Time Management & Planning

This module equips learners with evidence-based planning systems to allocate finite time to the work that matters most. Students learn to prioritise using decision frameworks such as the Eisenhower matrix, protect focus through time-boxing and Pomodoro cycles, and anticipate planning fallacies like Hofstadter's law. By the end, learners will have a sustainable weekly cadence combining calendar, task list and review habits that scales from day-to-day tasks to term-long projects.

Learning Outcomes

Distinguish urgent from important tasks and triage weekly workload using the Eisenhower matrix.

Draft SMART goals that translate semester outcomes into weekly and daily actions.

Apply time-boxing and Pomodoro scheduling to defend deep-work blocks from interruption.

Estimate task duration realistically, correcting for the planning fallacy and Hofstadter's law.

Operate a two-tier system of calendar (when) and task list (what) without double-booking.

Batch similar tasks and park intrusive thoughts to minimise context-switching cost.

Run a weekly review that resets priorities, closes loops and schedules the next period.

Diagnose common procrastination triggers and apply the 2-minute rule and implementation intentions.

Topics Covered

Eisenhower urgent/important matrix

SMART and SMARTER goal setting

Time-boxing versus to-do listing

The Pomodoro Technique and ultradian rhythm

The 2-minute rule and friction reduction

Hofstadter's law and planning-fallacy correction

Calendar versus task-list division of labour

Task batching and context switching cost

Parking lot technique for intrusive thoughts

Weekly review and planning cadence

Implementation intentions and if-then plans

Parkinson's law and deadline design

Energy management across the day

Deep work versus shallow work

Backward planning from deadlines

Skills Developed

Prioritisation under constraint Realistic time estimation Calendar and task-system design Weekly review discipline Focused execution within time boxes Procrastination self-diagnosis Delegation and task triage Deadline reverse-engineering

Suggested Resources

{'title': 'Deep Work', 'author': 'Cal Newport', 'source': 'Grand Central Publishing, 2016'}

{'title': 'Getting Things Done', 'author': 'David Allen', 'source': 'Penguin, 2015 revised edition'}

{'title': 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People', 'author': 'Stephen R. Covey', 'source': 'Free Press, 2004'}

{'title': 'Atomic Habits', 'author': 'James Clear', 'source': 'Random House Business, 2018'}

{'title': 'Implementation intentions research', 'author': 'Peter Gollwitzer', 'source': 'American Psychologist, 1999, 54(7)'}

{'title': 'The Pomodoro Technique', 'author': 'Francesco Cirillo', 'source': 'Virgin Books, 2018'}

{'title': 'Four Thousand Weeks', 'author': 'Oliver Burkeman', 'source': 'Bodley Head, 2021'}

Assessment

Formative knowledge checks and a summative planning portfolio in which the learner demonstrates one full weekly cycle of their chosen system.

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Practice bank: 202 MCQs · Timed mock & self-paced modes

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