Time Management Tips?

[Franciz]

I am slowly burning-out. Its only been a month of school and I feel the stress of all my activities are consuming me - slowly. I am already experiencing the effects: inability to concentrate, uncontrollable sleepiness, and always tired. I am only able to counter my fatigue with coffee and energy drinks. With my current lifestyle, I am heading towards disaster.

A while ago, I wrote about focusing on three things: school, dance, and making money. I try to stick to those promises as much as I can. Right now, I average about 5 hours of sleep. I go to school 4 times a week. I have dance practice 5 times a week, and I work 2-3 times a week. Also, I have already given up my social life (for the most part).

Why not just drop one of your activities?
I simply cannot. School and dancing are two things I want to excel at, both are my dreams, and making money is a necessity. I am in a tight predicament.

I will encounter extreme stress within 2-3 weeks. There are a number of things that will be happening: midterms, and a couple of performances.

Here is my status, I am doing extremely well in school not so much at dancing, and making money. Firstly, I've pulled a couple of all nighters for school already, which I don't ever want to do again because it takes too much toll on the body. Secondly, in dancing, I manage to get into a dance company; however, I'm not performing at the level that I want to. The things I'm learning are way beyond my capabilities. Thirdly, I work in a hourly paying job and it sucks, but I get the hours that I want. I also joined a network marketing company, but I haven't done "diddly squat" on that.

O, great wise posters of stevepavlina forums, you masters of time, you excellent achievers please pass down thy wisdom to me so I may flourish. I simply ask, what things can I do to make my life easier, and still be able to accomplish my goals?

-Franciz

[Chris_1977]

Well, if you are burning out you have to find some way to spend less time on something. How to do this is not really something I can tell you, since you know your situation better than anybody else. However, some ideas that pop into my mind:

Turning your dancing talent into something that makes money instead of your job. Can't you teach dancing to beginners? That way you should be able to make more money in less time because it is something that requires skill instead of some random job.

Deciding to be excellent at two things at the same time is a bit much. Is there anything wrong with being "among the best" instead of "excellent" in school? Are there some subjects that are not that important for you where you can slack a bit? Some subjects may be very important because you want to later get into a field where they are key. If I look back to my high school period (15 years ago) the only subjects that were truly important for me were English and mathematics. In a few years you will probably look at it the same way, but probably with other subjects being the most important.

Can you study more effectively? An all-nighter costs more than it yields. What subjects cost too much time for you? Can you find hints somewhere or from somebody that help you to study these more efficiently.

Do you really need all the money you are making? Could you do with a bit less?

[silicon toad2000]

you said that you get the hours you want, is the hours you want more than the hours you need? can you shed a couple of hours work and still pay the bills?

how much time is wasted in transit, are you making the most of that time reading and studying?

can you get your lectures in audio form? do you work a job that will allow you to listen to your lectures? or listen to them in transit?

have you tried filling out a time diary? include everything, toilet, shower, sleep, dressing, transit between lectures and transit between jobs, study and dance. Then analyse it.

Are your sleeping habits making your study time less effective, would you get the same outcome form 1 less hour of study and one more hour of sleep? if so then you will also be able to improve the effectiveness of your dance training.

Have you had your eyes checked? my optician says that glasses to professionals and students are like sneakers to a runner or swim suits to a swimmer. He has a point.

Hows your nutrition? is your nutrition helping you to be as effective as you can be? Drinking enough water, the brain is mostly water and it doesn't take much of a change from idea to begin to effect your effectiveness at thinking and learning.

Do you have a support network that can help you with anything?

The sad truth is, once you are making the most efficient use of your time possible and are making the most effective use of your time possible... there is no more, then it is purely a matter of prioritisation.

[alekseykravtsun]

Franciz,

you will not find advise which will strictly works for you, I was about in same position, all week ends I was spending doing my work and during work hours did all kind of minor things. Since I start using quotas this is my first week ends when I am not thinking on work. Put a quota on dancing, school and make quota for your time off, just to relax, read books, watch TV and so on. Make meetings with yourself, get some fun (could be cheap as a walk in park).

[AHAInterestingTimes]

Study Hacks

The site is a goldmine.

[Thekla]

If are feeling increasingly burned out, your current schedule is likely not sustainable. What would you have to change to increase your sleep to 7 hours per night and have a small amount of social/relaxing time a few times per week to recharge?

I know you don't want to give anything up, but if you are not operating at top efficiency you are already giving things up-- because you aren't bringing the best of yourself to your work.

[smartwonderwoman]

If you are aiming for something good for your future, you will not just sit around and wait for them knocking at your doorstep because it doesn't work that way. You need to get out and figure out something how you will be able to start it even in your complexed type of living. Its only a matter of proper time management and making a checklist (it worked for me---the checklist thing), in order for you to be guided as you go along. Think of few smart goals..you can do it.

[alekseykravtsun]

Originally Posted by smartwonderwoman

If you are aiming for something good for your future, you will not just sit around and wait for them knocking at your doorstep because it doesn't work that way. You need to get out and figure out something how you will be able to start it even in your complexed type of living. Its only a matter of proper time management and making a checklist (it worked for me---the checklist thing), in order for you to be guided as you go along. Think of few smart goals..you can do it.

To smartwonderwoman, can you share some of your check lists?

[FazK]

All of this stress is in your head it is caused by your mind and your thoughts and your subjective perception of events in your life. You must learn to relax and think differently.

I was once very stressed until i started to do this. I now do even more work than before but i do it far quicker and easier and with very little stress. You must also become highly organised, efficient and productive - Eat that frog by Brian Tracy is a great book for doing this. Master the techniques and you will soon find yourself doing more and and feeling better

[Sami]

Check out Zen Habits. A fantastic blog about how to manage yourself (ie as opposed to time, which can't be managed), live more simply, be more productive and achieve your goals but without all the stress. I can highly recommend it.

It just so happens today's article is How to Defeat Burnout and Stay Motivated.

[Franciz]

To All:

Thank you for the tips everyone.

I guess, I'll start with a time diary first. Now, Lets see where I'm wasting my time!

-Franciz

[Franciz]

To Everyone,

Thanks a lot for the tips. I managed to handle all the stresses of the exams and performances.

Using cue cards while riding public transportation is just gold! Thanks.

-Franciz