You are witnessing the workmanship of the multi-tasking
pro, time-management junkie and productivity master of all
time.
I am always busy, I never sit still and I have the caffeine
addiction to prove it.
I am a fan of part-time everything. I go to school part-time
and work part-time jobs. I have a part-time social life and in
my spare part-time I enjoy part-time hobbies.
The key to time management 101 is to start with the big
things and fit in the small things.
I make my own monthly calendars and tape it to the back of
my door so that upon exiting my apartment I can see exactly
what the major items of my agenda are for each day.
I only write down what must be accomplished for each day.
Whether a shift I am working, a class I am attending or an
appointment that needs going; I know that those are my key
focuses of accomplishment. The time in between the “must
do’s” is left to crossing things off my daily list.
Each day has a list of errands that need to be run, friends I
should really call back or things I just feel like doing. But the
list is a “should do” list and items may get carried over from
one day to the next. For example, if I didn’t have time to run
to the bank, it would be carried over to the next day’s list. It
generally takes me about two weeks to get to the bank.
But, It all comes down to simple prioritizing.
I know what has to be done, because I know what’s important
to me.
I adore getting an education, therefore class and its respective
work is a priority. I know I need to pay my bills each
month, so work is a priority. And finally, I know a little R&R
is a priority so scheduling something that allows me to see the
light of day, is a priority. That’s why these tasks are the big
calendar fillers.
Maybe it’s something that came with age; I wasn’t always so
anal with getting things done. Maybe I learned from my mistakes
in the past. But being a time-management pro is the reason
I excel at school, accomplish life’s daunting tasks and
occasionally come up for air and have fun.
I’ve always been a little creature of habit.
I have a career that allows me to be in a different place and
learn something new every day, but, my Mondays are like
other Mondays and my Saturdays are alike my other
Saturdays.
If your grades are slipping because you’re out partying on a
Tuesday night, you might want to reevaluate your life.
On Tuesdays, I’m in class.
If you haven’t talked to your best friend lately, pick a random
day of the week and schedule in a chat.
On Wednesdays my best friend and I go out to dinner.
If you complain that you’re a poor college student and can’t
do anything, find some time to work.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday I coach swimming.
Tuesday through Friday I work at The Centurion.
Sunday’s I work at Barnes and Noble. Friday’s I work for ourburbs.
com. And some random days or nights I write for a
celebrity freelance writer or the Courier Times.
You don’t have to wear yourself out, but if you just maintain
a decent schedule you’d be surprised how much one person
can do.
I sleep at least 9 hours every night and don’t think I don’t
date, attend concerts or go out with friends. But the saying “all
good things in moderation” is slightly misleading.
I offer this advice: find something you love and throw yourself
into it. I love my life of work, school and bar-hopping. So
I make my life all about doing as much of it as I can.
I only moderate what deters me from accomplishing the
above.
And don’t be like me. I am recalling the ideals of Tyler
Durden in “Fight Club.” Be your own person, have a passion
and don’t let anything stand in the way of what you want. It
takes sacrifice only if you don’t have your head in the right
place.