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I am so busy I don't have time to think. How can I keep up with everything I have to do?
I have many answers to this question, many solutions and ideas, though I also need to admit that I have met with some students for whom the answer is-you can't. But I will tackle that most difficult situation last, and let's hope you are not in such a severe situation-busy but not impossible.
Tip one: keep a calendar (my favorite is Time: Master) that you carry with you everywhere (but only keep one calendar. Some students have a desk calendar and a pocket calendar-that's dangerous, because you may write a reminder on one calendar but not the other. It's also time-consuming to try to write things down in more than one place). Plan out your day and week in advance, so you know that you will do what is top priority and when you will do it.
Tip two: Create to do lists so you can see what all you have to do and can set priorities. You need to get control of these activities so you can choose (as much as possible) when to tackle them.
Tip three: Create (preferably in this same calendar or stapled to it) a master calendar for the semester. Write down all major deadlines so you can see when you'll be busiest, and when you may need to work ahead. Getting this 'long view' can also help you know when you may have to say no to some activities or special events in order to take care of your top priorities.
Tip four: Combine activities when possible. No time to see friends? You have to eat-plan a few mealtimes with your friends (just be sure to set a time limit for yourself, because such gatherings can go on and on). Or make meal time a study review session. Or exercise with friends. Or exercise with a study buddy. Explore ways to take care of two goals at once.
Tip five: Enlist the support of friends and family. It can be very hard if you are very busy, but your friends and family are not. Make sure they know all that you are trying to do, and why you have to sometimes say no when they invite you to do something. Sometimes, they may be able to help you reach goals, too, if you let them know what you are struggling with.
Tip six: Get help. For example, you may be extra busy, because one of your classes is very time-consuming. Signing up with a tutor or meeting with a knowledgeable classmate may help you use your study time more effectively. There are many times when we can spend several hours trying to do something on our own, yet if we just would call an expert or relevant resource, we could find an answer in minutes (or at least in less time).
Tip seven: Avoid procrastination. Whenever you have free time, use it well. Make sure you are working on your highest priority activities. Tackle assignments early, so you'll have a good sense of how much time they will take to complete. Avoid making your life even harder than it already is.
Tip eight: You must take care of yourself. You may not be able to do all the things you'd like-hours of exercise and sleep and long meals and socializing. BUT you must eat, you must sleep, you must exercise at least 3 times a week, and you must sometimes have time to relax with friends. You may have to set limits on how long you can do any of these things, but without taking care of yourself, you will burn out and fail to achieve even your simpler tasks.
Tip nine: Be realistic in your goal-setting. Sometimes, you are trying to do more than you really have to. Make sure you understand clearly what you have to do, etc.
AND WHAT IF YOU ARE JUST TOO BUSY?
Which leads me to my impossible situation-sometimes, individuals are trying to do more than they can accomplish. IN particular, individuals who have a commitment of 20 hours or more per week tend to run into some problems. That includes student athletes, students who have children to take care of, and students who have part to full-time jobs.
What can you do if this situation fits you? First, assess if you really can do what you are setting out to do. Perhaps you need to take a lighter class load. Perhaps you can find some babysitting situations (have study sessions at home?). In terms of the job, and I know how touchy this is, but be aware that you may be pennywise & pound foolish-you may be sacrificing your success in college in order to keep a relatively low-paying job now, and damaging your chances to get a much higher-paying job later on if you had been successful in college. Please consider if you have to have this job, or if you have to work as many hours as you are. And if part of the reason you are working so hard is to own a car, please remember that you can live on campus, walk to classes, take the Appalcart, etc. No matter how you decide to resolve this dilemma, you have my sympathy. Good luck!
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