By: Ty Steve
One of the simplest keys to success is time management. I’ve learned that properly managing my time and tasks has helped eliminate some of the stress that can come with both work and school. I work for a dermatologist, and we see patients roughly every ten minutes. Without proper time management, all of the tasks that need to get done during the workday cannot be completed. The same goes for school; with so many readings and assignments, it can be easy to get behind or forget an assignment. Recently, a prospective student asked me about the program workload and how I manage my time. Time management is certainly a necessity in this program, but also in medical school. At a recent visit to VCOM, a speaker was describing a service they offer students. Students can meet with an employee that helps them get used to the schedule and plan their schedule with times for everything that needs to get done. I liked this idea because I hear about how much work medical school is, so getting a little time management help when starting medical school seems like a fantastic service.
There are so many different ways that people manage their time, but only really one works well for me. To make this post a little more comprehensive, I reached out to some other students to hear how they manage their time.
Ty Steve, 2nd year student:
I rely on two methods to manage everything: paper and computer. Every year I purchase a new planner that goes week by week with time slots for each day. This works well during the school year for two main reasons. The first is that I can write my classes in for each day, but also write under the class anything that might be due that day. I find when I schedule on the computer in my Apple calendar, it is harder to take a quick glance and see what is due because I have to put that in the notes section. Secondly, I can put all loose handouts, assignments, etc. that will need to be turned in into the folder of my planner. This prevents me from losing forms and other important papers. By the end of the semester my “The Office”-themed planner is bursting at the seams with papers, but it works for me.
I don’t work during the school year, so the only other items that I schedule are any school events or seminars, and my T.V. shows. I use the Apple Calendar for these type of events. I religiously watch 60 minutes and Golf on Sundays, and then Survivor and Amazing Race. Since I schedule them on my calendar, I can coordinate my workload around them. The computer calendar works better for the big picture/at a glance, and then my paper planner works better for the details.
Below are some more methods that other students in the program use to manage their time.
Roslyn Presley, 1st year student:
I am old school; I use a paper scheduler that has assignments color-coded for each of my classes. For the weeks that have multiple assignments and/or tests, I prioritize them based on due dates, the difficulty of the assignment/test (i.e. if I don’t feel comfortable with material I will spend more time on it than other material I feel comfortable with), and the time it will take me to complete the assignment. My schoolwork takes priority always over my outside job and volunteer work. It is easy for me to keep this a priority with my basketball officiating job because I am self-employed, meaning I set my availability. This is very useful because when I have a week that is heavy in schoolwork I can work fewer games, and when I have a week that is lighter in schoolwork I can work more games.
Luckily my job is a stress reliever for me. I consider it to be more of a paid hobby than a job. I also try to do something enjoyable everyday for at least an hour, whether that is going to the gym, playing a basketball game, watching TV or hanging out with my friends. I have an unwritten rule to not do any schoolwork on Friday night or after 11 pm, unless I absolutely have to.
Thi Do, 2nd year student:
I use both a computer calendar and a paper scheduler because I like to keep things in different categories. For example, for school assignments, due dates, test dates, and anything school-related, I find it easier to write it all down in a planner. For my computer calendar, I like to use it to sync with my work schedule and personal schedule. My computer calendar is great for reminding me what will happen on a particular day and what events I need to prepare for. But, I must also mention that I do put some school events on my computer calendar, such as seminars, so that it can remind me to go to it with Apple alerts. I use the computer calendar to keep up with my busy schedule and also so that I don’t overlap any events. I work almost 30 hours a week, so without proper planning and organization I would not be able to get everything done.
I love to color code my things:
- Purple = school
- Orange = volunteer, personal meeting, doctor appointment, etc.
- Green = work appointment
- Blue = to do list
- Other colors: depending on the type of event, for example red is for really important event.
I try to put an extra 30 min or so in some events so that I can use that buffer time to relax. To prioritize my tasks, I make sure what needs to be done first is done first. After that, I schedule extra studying time for a course that may require additional time. The main goal is to not procrastinate. I try really hard to do my work ahead of time before the due date and then go back to it; this way I can double-check myself and review my material before submitting an assignment.
Mehdi Hasan, 2nd year student:
The main method I use to organize my events are through the Google calendar app. Inputting info is a little tedious at times; however, the benefit of having an “all-in-one” solution for scheduling purposes far outweighs any of the costs. For example, if I don’t have my phone at hand, I can simply log in to my account via any browser and view/edit my calendar.
Free-time is a limited resource, and I always advise a bit of caution to utilize such time wisely. Of course, you should always prioritize your work before other activities. However, I, and hopefully the rest of you, are human and need a little “down-time” every now and then. For myself, most of my free-time comes about during the weekends, which is the ideal time to socialize with friends who are on the same schedule as you.
I always prioritize my tasks based on three components: (1) due date, (2) class schedule, and (3) difficulty. There will always be certain classes that don’t “click” as well as others do, and I like to spend extra time to better acquaint myself with the material.
Tiffany Withers, 1st year student:
I use both a paper schedule and a white board schedule and for big assignments I put them in my phone. I prioritize things by due dates, familiarity with content, or difficulty and amount of time needed to complete the assignments. I like to use multiple calendars so that I don’t miss anything. Writing things down helps me to remember them better. The white board gives me a visual reminder everyday.
I consult for old clients during the week and weekend when families need me, but that is via email and phone so it is very easy to balance my outside work with classes. I make sure I have a balance of hobbies and school. Every day I make sure I have a timeslot to focus on me. After being in the work field, I know the importance of finding a balance and making sure there is personal time. On many Fridays, I hang out with my friends in the program as a reward or break from the week.