Problem Solving and Time Management - Assignment Example

Chapter 7- Problem Solving and Time Management No: Chapter 7- Problem Solving and Time Management Activity 7.1: Problem Solving Strategies 1. Ongoing Source of Stress As a student, the most stressful aspect of my life till now relates to my studies. I remain worried about my grades and assignments. I feel that I am always short of time and unable to input my best in my work. 2. Tried Strategies to deal with this situation I have tried a number of ways to control this stress, but I am mostly unsuccessful. For example, for controlling this stress, I have tried to schedule my studies; I have also tried to give maximum time to my studies, I have tried to remain awake for studying, I have left my time out with my friends and much more, but all this have not succeeded me in controlling my stress. Even, I am more stressed out and mentally fatigued. 3. Resolution After noticing my failure with all the tried strategies, I resolved to leave them aside and consider some alternatives for gaining positive results. 4. Possible Alternatives For controlling this stress, I feel that I should give some time to myself and my friends because giving all the time to studies is making me more stressed. I can do some exercises for mental relaxation; I can also make a schedule giving time to exercise, studies, family time and much more. I should take enough sleep to relax my mind. I should set my preferences and list them out number-wise. Previously, I adopted an extreme side that made me tenser and I was unable to give required results. Activity 7.2: (Use the textbook Kottler & Chen 2011) What are some of the examples of things in your life that you spend time worrying about over and over, even though it appears to do little good? I worry about a number of things in my life. I am quite aware that this worrying is useless, but I am somewhat habitual. For example, I worry about diseases especially the viral ones; I also worry about my studies that make me much stressed. I worry about people and their comments on any of my actions. I worry about my parents’ anger and much more. What are some ways that this worrying behavior might be useful for you? Think in terms of its distractive value, the self-pity and sympathy that you might enjoy, or even the magical belief that you might somehow prevent disaster through magical thinking. My concern about diseases makes me to take precautionary measures beforehand. My worry about studies makes me to devise strategies to appear better in exams. I also enjoy self-pity when I analyze the amount of workload on me. My stress about people’s perceptions and beliefs regarding my behavior and personality make me stand by and on my guard. My worry about my parents’ anger allows me to keep away from such actions that can cause this anger. Activity 7.3: Exercise on Separation Directions: Sometimes the inability to separate a problem from how you feel about the situation may impede your progress in obtaining solutions. The following is an exercise that is designed to help you separate the two.  Step 1. Describe the problem thoroughly and objectively without reference to how you are feeling. I am sometimes unable to control my anger that is a big problem. Anger is an emotional outburst that is mostly bad for human health and other people who have to tolerate it. It is there when a certain unwanted incident or happening takes place. Some people are good at controlling anger while others yell and throw things occasionally. Step 2. Describe how you feel about the problem subjectively. Try to be as subjective as possible and don’t use any fact. I feel that anger is really bad and results in bad image creation in front of people. Whenever someone gets angry, it becomes somewhat impossible for him to control himself. Anger is not a likeable trait as the people who get angry are more disliked by others. I feel that I lose all my good repute with my uncontrollable anger. Step 3.What now seems clearer to you? The problem that I face is really bad, but our feelings regarding the problem, make it worse. Activity 7.4: Time Management Directions: Answer the following questions about the ways you use and misuse time. 1. List 10 ways in which you habitually waste time.  a. Surfing through internet b. Thinking about useless things c. Roaming around aimlessly d. Watching TV programs without liking e. Playing computer games f. Talking irrelevantly g. Shopping without need h. Shifting things from drawers without need i. Counting my collections j. Checking all computer folders 2. Describe below how you can use your time more productively. I can use the time available to me more productively by prioritizing what is more important for me. I can also do scheduling so that I can avoid time wasters. 3. Organizing your study and work areas can help you work more effectively. List five areas in which you need greater organization. a. I need organization for my study work. b. My physical fitness needs to be organized. c. My routine with computer usage needs organization. d. I need to organize my routine with my friends e. My reading extra stuff other than studies needs organization. Activity 7.5: Prioritizing Your Work Directions: Make a list of the most important goals, projects, and tasks. Determine to spend more and more time concentrating on finishing those few areas that can really make a huge difference in your life and career and less and less time on activities that produce little or no value. 1. Study because I need to get better grades for my better future. 2. Practical experience of the field of study. 3. Reading as it is wholly advantageous. 4. Computer usage to get better equipped with new technology. 5. Doing exercises and walking for health reasons. 6. Getting involved in extra-curricular activities to have an active mind. 7. Time management so that I can give enough time to studies as well as family and friends. 8. Anger control measures in order to control it to become more acceptable to people around me. Read More