Juggle Your Deadlines

By Alex Bolten

As the semester comes to a close, everyone is busy with various projects, papers and final exams. Everyone is feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the approaching summer vacation. It can be easy to get bogged down, and feel like your to-do list is longer than it is.

One way to think about this time of year is in terms of your future career. You may be in a position where you have to juggle multiple projects and deadlines at once. It can be easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated. Here are some tips to keep your stress down so you don’t crash and burn before summer.

1.              Use your calendar

a.     Mark your calendar with important due dates, group meetings, and exams. Put your calendar in a place where you’re going to see it everyday. As soon as something comes up, put it on the calendar. You can also blackout days that have already passed so that it’s easier to read and navigate.

2.              Send yourself reminders

a.     Use your laptop, phone or other electronic device that you use to remind yourself of deadlines. Periodic updates throughout the day can help jog your memory. You can send updates in different frequencies, depending on the importance. Send just one if your deadline isn’t for a few days or weeks. Send multiple if your deadline is sooner. It may seem obnoxious, but the more you tell yourself that something needs to get done, the more inclined you will be to do it.

3.              Make lists

a.     Write down everything that you have to and when their deadlines are. Cross off things as you go. The more you have crossed off, the smaller your list will seem and the less overwhelmed you will be. This is also a great way to keep everything in one place. A calendar is nice, but what if you have a deadline that’s due next month? You might not be constantly looking at it and it may get put out of your focus. One giant list, especially with dates, can help you avoid this problem.

4.              Take “beneficial” breaks

a.     We all like taking breaks, but you have to make sure that you’re not taking too few or too many. Take about 5 minutes for every hour of work. You can do whatever you like, but just be sure to get away from your work. This can help reduce burnout and make you more productive in the long run. Rather than stare at the same thing for a large amount of time and get frustrated, you’ll rejuvenate yourself every so often.

Follow these tips and you’ll be more equipped to handle your workload. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you follow these guidelines it will be easier for you to tackle what your future career may throw at you. If you can get ahead of your deadlines before they stack up on you, you’ll be in good shape.