Wellness Journalism: Take Your Time

Sometimes, when faced with loads of schoolwork, I find myself inexplicably drawn toward endeavors such as eating cereal, reading popular fiction, or staring off into space. This becomes especially prominent during the week before final exams when I’m sagging under the weight of my proverbial plate. There is so much to do, that somehow, the actual doing of it gets squeezed out... and even the smartest cookie in the bag will crumble on an exam if unprepared.



Time management is essentially mind management.



Your brain is like an operating system—if it’s running too many applications at once, it will be slow and groggy. Organization and proper task management are critical to your performance!



 Have a plan(ner), and use it. Whether you write your to-do’s on paper, plot them your computer scheduler, or just whip out your phone calendar, your work will be done more easily if you plan it out. That way, you don’t have to remember everything in your head. It’s like keeping your desktop clear.



 Likewise, rather than considering the cumulative weight of everything that needs doing, devote single-minded attention to the task at hand. This allows you to go about your business in a more relaxed and focused fashion. In addition, it saves time in the long-run; your efforts will yield greater satisfaction, and be of higher quality. Compare this approach to the whirlwind, multi-tasking style demonstrated by many “succesful” Americans. The quality of your life is determined by the attention you pay to it, and anything worth doing is worth doing well.



 Flex the power of priority. This makes single-minded devotion much easier to express. I tend to go in order of due date: do what’s due. Other people find it effective to start with the simplest tasks in order to clear mental space for the tackling of bigger cheese. Prioritization is key to planning, and prevents you from becoming overwhelmed or “crashing.”



 Every day, take yourself off the clock for awhile—a “time out.” If you’re always slave to a schedule you might come to resent it, greatly hindering efficiency and effectiveness. Use this self-appointed time off to do something fun, unusual, creative, or stimulating. This promotes balance and releases energy that would otherwise be bouncing around inside of you, making something like studying more difficult. You can also use this time for a nap

With responsible mind management, you will have time for your life.

For more management tips, click here.