Recommendation: Before creating next year’s work plan start with our colleague Shannon Carter’s work on purpose and priorities at: https://u.osu.edu/carter.413/managing-priorities/
Other helpful links, specific to OSU Extension professionals that align with this workshop:
- Performance Management
- This page is about Performance Reviews. In addition to “how to” use the Staff Performance
Management Online Tool, it has tip sheets for the planning process such as A Quick Guide to Goals as well as a link to Sample Performance Goals.
Workshop Presenters: Melissa J. Rupp and Patrice Powers-Barker
Description: Is your calendar a chaotic whirlwind of activity and deadlines? Extension offers some of the most autonomous, exciting, professional interest and community driven-careers. Designing and driving your goals effectively within the annual calendar can be challenging. Being intentional with your work plan can help ensure that your professional goals, community needs, and alignment with your work teams and partners across the state will create success. Use hands-on tools at this day long workshop to design and follow your annual calendar with intention, direction, focus, and clarity for decision making.
PowerPoint: OSUE Intentional Annual Work Plan and Calendar Mapping
Handouts:
- Worksheets for specific Educator levels
- List next year’s intentions Discussion, inspiration, decisions handout
- Hard copy, monthly calendar for upcoming year such as https://www.calendar-12.com/printable_calendar/2025
Additional handouts on related topics:
- Big Rocks – small pebbles worksheet from University of Missouri System
- A Quick Guide to Goals from OSU Extension Operations
- The Gentle Art of Saying “No” at Work from Cornell University
- The art of saying no: Reclaiming your time and productivity.
Links for Time Management Techniques:
- Purpose-Driven Priority Management by Shannon Carter
- Infographic, Productivity Cheat Sheet by Andrew Lokenauth
- 7 productivity methods: which one’s just right for you?
- 9 proven time management techniques and tools
References:
Atlassian. (2022, January 13) 7 productivity methods: which one’s just right for you? Retrieved October 2, 2025, from www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/7-productivity-methods
(2019, October 3). 9 Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools | USAHS. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/
Carter, S. (2023, January 17). Winter Wellness. Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://u.osu.edu/livehealthyosu/2023/01/17/winter-wellness/
Cloyd, S. (n.d.). Productivity: The Time Chunking Method. Rhodes College. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://sites.rhodes.edu/academic-and-learning-resources/news/productivity-time-chunking-method
Eastern Washington University (n.d.). Goal Setting. CALE Learning Enhancement. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://inside.ewu.edu/calelearning/psychological-skills/goal-setting/
Gibson, J., Gkaliamoutsas, S., & Stasinou, T. (2025). The art of saying no: Reclaiming your time and productivity. Journal of Clinical Urology. 2025;18(4):271-275. doi:10.1177/20514158251343414
Harder, A. & Narine, L. (2020). Personal Health, Role, and Time Management Competency Training Needs of Extension Agents in Florida. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.19
Lobb, J. (2019, March 14). Need an Energy Boost? Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://livehealthyosu.com/2019/03/14/need-an-energy-boost/
Lokenauth, A. (n.d.) Productivity Cheat Sheet. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://www.linkedin.com/posts/business-infographics_productivity-cheat-sheet-credits-to-andrew-activity-7176277064835096579-PftG
Nine Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools. University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/
Oppong, T. (2022, July 22). The Purpose-Driven Approach to Getting One Thing Done Faster. Medium. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://thomas-oppong.medium.com/purpose-driven-productivity-17670b5345ab
Powers-Barker, P. (2021, November 15). Now and Later: The Paradox of Living in the Moment and Planning for the Future. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/11/15/now-and-later-the-paradox-of-living-in-the-moment-and-planning-for-the-future/
Russell, M. B., Attoh, P. A., Chase, T., Gong, T., Kim, J., & Liggans, G. L. (2019). Burnout and Extension Educators: Where We Are and Implications for Future Research. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.54718/SFPK7165
Russell, M. B., & Liggans, G. L. (2020). Burnout: Examining the Effects of Job Characteristics Across Extension Disciplines. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.20
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (n.d.). Distractions. The Learning Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/
Time Management: Time Waster Survey. Murry State College. Tishomingo, OK. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://archive.mscok.edu/Content/Uploads/Murray%20State%20College/files/Academic%20Coaching/Time%20Waster%20Survey.pdf
Western Oregon University (n.d.). Finding Purpose. Student Health and Counseling Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://wou.edu/health/resources/student-health-101/spiritual-wellness/finding-purpose/