T I M E M A N A G E M E N T M AT R I X

Wellness Centre
Room 56B, Student Union Building
students.ubc.ca/health
Student Health Services, Student Development and Services
The University of British Columbia

URGENT

NOT URGENT

IMPORTANT

1

2

NOT
IMPORTANT

3

4

A Time Management Matrix can help you
discover how much time you might be
wasting. The Matrix has four quadrants.
Enter three or more of your regular activities
into each quadrant. Once you’ve done this,
you are ready to assess how well you are
managing your time.

Quadrant 1: Important and Urgent

Only crisis activities should be in here. If you
have included exams and papers here, you
are probably not allowing yourself enough
time to fully prepare. If you continue at this
pace you could burn yourself out!

Quadrant 2: Important and
Not Urgent.

This is where you define your priorities.
What’s important in your life? What will
keep you balanced? For example, you may

know that good nutrition, sleep, recreation,
and maintaining healthy social relationships
are important but do you consciously make
time for them in your daily or weekly rou-
tine? Managing your life and the lifestyle
will help you manage your time.

Quadrant 3: Not Important
and Urgent

While you may feel that activities, such as
instant messaging, need your attention right
away, too much time spent on Quadrant 3
activities can seriously reduce valuable study
time. This may leave you feeling pulled in
too many directions at once.

Quadrant 4: Not Important and
Not Urgent

If you’re spending many hours on Quadrant
4 activities, you’re either having a great deal

of fun or spending a lot of time procrasti-
nating! Remember, the objective is balance.

Next, you may want to examine how much
time you should be devoting to studying.
Try the Time Management Tracking Sheet to
help you sort out whether you are studying
enough to get the grades you want.

WELLNESS_TIMEMATRIX_1.0_09/23/04_PRAIN

Download this form and others from
the Wellness Guide online at:
students.ubc.ca/health/guide.cfm

Wellness Centre
Room 56B, Student Union Building
students.ubc.ca/health
Student Health Services, Student Development and Services
The University of British Columbia

T I M E M A N A G E M E N T T R A C K I N G S H E E T

TYPE OF ACTIVITY

CALCULATION

Number of hours of sleep each night (on average)

_____ x 7 = _____

Number of hours for grooming and/or makeup

_____ x 7 = _____

Number of hours for meals/ snacks per day (including
preparation time)

_____ x 7 = _____

Total travel time (weekdays)

Total travel time (weekends)

_____ x 5 = _____

_____ x 2 = _____

Number of hrs/week for regularly schedule functions
(e.g. clubs, church, volunteering, etc.)

Number of hours for work/week

Number of hours in class/week

Number of average hours per week socializing, dates,
etc.

NOW: Add up the totals

THEN: Subtract the above number from 168

GRAND TOTAL*

*The remaining hours indicate the amount of time you have allowed yourself to study