 12th per day.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi , Aman
    Currently I have finished my 11th exam and vacations have started. My tuitions are there for 6 hours a day for 6 days a week. I still have some 3-4 topics to perfect in each subject of 11th jee . how many hours should I allot got 11th and 12th per day.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi , Aman
    Currently I have finished my 11th exam and vacations have started. My tuitions are there for 6 hours a day for 6 days a week. I still have some 3-4 topics to perfect in each subject of 11th jee . how many hours should I allot got 11th and 12th per day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Aman i want to be just like you ^_^ coder gamer speedcuber and IIT graduate im giving it this year .. I am going to try my best but i may not get in IITB mayb :P Not as good as you perhaps but i am improving!! Exam in 2wks :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Past me. Youre now an IITian.

      Delete
    2. That was just the most inspirational success story I read today.

      Delete


  20. Hello I m in class 11 and i want to crack iit for taking admission in IISER. I LIVE IN MORADABAD AND HERE ARE NO GOOD COACHINGS FOR IIT AS IN KOTA OR DELHI. HERE ARE SOME TEACHERS WHO NO DOUBT have great knowledge about d subject but not much about how to prepare thrir students for IIT. I don't have any   knowledge how to prepare for iit to get a good rank. Will u plz guide me how should how should I plan my day and also how to do smart work to achieve my goals. You a experienced person and its u only who can lead me to the correct path.i m ready to do anything for iit  but i lack guidance. I will do the work it needs and all my problems will be sorted out no doubt in that but how to start i dont know. Do help me for itz u only on which i m dependent. One more thing i m from cbse and a intelligent girl as told by my teachers. Please please help me

    ReplyDelete


  21. Hello I m in class 11 and i want to crack iit for taking admission in IISER. I LIVE IN MORADABAD AND HERE ARE NO GOOD COACHINGS FOR IIT AS IN KOTA OR DELHI. HERE ARE SOME TEACHERS WHO NO DOUBT have great knowledge about d subject but not much about how to prepare thrir students for IIT. I don't have any   knowledge how to prepare for iit to get a good rank. Will u plz guide me how should how should I plan my day and also how to do smart work to achieve my goals. You a experienced person and its u only who can lead me to the correct path.i m ready to do anything for iit  but i lack guidance. I will do the work it needs and all my problems will be sorted out no doubt in that but how to start i dont know. Do help me for itz u only on which i m dependent. One more thing i m from cbse and a intelligent girl as told by my teachers. Please please help me

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi bhaiya
    I am now studying in FIITJEE Vadodara & I got an AIR 764 in my first(11th) ai^2ts will i be able to do well in JEE?
    I am actually not felling good about it. & what should be my stratergy for next test..
    Pls. Reply...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi! Aman Bhaiya I am a class 11^th student and JEE-2018 aspirant.I have read ur mini-book A guide to get a top 50 rank in JEE!. Can u please tell me a right examination strategy (both for Mains & Advance) that u skillfully & successfully used to crack JEE under AIR 50. My dream is IIT since I was 10. I want to crack JEE for AIR under 50. Please also tell the no. of hours I must study & the tips on difference in preparation that ordinary students does & rankers like you does. Sorry to ask this question here ...

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  24. Hi!Aman Bhaiya,I am a student of class X and going to Kota next year.I hardly able to concentrate for 1 hour(in case I am reading my interested topic).Otherwise my mind starts wondering....after 30 mins.I don't want to ruin my preparation years.So,please help me.

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  25. Hey aman I am in fiitjee kalu sarai I always get ai2ts rank aroundr2000: (( any chances of me getting into iitb

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  26. Hi aman please tell us how many chapters you completed in a day

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  27. Hi aman please tell us how many chapters you completed in a day

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  28. Hey aman, can you please make a post on examination temperament

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  29. Can you please guide me on which of your posts should I read (I am just starting JEE preparation with an aim to qualify top 50 rank and get my dream of IITB CSE accomplished)

    ReplyDelete