I am a nontraditional college student. I own my own house, I work a full time job, and I am a part time college student. Most of the people I know think I am completely insane to be taking on so much. The way I figure it is if I don’t do it now, when will I? So here I am, trying to run a household, work 50 hours a week and then go to class and attempt to finish my homework and study for exams.
Here are some time management tips for all, because I know how crazy the day can be if I don’t manage my time properly!
1.Count all your time as time to be used and make every attempt to get satisfaction out of every moment. You can even set aside extra time during meal times for a bit of free time.
2.Find something to enjoy in whatever you do.
3.Try to be an optimist and seek out the good.
4.Find ways to build on your successes.
5.Stop regretting your failures and start learning from your mistakes.
6.Remind yourself, "There is always enough time for the important things." If it is important, you should be able to make time to do it. Remember that YOU are important so always make a little bit of time in the week for yourself.
7.Continually look at ways of freeing up your time.
8.Examine your old habits and search for ways to change or eliminate them.
9.Try to use waiting time-review notes or do practice problems.
10.Keep paper or a calendar with you to jot down the things you have to do or notes to yourself.
11.Examine and revise your lifetime goals on a monthly basis and be sure to include progress towards those goals on a
daily basis.
12.Put up reminders in your home or office about your goals.
13.Always keep those long term goals in mind.
14.Plan your day each morning or the night before and set priorities for yourself.
15.Maintain and develop a list of specific things to be done each day, set your priorities and the get the most important
ones done as soon in the day as you can. Evaluate your progress at the end of the day briefly.
16.Look ahead in your month and try and anticipate what is going to happen so you can better schedule your time.
17.Try rewarding yourself when you get things done as you had planned, especially the important ones.
18.Do first things first.
19.Have confidence in yourself and in your judgement of priorities and stick to them no matter what.
20.When you catch yourself procrastinating-ask yourself, "What am I avoiding?"
21.Start with the most difficult parts of projects, then either the worst is done or you may find you don't have to do all the
other small tasks.
22.Catch yourself when you are involved in unproductive projects and stop as soon as you can.
23.Find time to concentrate on high priority items or activities.
24.Concentrate on one thing at a time.
25.Put your efforts in areas that provide long term benefits.
26.Push yourself and be persistent, especially when you know you are doing well.
27.Think on paper when possible-it makes it easier to review and revise.
28.Be sure and set deadlines for yourself whenever possible.
29.Delegate responsibilities whenever possible.
30.Ask for advice when needed.
Adapted from A. Lakein. How to Get Control of Your Time And Your Life
Definitely a great list!
I almost always make lists at the beginning or the end of the day to keep track of what I need to get done either today or tomorrow. A lot of problems could be solved if people knew how to manage their time.
"Anger is the enemy of non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up. "
-Gandhi
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
-Gandhi
"He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain
I thought it was a pretty complete and useful list as well. I got it from someone else (author is on the bottom of the post) but I added a few things to some of the points for clarification.
I try and keep my list of things to do on my Palm and it has been a life saver. All of my shopping lists, exam dates, notes, etc are on there and backed up on 3 different computers so I have all of my vital information with me in my purse wherever I go.
I am so unorganized and bad at managing time! Your list was helpful though, we'll see if I can use some of this tips now.
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I do most of those things. I am really crazy about getting shit done and it being perfect. It's in my mind. I will write list after list. yeah ocd I believe. lol. I feel pretty good today because I got 3 hours of sleep, but I wanted to get up after Cory and my dad went to sleep. I have been delaying things, so I washed the dishes, cleaned the microwave,cleaned the bathroom, did school work, all that fun stuff.
I'm not a very traditional college student either. I would probably have done what you did if my mom would not have passed away. (she would have drove me crazy and made me want to move out) But I take classes online full time and have a part-time job. I don't work full time like you. Busy wonder women. I really would recommend online classes to people that have much discipline, they kept trying to persuade me out of it because I was a freshman, but I almost have all A's so *blah*
My dad actually worked 2 jobs full time and went to college full time, but he didn't finish, now that was challenging I don't see how he did that and got a 3.8. He has a good paying job now though.
Great tips and props to you for owning your own house, working full-time and going to college! Keep staying positive!
Your dad worked 2 full time jobs and went to school? When did he sleep? I never have time to sleep with just the one job. It's hearing things like that that keep me going, about how others have done it and had more.
