Time Management; How do you manage your time?

[islandfevergirl]

I am currently a nursing student in my second semester. I am not failing, however, I need to improve on my time management skills for studying. How do you come up with ways to manage your time between tests, preplanning, care plans, and everything else inbetween?? I would like hear some of your ideas! Thanks!

[taalyn_1, CNA]

This was the plan: wake up at 730 am and study until 12, shower, eat, be at work by 2 until 10 pm. On school days, study after class for 4 or 5 hours then bed. on days off study for 3-4 hours and then clean house/laundry/ pay bills etc etc.

This is the reality: wake up sometime before 10, study until time for work, wash my head and the necessary parts, go to work 2-10, come home and shower, go to bed... wake up and realize i forgot to eat yesterday so I try to eat, get to school, come home, start studying but forgot i had to pay some bills so I do that, O wait Im hungry (what time is it and when did I eat last??), dog needs to go out so I take her for a walk, try to decide whether to study or clean the house, so I study for a bit, thenrealizing its now 1130 pm I say screw cleaning and go to bed.. next day more of the same but probably different distractions/complications.

[Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP]

I plan my life with my Google calendar. All of my homework assignments and tests are in there so I know when they're coming. Then I can schedule in study times for each test. My work schedule is in there, everything. And I always try to get things done a few days early if at all possible.

[Despareux]

I prioritize by due dates, weakest or least liked subject, and the type of assignment -- not necessarily in this order.

For example, I hate writing papers and I have a paper due in 7 days, but I have 2 exams that I haven't studied for at all (other than lecture)-exam one in 3 days, and exam two in 5 days. I also have to get my patient information after exam two and start on a care plan. Because I hate writing so much and it takes so much of my time, I decide to get started on my paper first, so I spend most of a day working on that. For the next two days, I will study for the exam one. After I have taken exam one, I will study for exam two. After exam two, I will get my patient information, start on my care plan and then work on finishing my paper.

My example is central to the paper that was due in 7 days. By taking the most disliked type of assignment and starting it first, I prevented myself from procrastinating and doing a hack job. I was able to complete all other assignments with undue stress.

I do make time for cooking, minor cleaning, and spending time with my family every day.