Time management. The challenge of our generation. With social media and so many possible ways to "waste" time it is no wonder so many people often struggle with this. Okay first step---admitting, tell yourself, "I am not so great at time management..." but even more importantly, you need to tell yourself "I am not so great at time management, but I am eager to do something about it" because willingness to grow is the second step.
I think we all struggle with this to some degree. I know I have those specific weeks, those ones where your room has become a tornado of mess and you don't even know what the date is because every day has been the worst. We have those weeks. I have those weeks, at least once a month, and that's okay because once the week is over I work to get my life back together put my clothes away, throw out my trash and take a LONG nap. Then I feel better and can get back to be a normal functioning human being.
So let this be said: I am no expert in the art of "time management," but I would say I have a pretty good grasp on it. With the insanity of my schedule, I would be setting myself up for some really rough days if I didn't stay on top of my time. I have found ways that work for me, so I thought I could share them and hopefully you can use them to interpret them to best suit your life style. Let's get time on YOUR side!
1. Use **something** to keep tract of your life
I use a planner, other people use bullet journals, there's google calendars, there's even just a napkin if you want to write down the list of things you need to do--- but beware it is VERY easy to lose a napkin. Sometimes I organize to-do lists on post-its and more than half the time I lose the list, and I am sad....and that is why I predominantly use my planner. I also use a white board to keep tract of the day schedule as well as the things I need to do and important dates coming up. Okay I'm pretty thorough in regards to time management organization, I even color coordinate :) but find the style that works for you, even if it's just to have a note on your phone, you still know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done and it will help your time management, I promise.
2. Reward yourself when accomplishing goals
Last year, I had one of the most difficult classes and I was struggling. It stressed me out anytime I went to look at the work because I had internal doubt that I couldn't handle material. I had to make it a game for myself, or I wouldn't get the work done. I had a specific muffin at Starbucks-- the
chocolate chip one, warmed up (which sadly they don't even have anymore, good thing I'm not as stressed)-- and I would set myself a goal. I would get the reading done, or do half the study guide or whatever it might be and then I would get to eat the muffin. Yes, I was treating myself like a dog....and YES, IT DID WORK. Sometimes you might be organized and know you need to work on things, but sometimes all you need is a motivational muffin (or insert whatever might inspire you) to get you through the task at hand. Do it for the muffin, the shopping, the trip, do it for YOU.
3. Procrastinate SMART
I cannot tell you not to procrastinate, I mean let's be real, I can't even completely stop procrastinating, but I can be mindful. This comes back to keeping tract of your life. Maybe you
have a large essay you are dreading so you put it off, well turns out your essay is now due the same day you have the most extreme midterm of your life. Now that is some BAD planning. Maybe you're a crammer, honestly kudos to you if you can handle very last minute pressure, but cramming two big things in the same day is not a good idea. There will be moments when you could let up a lil, after all we are college students, or whoever you might be reading this, but be smart with when, how, and the extent at which you procrastinate. I like to tell people, do something for future you. Would future you rather be chilling the day before the day an essay is due because you have already finished? Or would future you rather be freaking out on the floor of your room at 3AM because you only have a sentence written and the paper is due in 5 hours? I don't know about you, but future me would want to be chillin, so I am going to prepare so she can. I gotchu future KP.
4. Know your Priorities
Disneyland or essay that's due? Dinner with friends or the bulletin board you need to finish? The gym or the reading you might have a quiz on tomorrow? Priorities can be hard, sometimes what
you want is not what you need and that is difficulty, but they are VERY VERY IMPORTANT. There is some saying along the lines of how you spend you time helps to represent what is important to you, so what do you want to be important to you? That's a question for you to consider, and me too. Sometimes it depends on many factors, but it is important to consider how beneficial prioritizing can be because maybe if you finish your essay early, you can still go to Disneyland. You can have friends eat dinner with you in the building, so you can meanwhile also work on your bulletin board. Bring the book to the gym and bike while reading! I know you can do it, you can do anything! But everything will be much easier to accomplish if you set your time management up early and prepare accordingly, understanding what to prioritize and what needs the most ATTENTION at a given time. A relationship might need attention, but your work, your school, your needs also needs just as much, do not disregard prioritizing, and remember, you are a priority.
That's it for today folks, hope y'all could have learned something. We are all growing. Sometimes we're the beautiful sunflower on the hill, and sometimes we're the tree that lost all it's branches due to a terrible storm, but...the important part is you're still growing and never stop <3
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