How to Survive a Busy Schedule
We have all had those moments in life where our schedules begin to get extremely hectic to the point where we can’t even find time to breathe. For the past couple of weeks, this has been me. For the past couple of weeks I have done nothing, but run around with my head cut off hoping that I will at some point find a moment of clarity and everything will simply fall into place. Unfortunately, that rarely happens, so for all of you who are just like me and have a crazy busy schedule here are my tips on how to be able to breathe, yet get everything you need done with.
Disclaimer: I am a third year college student who is taking some rather time consuming classes as well as a film course so my scheduling tips may or may not work for you and that is okay. Please feel free to adapt them in any way you deem necessary.
1. Use Your Eating Time Wisely
While you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner make this your downtime. Don’t bring your textbook to the table or think about that horrible moment at work. Don’t think about how long your list of things to do or how to plan out your meals/the next day. You can think about all of this later when the time comes for you to tackle that task. For now, just sit enjoy cooking the meal you plan to make. Then savor the time you have to scroll through social media or read a book while you are eating the delicious meal you just prepared yourself.
2. Tackle One Task at a Time
I know for some of us, myself included, and it is hard to focus on one thing when you have so many that need to get done. While I am studying for one exam I tend to think of what I need to read for my other classes and whether or not the film my group and I are working on is coming together properly. Then the next thing I know I am trying to remember what it is exactly that I should be memorizing for the exam that I have coming up only to find out that I have no clue. Therefore, I have to go back over it which ultimately puts me back a minimum of 10 minutes. If you focus on one thing at a time you are bound to understand what it is you are doing and get it done a lot faster than you think.
3. Plan a Schedule Ahead of Time
At some point prior to when you need to be studying and you know your life will be a little hectic make a pretty intricate schedule so you know when you should be doing what. If you know you’re going to be working/have class at specific hours, plug them into your schedule. That way you can work around the hours that you can’t change and get the most out of your day. For me, I work at a restaurant, therefore I am working mostly nights or afternoons so I know not to schedule many important school things around those times. I go to class every day, but I have a lot of free time besides Tuesday – which means I am capable of getting all of my studying done then as well as my film making.
I know it’s cliché to say it, but it is important to get sleep. When you are well rested you will feel as though you have more energy and you can get a lot of things out of the way. I am capable of feeling well rested with 5.5-6 hours of sleep, which is not the amount that people need, but it works for me. Granted I do drink a cup of coffee every day, but I still bust out as much as I can do before I feel myself start to get a little bit drowsy. Whether it be from not getting a full 8 hours or just because I am doing mundane tasks who knows.
5. Don’t Feel Bad if You Don’t Finish Everything
My last tip is simply this: if you don’t finish everything and it’s the end of the day and you’re ready to go to sleep, sit yourself down, look at your list and decide on what is so important that needs to be done as soon as possible tomorrow morning. Then once you have those at the tip-top of your list, figure out what is so-so important. Which will then be followed by the not-so-important-but-still-needs-to-get-done group. Once that is done you will be able to get some sleep and wake up tomorrow refreshed and rejuvenated and bust out all of those really important jobs first making you feel accomplished within the first couple hours of your day, which will make you feel great early on leaving you with a positive attitude the rest of the day.
I hope these few tips helped all of my lovely busy scheduled spirits like myself. Trust me when I say that I know what it feels like to be going around and around hoping that at some moment you will be able to get of the ride and just sit. For, now we will just have to manage and enjoy the ride no matter how stressful it may seem.
