Studying Online;Succeeding through Distance Learning at University

174 Studying online 
Some time management trainers call this the “Four D” method of 
managing your tasks. 
y
Do it – if it is urgent and important 
y
Diarise it – if it is not urgent, but it is important 
y
Delegate it – if it is urgent but not important 
y
Dump it – if it is neither urgent nor important. 
Some examples might help explain these options. 
Let’s imagine you have been told about an assignment a couple 
of months ahead. It is not urgent that you do this work, but it is 
important. So that’s a “diarise it” item. Put some appointments 
in your diary to deal with the required work over the coming 
weeks. 
If you have forgotten to check on what assignment work you need 
to do and have suddenly discovered the instructions, that has be-
come both urgent and important. Tat’s a “do it” item. You need 
to get on with it as soon as possible. 
You could have been sent seen a newsletter in your email inbox 
that may have helpful information that could be used for the as-
signment. However, you are not sure, and you will need to read it 
all to see if there is something valuable. Tat is neither urgent nor 
important. You can just forget about it; “dump it”. 
Finally, one of your study buddies has contacted you to ask you if 
you have any information on one of the topics being studied. You 
don’t have the information required, though you could fnd it. In-
stead, “delegate it” by suggesting another student for your buddy 
to contact. 
Te most important of these items is the “diarise it” option. Tis 
avoids doing urgent work and allows you to take a more relaxed 
approach to your studies. Instead of doing all the reading in a rush 
before the assignment is due, put non-urgent but important work 
in the diary, such as reading the textbook, this will smooth out 

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