Studying and investigating the effect of time management training on reducing students' stress

A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that teenagers report stress levels similar to adults. This means that adolescents experience significant levels of chronic stress and feel that their stress levels generally exceed their ability to cope effectively. Almost ۳۰ percent of teens reported feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or sad because of their stress. Stress can also affect health-related behaviors. Students who are stressed are more exposed to problems caused by sleep disorders, improper diet and lack of exercise and movement. Given that nearly half of the research's survey respondents reported doing three hours of homework each night, in addition to a full day of school work and extracurriculars, this situation is even more understandable. Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities - especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It involves of various demands upon a person relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments with the finite nature of time. Using time effectively gives the person "choice" on spending or managing activities at their own time and expediency. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects, and goals complying with a due date. Initially, time management referred to just business or work activities, but eventually, the term broadened to include personal activities as well. A time management system is a designed combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. Time management is usually a necessity in any project management as it determines the project completion time and scope. The major themes arising from the literature on time management include creating an environment conducive to effectiveness (in terms of cost-benefit, quality of results, and time to complete tasks or project), setting of priorities, the related process of reduction of time spent on non-priorities, and implementation of goals. We all hear the word stress every day. Hearing this word from friends, colleagues and family members has become a common thing. Today, stress is intertwined with our lives and threatens our mental and physical peace. Although stress is sometimes the body's natural response to unpleasant situations in which we are caught, and in such cases, by stimulating us to react quickly, it saves our lives; But this same stress, if it becomes too much, has destructive effects on our soul and spirit. In the course of their studies, nursing students must learn many skills and acquire the knowledge required for their future profession. This study investigates how Iranian nursing students manage their time according to the circumstances and obstacles of their academic field. Research was conducted using the grounded theory method. Twenty-one nursing students were purposefully chosen as participants. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the method suggested by Corbin and Strauss. One of the three processes that the nursing students used was “unidirectional time management.” This pattern consists of accepting the nursing field, overcoming uncertainty, assessing conditions, feeling stress, and trying to reduce stress and create satisfaction. It was found that students allotted most of their time to academic tasks in an attempt to overcome their stress. The findings of this study indicate the need for these students to have time for the extra-curricular activities and responsibilities that are appropriate to their age.

Keywords:

grounded theory , Iran , nursing student , satisfaction , stress , time management.