5 Making time for this course

While you will no doubt have every intention of completing this course, we all experience time pressure in our lives. The first things we drop are often the additional activities that we take on for our own development or enjoyment. Spending a small amount of time identifying when you can work on the course each week, and deliberately setting aside that time, can make a difference.

Figure 5 Fitting it in

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A hand holds a black alarm clock with a white face. The clock is surrounded by drawings of things that take your time, e.g. books, a laptop, a coffee cup, a paper aeroplane, etc.

Figure 5 Fitting it in

To complete the course, it is recommended that you allow a minimum of three hours each week. If possible, you should choose times when you can bring energy and attention to the task. For example, if you function better in the mornings, you might want to set your alarm earlier and complete a section before you start your daily routine. Alternatively, a person who is more energetic and motivated in the evening might find allocating time towards the end of each day more productive.

Activity 5 provides a tool that will help you to identify the time you have available for this course. If you’ve completed other courses on OpenLearn, you may have undertaken this activity before.