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Alarm bells ring in our heads. “Did I submit that paper on time?” “How many pages of my class readings can I go through today?” “Have I sent that important email?” We constantly think of the tasks that make up our daily lives, the small and the substantial. It’s enough to induce us to feel like screaming and throw our hands up in defeat. But some of us also know that colleague or peer who never seems frazzled or frustrated. What tools does that individual possess to seem as cool as a cucumber in a system that feels like we are constantly being plucked from an institutional farm?
To alleviate some of the concerns and demands that we all face, I have 10 helpful tips that can improve your time management skills.
1. Develop a daily checklist
Whether typing these tasks on your phone or using old-fashioned pen and paper, having a game plan for the day can allow for a reminder of your goals. Just make sure to check them off and not push more than one unaccomplished item for the following day. Otherwise, that weekend is going to look pretty intimidating.
2. Set aside time to respond back to emails.
All of us know that person who seems to reply to our messages. It’s frustrating and may even delay a task. Accordingly, “flag” important messages during the day and allocate a little time – 15 to 30 minutes a day, for instance – to respond to messages. Not only will you be more organized, but also you will be showing promptness.
3. Approach deadlines from reverse
Say you have an assignment due in six weeks. Instead of breaking down the tasks from beginning to end – which is better than doing nothing – think about the final step and set a deadline, say four or five days before the absolute deadline. Give yourself some cushion if something unexpected unfolds. Then think of the step proceeding that and mark a date. Continue on. That way you are thinking of all the components in a functional fashion that lacks procrastination.
4. Perform at your optimal period during the day.
You know if you’re an early riser or night owl. When do you like to relax? On the other hand, when are you ready to be productive? Think about your working patterns and, if possible, approach your most important tasks when you are most awake and energized.
5. Dedicate time toward your health.
Eat a balanced meal, whether you prepare it yourself or grab a nutritious option at the local café. Fit in 30 minutes for a leisurely walk or intense workout. Practice yoga. Talk with your best friend over the phone. Whatever makes you feel healthy, try to insert a few short periods during your day toward activities that regenerate you. Working incessantly will come back to undermine you – often with a cold or exhaustion in tow. That’s not healthy. Instead, make a conscious effort of taking yourself. Balance is never easy, but neither is contending with a nasty illness that you may have been able to avoid with more personal care.
6. Avoid unproductive multitasking
Trying to write a research paper while eating a snack is one thing, but reading a journal article while forming a list of tasks to do and listening to a podcast will surely ruin any chance of making progress with any of those activities. Think intentionally of what two tasks, if any, can be done effectively simultaneously. Otherwise, just keep it simple and stick to one.
7. Prioritize your duties
What hurts most of us as graduate students is either putting too much on our plate or spending too much time on activities that are a complete waste. How often do you hear about your friend who spends the whole weekend partying, and thus panicking with a project to complete Monday morning, as opposed to working before playing and thus feeling relaxed? Grad school need not compromise our ability to have a good time, but determining what to do when, and why that matters, keeps you in check.
What time management skills do you implement to enhance your life? Comment below.
- Brett Nachman, ELPA LEADS Vice President & Higher Ed Chair