If you already have a pretty good idea of how your time is spent, the next stage is planning. Dr. Lahiff suggests that mental to-do lists defeat the purpose of time management and lessen the probability of getting control of your time. Planning involves writing down your goals and prioritizing them. Be sure to state goals narrowly enough so they may be accomplished in the time available. Evaluate the importance of the goal from A, having high value and being of primary importance, to B having less value and only secondary concern, to C having low value and probably being one you could do without.
Goals designated as unimportant are, unfortunately, often the most enjoyable ones.
The next step is to consolidate goals that are similar. Analyze each goal in terms of specific tasks or activities which must occur in order to accomplish the goal. Then, place the tasks in the order in which they must be done. Remember to add goals and tasks which are imposed by your department or assistantship responsibilities. You may not want to grade lab reports or turn in a paper for a course you are taking, but because they are required as part of the long-term goals we have, we must plan for them.