Hola amigos!
Just finished my heavy round of midterms! 7 midterms, a marketing case study presentation, and a website created, in the span of five days… you don’t scare me.
…but please don’t ever come back.
Haha, so you might have heard that BCIT is one intense institution, and that is correct! From what I’ve experienced and heard from other programs, full-time students at BCIT average 8 classes per semester, and can be in class for up to 35 hours per week. I once even had a Saturday morning class… eeek.
So how does one prepare for such a crammed schedule? What if we still want to work, exercise, have hobbies, and maybe… maybe still have a social life? Well, first: chocolate. And second: it’s all about time management.
What’s life without colourful pens and socks? :)
Let’s get real. School is only one aspect of our lives, and it would be silly to neglect all else. Since starting at BCIT, I’ve been extremely fond of my schedule book. I’ll bring it with me everywhere, and I spend some time with it on Sundays, mapping and crafting my upcoming week. By doing this, I am reducing the worry of forgetting different assignments and appointments; I am taking care of my body by slotting in gym time and planning meals; I am leaving space for family and friends; and arguably the most important, I am blocking out time for myself to rest and unwind.
When we are good with our time management, we allow ourselves to know how much to say yes to, and what we should say no to. There is so much that we want to do and accomplish, but we won’t be able to do them well if we are a carrying a mountain load of tasks.
If you ever need help with this, BCIT has some great resources for you to use. Check out Counselling & Student Development! They have online resources for personal development, or you can even book an appointment for confidential and professional counselling. Being overwhelmed is something common that is shared among human beings (and especially post-secondary students!), so never be afraid to seek a helping hand.
What are ways you guys time manage? Apps, online calendars, post-its?
Here’s to daylight savings this weekend! Enjoy that extra hour :)
n.