Feedback Request: Preliminary Draft of Time Management Topic Outline #2091

onboarding/time-management.md

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+# Time Management
+
+## Questions to Consider
+- How can you use your limited time wisely?
+- What is your motivation for using time wisely? For example, how much more could you learn with an extra 5-10 hours per week? 
+- What are gathering points? What are your gathering points? 
+- Why do people procrastinate? 
+- What is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
+
+## Prerequisites
+- [Time Management SlideShow](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VGlfYtWXQ8TEXsq4Bad0k2WZ-mK02hI3UwVXrfuUpPA/edit#slide=id.g11edc8a314f_0_8)
+
+## Motivation or Real-World Application
+Time management is crucial for software engineers and for many of us as we navigate transitions and prioritize tasks in our daily lives. For those undergoing an intensive career change, mastering time management becomes even more essential. 
+
+### Why Time Management Matters?
+Improving your time management skills can help you:
+- Stay on top of tasks and avoid falling behind
+- Gain more actual coding time
+- Allocate more time for self-care
+
+By managing your time effectively, you can achieve a better balance between work and personal well-being.
+
+### Reducing our Gathering Points
+
+In everyday life, we often accumulate tasks across various "gathering points" — places where you **gather** the things you need to do. These can include:
+
+- Paper to-do lists
+- Trello boards
+- Desk piles
+- Multiple inboxes
+- Directories on your laptop
+- Monday.com
+
+The goal is to reduce the number of "gathering points" to as few as possible. Ideally, aim for just **3-6** key places.
+
+You can find a more extensive list of gathering points [here](https://www.dropbox.com/s/lm1t90aty8fc3ln/TMF_GatheringPoints.pdf?dl=0).
+
+---
+
+### Recommendations to Reduce Gathering Points:
+
+- **Monday.com at Techtonica, or Jira at placements**  
+
+- **One email inbox**  
+  Forward all emails to one primary inbox to avoid fragmentation.
+
+- **One physical "inbox"**  
+  Create a dedicated space for physical tasks and set aside weekly time to process them.
+
+- **One synced to-do list app**  
+  Use a single app that syncs across devices to add tasks directly to 
+- **Calendar**
+
+## Objectives
+Participants will be able to:
+
+- Identify common time management challenges and strategies for overcoming them  
+- Recognize the importance of time management 
+- Gain helpful tips on effective time management  
+- Learn cognitive-behavioral techniques to overcome procrastination and manage overwhelming tasks  
+- Understand misconceptions about time management 
+
+## Lesson 
+
+What are some common challenges we face when trying to manage our time effectively? In this lesson, we'll explore the key issues that can arise and how to overcome them to stay on track.
+
+### Prioritization Struggles
+
+How will you remember to check your task list and calendar every day? Link it with an existing habit, such as:
+
+- Sitting down at your computer
+- Eating breakfast
+- Brushing your teeth
+- Putting on headphones
+
+Some helpful tips to stay on top of your tasks:
+
+- Set a regular time on your calendar to review your task list and stick to it.
+- Remove distractions! Turn off phone notifications while working and set specific times to check them (e.g., morning, lunch, and evening) rather than constantly checking.
+
+---
+
+### Overcoming Decision Paralysis
+
+If you're struggling to get started on a task, it’s often because you don’t know all the details and feel overwhelmed. Here’s a simple approach to break it down:
+
+1. **Create a checklist** for each task outlining the "what," "when," "where," and manageable steps.
+
+2. **For making decisions about tasks you’re stuck on:**  
+   1. Articulate the problem.  
+   2. List all possible solutions within a time limit.  
+   3. Evaluate the pros and cons of each.  
+   4. Rate each solution on a scale of 1-10.  
+   5. Implement the best option.
+
+Sometimes, there won’t be an ideal solution, and you’ll just need to make a decision and move forward.
+
+---
+
+### Avoiding the "All or Nothing" Trap
+
+It can be tempting to learn everything about a technical topic before starting a task or project. However, it’s often more effective to:
+
+1. See what you can do, and then
+2. Check out the resources you need to make more progress. 
+
+This will help you avoid going too far into the available resources and give you a motivator.
+
+If you're working in a team, **check in with others** to stay focused on your goals. Team standups are a great place to start.
+
+---
+
+### Optimizing Your Calendar
+An effective calendar helps you stay organized, prioritize tasks, and balance work and personal time for increased productivity and well-being.
+
+#### Benefits of an effective Calendar:
+- **Ease of Mind**: Never forget an important event.
+- **Declutter Your Mind**: Less to keep track of mentally.
+- **Increase Confidence**: Tackle important tasks and schedule “me” time.
+- **Become Aware of Your Time**: See how you’re spending your time.
+- **Identify Priorities**: Notice what you’re over or under-prioritizing.
+- **Have More Quality, Focused Days**: Stay flexible while staying productive.
+
+#### Tips on how to make the best use of your Calendar:
+- **Schedule in Your WRAP**: Make time for your WRAP to ensure balance and wellness.
+- **Manage Self-Care**: Use your calendar to prioritize self-care. Feeling better helps you accomplish more with less stress. Avoid burnout by scheduling breaks.
+- **Plan Your Meals**: Schedule your meals for the day. Plan ahead, so you can buy any missing ingredients, make better food choices, and save mental energy for important tasks like learning new coding topics.
