Classes kick off for Temple University, and many other
schools tomorrow. For me, and all the other workaholics out there, it’s great
to be getting back to a structured schedule and workday. For a lot of other
people, though, they’re dreading getting back into the swing of things. It’s
easy to get caught up in work for internships, jobs and classes, and begin to
feel stressed and just busy. So here are some tips to keep you productive,
instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Map out your day
We all have our handy planners and notebooks for making
to-do lists, but how often do you go over that list before you start your day? Sometimes, when you make up a list of
tasks for the day, you may just write down whatever you may think of in a
random order and then end up working through that order from top to bottom.
Make up the list at the beginning of the day and then look back at what needs
to be done. Do you need to drop off a prescription and pick up some food from
the grocery store? Do you have a class right by a professor’s office where you
need to drop off some work? See what tasks you can knock out all at once and
save yourself the time running back and forth.
Set up routines
Routines are the key to saving time. Morning routines,
bedtime routines, scheduling routines…I clearly worship at the alter of
routines. By setting up these daily habits, you spend less time on the simple
day-to-day decisions and free up time for work that requires more energy. Try
setting your clothing out, or even making your breakfast or lunch, the night
before to save yourself time in the morning. The Daily Muse is also
full of tips for which routines and rituals can help save you time and make you
more productive during your day.
Take time for
yourself
When your schedule is controlled by your professors, your
internship and other commitments, you can easily become stressed and overwhelmed.
It’s important to set time aside for you to spend on whatever hobbies or
activities let you relax. For me, it’s an hour in the morning to go to the gym.
I’ve found that being physically active is a great stress reliever and it helps
me get up in the morning. On top of that, striving to reach high expectations
in my fitness and health has led me to set higher bars in the other areas of my
life. Of course that doesn’t have to apply strictly to the gym. Do you like to
paint? Read? Binge TV? See how you can work those activities into your life and
how you can use them to boost your drive.
