Too much? Time management ect

Former Member

I'm writing this because I need to get it off my chest...

Basically I'm insanely busy in my final year at university. I have two jobs to feed myself, an exec position, I'm a president of a society and I often get asked to help out in other places too...

Some days I leave the house at 8:30am and get back at 8:30pm because of work/meetings/other stuff and I am starting to hate it. With my society and voluntary stuff, I no longer feel like I'm doing it for myself... I hardly even speak in meetings, somebody I work with does. As much as I admire her sometimes I feel like I'm just an extention of her and whilst I'm passionate about the environment, I'm more of a human rights person. I feel like I let her down all the time.

People are getting pissed off at me in one of my jobs because I find following instructions difficult with my dyspraxia (when I actually have concrete nstructions to follow) and I'm thinking of leaving... But then that job is closely tied in to my exec postion. I think I'll ed up with the sack... On Tuesday somebody got annoyed with me (I felt) because I have difficulty with free time to meet with other staff and now I have learner support sessions on a weekday.

I literally don't have time during the week to do anything and when I get in I'm shattered. I don't have time to eat sometimes, so have to eat in class...

But what worries me is that I am finding time to study difficult because I'm so busy. I want at least a high 2:1 (and if I find out I'm heading for a 2:2 in january I'm leaving uni and don't know what I'll do... I'd rather be dead than living at home again), but I don't have the time to commit to it.

My social life is suffering too...

So I was wondering if anybody has any time management skills, or tips on what to do. I'm attempting to set up a meeting to step down as president of the society because I'm just too busy and because I'm doing EVERYTHING myself.

It's killing me inside... Literally and I don't know how much more I can take.

Please help

:crying:

Former Member

Sounds like you know yourself that you are doing too much, something needs to give.

Your uni work needs to take priority at the moment. Can you cut your hours at work? Don't you get a grant/loan? Can you see an advisor at uni about any possible sources of funding?

Former Member

Woah.

It does indeed sound like you've got rather too much on your plate at the moment.

See if you can find an hour (tricky I know) to sit down and work out how many hours free you have a week, how many you need to devote to study, and then how much time each of the others take up. Also write down an amount of time you need for socialising etc (it's essential to keep you sane).

Job wise. Is there anyway you can give one up? Ideally the one that causes you most grief and hassle. Maybe make some financial adjustments, and look for sources of support from uni. You might find a hardship fund or even loan that will buy you sometime until you graduate and get a job.

If you're not getting anything out of the voluntary stuff you're doing then seriously reconsider why you are doing it, and whether it's worth the drain on your time/energy/general well being. I seem to remember you've done some good stuff through it in the past, it's worth remembering those high points and stopping it for now until you've got your degree all done and dusted.

Stepping down as president sounds like a good idea.

Remember, you've put in the last 2 years worth of effort and work, it's worth giving your course your all for the next 8 months (that's all it is 'til June) to get the grade you want.

Former Member

Our lecturers tell us we should do 6-8 hours studying a week per lecture.

Former Member

Quit your society and the voluntary work. Forget holding a meeting, just resign by letter, or, more modern-ly, email.

It's all fine well and good being altruistic, but you're clearly overstretched. You can give back to society after you graduate.

Former Member

quit all the extra-curricular things, keep the jobs. If that's still too much, drop one of the jobs. Aim for your 2:1, but even if you're headed for a 2:2- that's not a great reason to quit (I don't think). IMO a 2:2 is better than a dropout!

Former Member

katralla wrote: »

quit all the extra-curricular things, keep the jobs. If that's still too much, drop one of the jobs. Aim for your 2:1, but even if you're headed for a 2:2- that's not a great reason to quit (I don't think). IMO a 2:2 is better than a dropout!

I don't think so at all because I'd like to do a Masters somewhere good. I'm very career focussed and don't have much else going for me than a chance at a career, you know?

A lot of people are happy with relationships, families, with what they can have but those thngs aren't me (I now that probably makes me sound like an arsehole, I do have friend and love my Mum and brother... But I don't do relationships... I want to go in to working with NGOs and you need to eb the best for that).

