Managing what little time I have...(kind of)
With work, classes, studying, and extracurricular activities, who has time to relax? Not me!! But really, with everything going on in our busy lives one has to find time to just relax. I think the key to getting through all crazy, hectic busy lives we are living today is to relax and try not to stress out too much (easier said than done right?).
What helps me find the time to de-stress and relax is to schedule my week out and have a calendar in my room that shows all the upcoming important deadlines for the month. It helps me to see what I need to accomplish and when they need to be done by. Don’t get me wrong, this system is not perfect. I run behind my schedule often, but it helps keep me motivated to make sure I get my work done on time. I make a goal for myself to get things done early, so sometimes it gets done early, but usually it is done right on time. I think setting a goal before the deadline is very helpful that way if you do get behind you have some cushion to complete it before the actual deadline. The fall back is that since I know when things need to be done I can see what days I can goof off before I really need to start working on stuff (DO NOT DO THIS). This also helps to know when you should ask for time off or to switch shifts (if you work) so that you have time to study before a big test, instead of all that time being taken up by work.
Also if there are many things that are due around the same time frame it is a good idea to prioritize what needs to be accomplished first. This way you have more time for the fun stuff. When I was growing up my mom always told me if I do what I need to do first (i.e., my homework) I’ll have more time to do what I want (i.e., watch TV. and talk on the phone) and not be worried about doing my homework so late at night. I totally agree with that NOW that I’m older. I tell the same thing to my niece now that she is in junior high because I really think it works. I think the more time I have to sleep the better!!
I think the main thing to help you actually do your work is to go somewhere where you won’t be tempted to become distracted, like the library. For me taking that temptation away is 100% beneficial, I get so much work done if I stay on campus than if I go home because at home I find unimportant things to do that just waste my time. I can’t go to a café or a social place like that because I get distracted by all the people that walk in and are talking to each other and order their food. Also, I would find myself munching on everything they have rather than studying. At the library, I don’t have anything else but my work to keep me busy, so it is the perfect place for me to study.
As you can see, I’m not the best at managing my time, but I try and that’s what matters. I do my best at getting things done, while still making time to just do nothing and hang out so I don’t go crazy. My take home message for this topic is “FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF SO YOU DON’T GO CRAZY!!!”