I wish I had you over here to clean my house. I am a neat freak, so when I don't have time to clean and I have homework, all I do is stare around the house and think of the things that need to be cleaned. I end up putting the homework aside so I can clean up. Since I have been puppy sitting the past few days I haven't gotten any homework done since the puppy keeps peeing in the house and I can't walk away until I am absolutely sure that the stain is completely gone and there is no more odor. I spent the past 4 hours just scrubbing the floor. And now I am rambling.......
I don't think I could do on-line classes. The structure provided by a live professor helps me to stay on task. Plus going to class is a good way to get a change of scenery.
I wish you weren't so far away, maybe you aren't I have no idea. I would clean your house for you to give you a break and of course for no charge. I'm strange I like to clean...sometimes. I do the exact same thing and if the house is unorganized my mind starts to feel this way.
My dad worked for hostess loading trucks, did school in between then, went to his other job then went to night classes. I really don't know how he slept, I was alot younger. We ran into problems though with money and he couldn't finish. I am determined to finish no matter what. I will be the first in my family. My mom owned her own business. He works for a crane company right now though and makes good money.
I sometimes feel like it is alot doing classes online full-time and going part-time to work at Target. I have a physical job. picking up 100 lbs objects sometimes. It is screwing up my back. I also do all housework, pay credit card bills, fix everyone's computer problems. cook dinner etc etc etc. But you have way more stress than me.
I am not quite sure if online classes are more work or not. I have been on the computer though for 8 hours or more doing work for school. I just like it because I don't have a driver's license and it would be a pain trying to get someone to take me each day. Yes I'm 20 I know it is pathedic. I do have a car though! one thing down. lol But I also have failed classes because being around people in a class room makes me lose concentration.
What are you going to do as a profession? I am going for Dental Hygiene.
Your fine ramble all you want. You know me I write you a book in every comment! :)
I want to go into Social Work. I don't want to work in a mental health setting, though, I really want to work in hospitals with the patients and their families.
I couldn't lift a hundred pounds a day, my back is already screwed up.
You're dad and boyfriend are both really lucky to have you running the household. Just think of how messy the house would be if you weren't there! Scary thought, isn't it?
I have seen it...when I have been to busy to clean it, it looks like...umm just nasty. lol. My dad appreciates me I think..but my boyfriend... well right now he just thinks he is the only one with problems...and says he has alot more stress than me....ok. I will be quiet before I say something mean...
That is awesome that you want to do social work. I hear it is rewarding. When I get my license I want to volunteer at a children's hospital and animal shelter. My real passion is animals, helping people,and drawing...not cleaning teeth. I guess cleaning teeth is helping people... But I have wanted to be a vet or zoologist but they don't offer school here for that. The nearest vet "school" is in Ohio and I don't want to have to relocate to a big city. I still am not sure if I want to move out of state or not. I hate it here. I live in Kentucky. I want some where cheap with the ocean and seasons.
My back is already fu*ked and so are my ankles from playing soccer. I was kicked in the back when I played soccer alot. ( I am clumsy and fall alot) I have to wear ankle supports. But I just have to deal with the pain. 800 miligram Ib profens are my friend. :)
Who knows maybe one day my drawings will be famous lol. The post where I displayed my drawings were done when I was 14-17.
I don't think you're ever going to find somewhere cheap with the ocean and seasons. I lived in Boston for a while, which fits, but it is definitely NOT cheap!
My back is messed up from when I broke it in a car accident. Now I have hernieted discs and degenerative disc disease. Oh well, life goes on.
Why don't you go into vet medicine? If that is your passion, you should follow it!
I don't think I could deal with one dying on me. I actually have a rather odd Idea of getting a bunch of acres and building a tiger sancurary. Raise babies up to be adults, to save the species. I would rather do this but don't know how you would go about it...
I'm not sure either....maybe start by writing a proposal and maybe you can get a government grant for the land and supplies? I'd be afraid a tiger would tear me to pieces!
They have a better respect for you and look at you as their mother. Although when they get older they still are wild animals you have gained that trust with them. I watched this show called growing up Tiger. The owners raised babies up to adults and we still able to go in and play with them when they got older. It is a very werid thing but since they gain that trust... you are able to interact with them. Yeah things can still happen but it is very unlikely that they will randomly rip you to pieces unless you abuse them. Some people don't understand they are wild animals and think they can be domesticated, they will abuse them and neglect them, so they get attacked. I'm not saying it isn't dangerous but I believe it would be rewarding.
I will try what you suggested. It is just a dream though and not to seem negative..but most of mine aren't realistic or achivable..or fail in some way. Thanks for the advice though!
I am here to inform and help:
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
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