Former Member

There are still opportunities with a 2.2 though or so I thought

Former Member

A 2.2 is going to give you far more opportunities than dropping out half way through 3rd year.

Even better, reprioritise and get the 2.1

Former Member

Even if you get a 2:2 it doesn't mean you CANT do you r masters somewhere good. You might have to go and do a related job for a year and come up with something great to show to help you get on the course wth a 2:2. I really think you'd be disapointed down the line if you drop out over getting a 2:2- how would that get your further towards your goals? Keep your eye on your end target of your career (which is a fine ambition- you seem apologetic for it) and just keep chipping away to get there even if you have to take side routes you weren't expecting, but don't stop, and don't go backwards- you can do it!

Former Member

katralla wrote: »

Even if you get a 2:2 it doesn't mean you CANT do you r masters somewhere good. You might have to go and do a related job for a year and come up with something great to show to help you get on the course wth a 2:2. I really think you'd be disapointed down the line if you drop out over getting a 2:2- how would that get your further towards your goals? Keep your eye on your end target of your career (which is a fine ambition- you seem apologetic for it) and just keep chipping away to get there even if you have to take side routes you weren't expecting, but don't stop, and don't go backwards- you can do it!

Yeah maybe you're right...

I am just so terrified of screwing up... It's reading week and I only ave one essay plan and no dissertation title.

I feel it's too late to even bother.

Former Member

Namaste wrote: »

Yeah maybe you're right...

I am just so terrified of screwing up... It's reading week and I only ave one essay plan and no dissertation title.

I feel it's too late to even bother.

It's so easy to panic in your final year. I had loads of problems going on in my final year and like you, I was really scared of getting any less than a 2:1.

I didn't start my dissertation till around March, two months before it was due in. Sometimes pressure makes you work harder. It's not too late to bother AT ALL. Do your best.

Former Member

Mist wrote: »

Quit your society and the voluntary work. Forget holding a meeting, just resign by letter, or, more modern-ly, email.

It's all fine well and good being altruistic, but you're clearly overstretched. You can give back to society after you graduate.

:yes:

Former Member

Scary Monster wrote: »

A 2.2 is going to give you far more opportunities than dropping out half way through 3rd year.

Even better, reprioritise and get the 2.1

:yes:

Your degree is going to be a far bigger factor in your future than what societies you were in, or what job you had at uni.

Those things only come into play once an employer has already accounted for the degree. Reprioritise and focus on your degree.

Former Member

Don't feel afraid to tell people you don't have time to do everything you're asked to do. Unless you speak to people, they'll assume that you have no problem doing what they ask. Employers are generally pretty understanding about this sort of thing, because it's more hassle for them to find another person to do a job than it is to rearrange the workload. But if you don't tell them, you're not giving them the opportunity.

Former Member

Namaste wrote: »

I am just so terrified of screwing up...

In the words of a Cinderella Story, which I've watched FAR too many times for a grown woman - "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!"

Namaste wrote: »

It's reading week and I only ave one essay plan and no dissertation title.

I feel it's too late to even bother.

The mountain doesn't get a smaller by looking up at it. Email your lecturer for help with comin up with a title, and anyway- fuck the title. Start brainstorming now, mind map or just splurge ideas, phrases and words on a page to find a starting point.

You're on the final straight now, set yourself mini study times, then a 'reward' of a break or comin on here or something. Don't let your breaks turn into major procrastinations by setting a time limit on them. Get a cup of tea, breath and start, once you get the ball rolling your brain will get into work mode.

C Funk

Hey Namaste,

University should be the time in your life when you get to try loads of different things to find out your interests and passions. It?s great to be really involved in volunteering, societies, and sports teams, but when these commitments start affecting your studies they can have a negative impact on you. You?re doing really well to reassess your priorities. Like Scary Monster said, try and figure out what you have to do, what you like doing, and what you could drop. All this experience is great, but if you want to carry on doing these activities you need to make sure you achieve the grades you need to carry on at university.

There's loads of good advice on student life at TheSite.org. Check out the one on managing your time at uni.

Hope this helps

:thumb: :thumb: