So here we are, ten weeks into the course, but still in our magic first term where there’s plenty of time for everything and we are encouraged to ‘just have fun’. Even in this blissful time before things really get serious, the deadlines still pile up. Unremembered time constraints rear their hideous heads, as welcome as a touchy uncle at a Christmas party. 

So how do we juggle all of these deadlines successfully? Back in week two (which seems like a decade ago) we had a session on time management. Now seems like a good time to revisit that and see what has been working well, and what hasn’t. 

• Do the important shit first thing – The longer you procrastinate and put things off, the less likely you are to do them. I struggle in the mornings for some reason. I’m good at sleeping. Maybe I’m too good at sleeping so getting up is awful. Regardless, I’ve got myself into the habit of sitting for half an hour each morning before starting work to do some housekeeping. Check my emails, check the calendar for the day, write my journal, ask myself what exactly I’m doing with my life. All that kinda stuff. 

• Use whatever works for you – If you have some fancy app that organises your time for you, use that. If you pay a small cat to follow you around with post-it notes stapled to it’s head, do that instead. I have a to-do list on my phone I check each morning, which I then prioritise for the day. Just something that gives a bit of structure to your day. 

• Say no to things – This one is my biggest issue. I’m a massive yes man and always have been. I’ll take on stuff for all number of reasons, mostly revolving around people pleasing, making my own life more stressful in the process. Learning to say no is definitely a goal I’m setting myself this year. Still a long way to go on that front, mind you. 

Whatever you do, don’t ever miss a deadline. Never. Ever. Ever.