A Busy Girl’s Guide to Time Management & Productivity

Time is running out, you have 7 assignments due, 3 tests, work tomorrow evening, and all you can think about is finishing that Netflix episode.

How do you manage to juggle all your tasks while still hoping you can write “multi-tasking” as a skill on your resume? Is there a work/life/school balance in sight? 

I’ve had some really good days and really, really bad days (i.e. 1 week = 2 midterms, 1 essay due, 3 work shifts, job interviews, co-op job application deadlines – no, I’m not exaggerating). However, I was able to get through it by figuring out what worked for me.

Now, you can pause your search as I have prepared some tried and true tips to help you get your work done.

Make G-Cal, your pal!

This cannot be emphasized enough, google calendar is your best friend. I was someone who would use a notebook or an agenda to record my tasks and due dates. If I had forgotten it at home or didn’t bring it everywhere I went, I wouldn’t know how to go about my day. Not to mention, I have horrible handwriting, you can say it is the stereotypical doctor’s handwriting. 

Switching to google calendar optimized the way I manage my time. It is the cleanest and most user-friendly calendar app; a bonus – it’s free! To understand how to use google calendar, check out this video for the basics.

To organize my calendar, I use colours to sort the types of events (e.g. purple= classes, yellow = meetings/appointments). I highly recommend you do this as it will help you visualize how your time is being spent.

When you get your work schedule, assignment due dates, exam dates, immediately enter them into your calendar.

If you have multiple calendars, I would recommend syncing them in one spot.

If G-Cal isn’t your thing, there are many other platforms to help you get organized. Here is a list of top calendar apps to help you choose.

Eat the frog

This is a tip I learned in one of my mandatory business courses. You know the ones you have to force yourself to get through and never thought you were actually learning anything? Yes, one of those.

Now you may ask, what exactly does “eat the frog” mean? The term is derived from the feeling or preference you have when it comes to eating a frog.

No one wants to eat a frog.

Hence, the task you don’t want to complete, the one you’ve been putting off, DO. IT. FIRST. Once you’ve checked it off your to-do list, congratulations! You ate the frog!

If you like eating frogs, well then this expression is not for you.

To make things a bit more fun, you can order cute frog sticky notes here or download this free template to jot down your daily “frogs.”

Break down bigger tasks

When you’re first looking at a big project or assignment, the amount of work you have to do can seem overwhelming. Only if I had a dollar for all the times I’ve stressed about completing a big assignment without deconstructing the tasks…

To move past this, I recommend you to break down these BIG tasks into smaller parts. Cross off each part as you are passing each milestone. As you are moving down your list, you are building momentum and moving closer to completing the task. This will make your assignment seem shorter or more reasonable. I always do this!

Additionally, you can also complete some smaller tasks by making use of your standby times, such as your commute. Review those lecture slides and do your reading while you wait.

Now, when I’m assigned a task, I assess the amount of time and effort required; consider all steps and deadlines. Then, I draft a specialized to-do list or timeline (where possible) for the project, exam, or assignment, boosting my productivity and time management ability.

Trust your vibe

Disclaimer: This does not mean “trusting your vibe” to procrastinate.

Many times, I have found myself working on one task while thinking about another. I may have not been “feeling” the task at hand and was thinking of ways to complete the next one. This is wrong. You are neglecting the current task by not giving it your full attention.

The driver of productivity is your mood and will. If completing a task is unsuitable at the time, it is okay to rearrange your tasks to match your productivity. The more you are inclined you are towards a task, the better it will be accomplished. Trust your vibe and witness the quality of your work improve.

Prioritize

In case you didn’t know this, not all your tasks should be treated the same. Rank your to-do list by deadline, time required, to have do or to want to do.

As I mentioned earlier, enter your deadlines and schedules ASAP from when you get them. This way, you have all your information in one place that you can use as a reference to prioritize your work.

Have a system in place to identify the priority levels of your tasks. For instance, !!! = high priority (must be completed ASAP), !! = medium priority (must be completed by the end of the day/week), ! = low priority (it can wait).

Don’t ever say “I Should”

I learned this from a speaker at an event I attended. Don’t every say, “I should.” Stay away from it. It’s either “I have to do” or “I want to do.”

We are all guilty of this. I sometimes find myself saying “I should study for this.” At that moment, I force myself to evaluate: do I HAVE to do this? OR do I WANT to do this?  By doing this, you are able to envision where you want to be, what you want to do, and it help you become more successful.

For example, “I should probably start that assignment.” No, you HAVE to start that assignment. If you don’t, you will probably not do a great a job if you leave it for much later. This will result in a lower grade.  

Why should you care? Because you want a higher grade as you envision yourself as a successful student.

Don’t exhaust yourself

I know things need to get done, but make sure you are not over exhausting yourself. This is very bad as it has an impact on your health and you may also be at risk of wasting the next day.

Allocate your time wisely. Do not overcrowd your to-do list. If you know you can’t get it done within the day, don’t put it on there. This will only increase your stress levels and have you feel rushed all day.

 If you have a lot of tasks for tomorrow, get enough sleep and take some vitamins.  Personally, I take GNC’s multivitamins for women and GNC’s Omega-3 Softgels. These were just recommendations, and it’s always best to talk to your doctor or a specialist first.

That sums up my tips for this post.  Do you agree or disagree?

Try and use at least 2-3 tips to see an improvement in your schedule and productivity.

If you have some other useful tips on time management and productivity, share them with me by leaving a comment below or tagging me on instagram @_reallifewithrainee.