How to Time-Manage Like a Pro

By Natalia Wurst ‘21

There’s an informal consensus I’ve gathered from making conversation with sleep deprived people on elevators: midterm season is just a never-ending cycle of death that comes at you every few weeks and doesn’t go away. I make a lot of jokes about crying at Leavey for a girl who’s trying to seem reputable here, so we’ll put those aside for now–here’s how to finally get around to being productive in these very bleak times.

1. Lists, lists, lists, lists

The first step in tackling your problems is identifying your problems. Often times, we are so much in our own heads that it’s not until we whip out the pen and paper that we realize how much more in-control we really are. Write down everything that’s been bothering you, and have it all in one place–the ten page paper due in 72 hours and also the dirty dishes from three weeks ago still need cleaning. It’ll be daunting at first, but at least it’s out of your system. Categorize each item and within each category, assign priorities.I also like to add how much time I expect every individual thing on my to-do list to take, so I can wreck my self-esteem when I actually take double to do everything (or the opposite!).

2. Plan your life

Now’s the part when you integrate the vomitted list into actual life (scary). You probably have more to juggle than just what you’ve written down on the paper, and here’s where a calendar comes in handy. My friends make fun of me for using the app that comes with the iPhone instead of Google Calendar like all the cool kids, but honestly, do what’s best for you. If that means going old school and purchasing an agenda with tangible pages–then props, dude–you’re a cool kid to me. First copy down absolutely everything you have planned for the week(s) ahead besides the items on your to-do list: classes, clubs, work, special events. Then find pockets in your schedule where you can sit down and knock out what you have to knock out. Only after you’ve managed to squeeze those in can you sprinkle in time for the miscellaneous–your social life, your sanity, etc. (I’m kidding, please take care of your mental health, bros).

3. Set feasible goals

For long-term projects, it’s crucial to find ways to chunk them effectively. In your agenda (slash Google Calendar, slash whatever), underneath what you plan to get done that day, write short descriptions of your game-plan. Say you have an exam in two weeks and the class has covered 10 chapters worth of material–that’s one chapter per day, with two days left over for comprehensive review, and two days for a mental break. Basically, you create this nice little yellow brick road path to success and save yourself some crying in Leavey.

4. Cross stuff off that list  

There are very few things in this world more satisfying than crossing items off a to-do list–I promise you it’s basically an addiction. It’s also super empowering to partake in a physical representation of being on top of your life. Motivate yourself to keep killing it and don’t forget to indulge in rewards after each big obstacle is overcome–you deserve it!

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