What technique helps a school counselor develop effective time-management skills?

Maintaining a detailed weekly calendar for activities is a highly effective technique for developing time-management skills as a school counselor. This method allows the counselor to visualize how their time is allocated across various responsibilities and commitments. By having a comprehensive overview of the week, counselors can ensure they are dedicating adequate time to each aspect of their role, such as student meetings, administrative duties, and professional development.

This approach promotes organization and prioritization, enabling counselors to identify potential scheduling conflicts and adjust accordingly before they arise. Additionally, a detailed weekly calendar serves as a reminder of deadlines and important events, helping the counselor stay on track and minimizing the risk of overlooking critical tasks.

The other techniques, while beneficial in their own right, focus on specific aspects of time management. For example, using a timer can enhance focus during specific tasks, but it doesn't address the overall planning and long-term organization that a weekly calendar facilitates. Developing a daily to-do list for program goals is useful for immediate tasks but may not encompass the broader scope of activities throughout the week. Similarly, blocking out specific times for administrative tasks is beneficial, yet it requires a prior understanding of how those tasks fit within the larger weekly framework, which is what a detailed calendar provides.