How To Spend Time

Sadly, I can help you with this because my job is all stress and time management!
Time management:
1. Think ahead. If you’re working on something, think about your next step. What do you have to do next? What do you have to prep? This way, you can move into the next stage faster. A good way to practice this mentality would be to apply it to your everyday tasks. It takes me 15 minutes to get ready for work because I set out clothes and shower the night before and thinking about what I should do next while I’m eating breakfast.
2. Prioritize. What is more important? Working on your new client or helping your friend with theirs? It’s great that you want to help your friend, however, if your plate is already too full, your friend will understand if you tell him/her that you cannot help. Don’t stretch yourself out too thin.
3. Don’t do it all yourself. If you have assistants or if your friends are willing to help, go ahead and give them tasks! Shareload your work if you have the manpower!
4. Make a list! I make a list of things to do the next day at the end of the day. Since I’m a complete zombie until lunch time, I go off of this list of things to do and it makes the day go much smoother! I can also get more things done.
Stress Management:
1. Take time off. If you’re about to lose it, take time off! Take a day or two to just re-coup, relax, and re-organize your thoughts. Usually stress comes from feeling like you’re losing control. That day or two will definitely help!
2. Do what you want. If you like reading, read. If you like running, run! (Btw, running or exercise produces endorphines that help when stressed! Plus, it makes you healthy and helps you lose weight! How can you lose?). Some people get massages in spas and some spend the day with the kids. It’s whatever you want.
3. Make sure that work stays at work. If you work from 9 am to 4 pm, then try to stick to that. Don’t make work the only thing in your life. And when you get home, don’t discuss it unless you really need to get it off your chest. Just relax and live! Work isn’t all there is to life!
4. Talk about it! If stress is getting to you, maybe you need a coffee shop break with a good girlfriend to just spill your guts. Talking does wonders!
There are more, I’m sure, that they are locked somewhere in my brain. But, I believe these are the key components. Good luck on your paper and your career!
June