+- **Schedule Fun**: Include enjoyable activities throughout the week. Even 30 minutes dedicated to a hobby can help recharge you and bring joy.
+
+---
+
+### Tackling Procrastination
+
+Why do people procrastinate? Here are some common reasons:
+
+- Perfectionism/fear of negative evaluation
+- The need for time pressure
+- The issue seems overwhelming
+- Difficulty finding a starting point
+- A task is not appealing
+- Wanting a big chunk of time
+
+One key strategy for overcoming procrastination is to identify and challenge the unhelpful automatic thoughts that make tasks feel more overwhelming or unrealistic.
+
+**Challenging Unhelpful Automatic Thinking**
+
+Overcoming procrastination often involves challenging overly optimistic and unhelpful automatic thinking. These cognitive distortions can make tasks feel more daunting or unrealistic than they really are.
+
+**When unhelpful thoughts arise, ask yourself:** 
+
+1. Is this thought really true? What evidence or exceptions are there?
+2. Is this thought helpful?
+3. How else can I think about this?
+4. What would I say to a friend in this situation?
+5. Am I making assumptions or generalizations?
+
+---
+### Example Situation: Working on a Difficult Ticket  
+
+Let’s explore how procrastination plays out in a real-world scenario and how to tackle it. In this example, imagine you're facing a challenging work task, such as a difficult ticket that needs to be resolved by the end of the day. Here’s how to approach it:
+
+#### Step 1: Notice your Automatic Thoughts  
+When faced with a challenging situation, such as working on a difficult ticket, we often experience automatic thoughts that influence how we feel about the task. These thoughts can contribute to stress, procrastination, or avoidance. Common automatic thoughts in this situation may include:  
+
+- "I have to do all of this today."  
+- "I must do it perfectly."  
+- "If I don’t finish, my boss will be mad."  
+- "If my work isn’t perfect and timely, I’ll be fired."  
+
+These automatic thoughts often increase stress levels, creating an unrealistic sense of urgency or pressure.  
+
+#### Step 2: Assess the Intensity Range of Your Feelings  
+Reflect on how these thoughts make you feel and rate the intensity on a scale of 1–10. For example, you might feel overwhelmed at an intensity level of 8.  
+
+#### Step 3: Identify Cognitive Distortions  
+Next, identify if any of your automatic thoughts are cognitive distortions. Cognitive distortions are negative, automatic thought patterns that reinforce negative thinking and often make it harder to manage stress or take action. Common examples include:  
+
+- **All-or-Nothing Thinking**: "I have to finish everything at once."  
+- **Catastrophizing**: "If I don’t do this perfectly, it's going to be a disaster."   
+
+#### Step 4: Reframe with a Rational Response  
+To manage your overwhelming thoughts, it’s helpful to *reframe the situation* with a more balanced, rational response. Step back, assess the situation objectively, and consider realistic or positive perspectives.  
+
+Here’s an example of a reframed response:  
+
+- *"It’s not the end of the world if I can’t do it all today. I can at least get started and finish tomorrow if needed. I can ask my boss for help—they’ve been understanding in the past. I’ve received good feedback on other projects, so it’s unlikely I’ll lose my job if this one isn’t perfect."*  
+
+
+#### Additional Resources  
+
+- For more insights on cognitive distortions, automatic thought patterns, and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), visit: [Harvard's Stress and Development Lab](https://sdlab.fas.harvard.edu/cognitive-reappraisal).  
+
+- You can also go through this whole process and learn about cognitive distortions using through the [Woebot app on iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/woebot-the-mental-health-ally/id1305375832) or [Woebot app on Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.woebot&hl=en-US).
+
+##  Common Mistakes / Misconceptions
+### Multitasking is a Myth!
+
+Did you know that multitasking is actually a myth?
+
+The costs of multitasking include:
+
+- **Extra time:** Switching between tasks takes longer than you think.
+- **Quality:** Trying to do too much at once lowers the quality of your work.
+- **Stress:** Constantly task-switching can create added stress.
+
+##  Supplemental Materials
+There are a lot of amazing time management tips that come from behavioral ADHD advice — check out these resources!
+
+### Helpful Readings to Consider 
+- [Tips for Managing ADHD](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8rs1jl531nswipemldrt2/tips-for-managing-adhd.pdf?rlkey=xnbuwseumrhggtw6m8q8mw0ys&st=zj6quy2j&dl=0) (PDF)
+
+- [Mastering Your Adult ADHD: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n69qpj0j34gs64utgpt86/Mastering-Your-Adult-ADHD_-A-Cognitive-Behavioral-Treatment-Program-Client-Workbook-PDFDrive.pdf?rlkey=srofcoszvfqq16cbzhvfxsamk&st=l2ojer7n&dl=0) (PDF)
+
+- [ Managing ADHD ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4kqo4dsw1ikfzuaczl1qt/managing-adhd.pdf?rlkey=an7jmdhi0p4aubgbo1q4pwqmi&st=fuse28fe&dl=0) (PDF)
+
+- [Identifying Feelings with the Hoffman list](https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Practices-FeelingsSensations.pdf) (PDF)
+
+### Video Resource
+
+- [How to gain control of your free time | Laura Vanderkam | TED](https://youtu.be/n3kNlFMXslo?si=JyNm7cProkaVn_nZ) (Video)