Timing is Everything!

Time management has to be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. Juggling all your actives that are preformed on a daily basis as well as the few cute balls each day brings can be difficult, but in many cases planning is KEY.

Taking the time to plan your month, week, and day can all help avoid some stress. Many people use Google Calendar or iCalendar to track their events on their phone, tablets, and laptops. I do use those tools, but I prefer the good ol' written planner. If I ever lost my Vera Bradley planner I would be lost. I keep track of each days events, as well as write notes to  myself to make sure things get done and don't miss anything important. I also love the convince of having a place for emergency contacts, without having to worry that my battery will die.

In college especially it is important to keep a record of everything that is coming up. From classes to football games each day is different. Having a place to keep it all is important, that way when the curve balls are thrown your way you are more likely to be able to handle the pressure.

Being on time is NOT one of the things I'm known for. Waking up late is a daily event, and in high school my friends were always teasing me because I never got there before 7:30. Having a place to write down the times for my classes and appointments has helped a little, and I have not been late to a class ay UF yet (and for me that's a huge deal)! I also set alarms to help me keep track of time for things. I set these alarms for 30 minutes to an hour before I need to leave or wake up, because of my late tendencies. I also suggest setting clocks 5 minutes fast. You may think no big deal, but this puts a little more pep in your step in the morning when you're late to leave the house.

Time management is not only planning, it is taking the time to realize what you can and cannot handle. I am a person who loves to help others, but saying yes all the time has made me crazy in the past. I realized it is okay to say no to things you don't have time to do. Generally people will be appreciative of the fact you Let the project go rather than giving it only partial attention.

However, it is important to set aside time for the important aspects of your day, such as your daily devotional in your Bible, a phone call to your parents, Factimeing family, or even cutting out time for a nap once in a while. Keeping your priorities in check will also help you reduce stress.

Learning how to manage time will not be a one day process, everyday is different s you will be tweaking your routine often.