Dealing with stress and managing your time

Second year is well under-way and it has now hit me like a tonne of bricks. As much as I am enjoying my course and second year in general, my time management and balancing skills are really being tested. Whilst not being the most disorganised person I know, organisation and time management have never been my strong suits and I often leave things until the last possible minute. However, I’ve had the hard realisation that leaving things until the last minute doesn’t really work come second year.

It’s challenging trying to balance academic responsibilities with socialising, extra-curricular hobbies or interests, going to the gym and having general unwind time to yourself, however I enjoy a challenge and to be honest could really do with learning to manage my time in the most productive way. I’ve tried to compile just a few tips to help with time management, more than anything to aid myself as I’m sure your organisational skills can’t be as haphazard as mine 🙂

1. prioritise. This is something I’m awful at as when I have something important due I tend to do everything else less important first as I buckle under pressure. If you prioritise and get the most important things done first though you’ll feel a weight off your shoulders and feel productive, eliminating the stress and mad rush of last minute work.
2. start your day early. This is another thing I’m rubbish at as getting out of bed is easily the worst part of the day. It’s pretty simple though, the earlier you get up, the more time you have to fit everything in and the more regular and normal your sleeping pattern will be, until your next night out which will inevitably screw it all up again…
3. remind yourself of your goals/ the feeling of productivity and positivity you feel when you’ve got stuff done. As sad as it sounds, I’m happiest and feeling most positive when I’ve had a really productive day and feel most negative and stressed when I have stuff hanging on my shoulders and piling up. Just get it done.

These tips are probably really obvious but I’m going to try to stick to them which will hopefully help me to relax and feel less stressed. I say this now with every intention of going to the gym after I finish this, but the temptation to crawl into bed is growing… ah well it’s the thought that counts.