PART 1:  PRIORITY PRACTICE

Name: 

Date:

Setting priorities is an important step in time management. Take a look at the sample schedule below. This person made a list of tasks to be performed during the week and estimated how much time each task would take to complete. At the left of each task, this person prioritized those activities that were most important (or had the highest priority) by placing an "A" next to them. Those tasks that were still important, but less urgent than those labeled with an "A" were assigned a "B". Finally, those tasks that weren't as important to complete as either "A" or "B" tasks were given a "C."

Example:

Priority	This Week's Activity List	Time
A	Prepare meals every day	1 hour daily
A	Clean room	30 minutes
A	Laundry	2 hours
A	Baby-sit	2 hours daily
C	Paint a picture	4 hours
A	Take brother to work	45 minutes
C	Put up wallpaper	3 hours
B	Organize closet	2 hours
C	Go swimming	2 hours
B	Weed garden	30 minutes daily
B	Study for Quiz on Monday	3 hours
B	Get started on Paper due in three weeks	5 hours
A	Assignment due tomorrow	4 hours
B	Read two chapters by Friday	1 hour daily

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Which tasks do you think this person actually completed based on the schedule above? Which tasks do you think were left undone? Why is it beneficial to prioritize tasks? Have you ever made a list of tasks that needed to be done and then did only those tasks you wanted to do and left the others for later?

Enter the following information in the chart :

1. Make a list of everything you NEED to do this week. Estimate how long each activity will take.
2. Then add to the list the things you would LIKE to do this week. Estimate how long each activity will take.
3. Cross out those activities that you do not or would not need to do if you are a full-time student.
4. Cross out those activities that you do not or would not need to do if you are employed full time.

Think about how your day-to-day activities would change if you added full-time employment, or full-time post-secondary school. Because of this, you need to learn to prioritize your activities. Copy and paste this assignment onto a Word document before you complete it.  Remember to use the “Track Changes” tool.

Review your list. Put an "A" by those items that you MUST complete in the week. These are the activities that your livelihood or your health may depend on, and activities that are the most important to you. Count up how much time it will take for you to do these activities.

Put a "B" by the items on your list that are not crucial, but are still important. These activities are those that you need to do, but are a little more flexible. Count up how much time it will take for you to do these activities.

Put a "C" by activities that you would like to complete, but whether or not you do would not cause any problem. Count up how much time it will take for you to do these activities.

Guidelines for prioritizing activities

Complete all A's before going on to the B's or C's. If there isn't enough time, revisit your priority list. How much time will it take you to do all of the "A" activities? Do you have enough time? If there are more "A" activities than you are able to complete in time, you may need to ask a trusted friend or mentor for help or ideas to work more quickly or efficiently.

Priority	This Week's Activity List	Time

Saving Assignments

Save this assignment in your folder and e-mail it as an attachment to your teacher.  Use the name of the assignment as the title of your saved file.  Ex.  Unit 4 Project