They say time management is important in college. However, when you have become successful at managing your time in both college classes and Greek life, it’s time to take the next step. In today’s job market, it is important to stand out to employers. What better way than listing multiple internships? It’s possible, and actually pretty easy, to have multiple internships at the same time if you obey the following tips.
Do not schedule your classes every day
Try to time your classes only a couple days a week. For me, the 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. class schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays has worked the best. We went to school all day in high school, so why not continue that trend in college? After all, we are going to have to go back to these hours after we graduate. Although it interferes with nap time, use the rest of your week to intern.
Be present
When you are being pulled several different ways, it is easy to become overwhelmed by your workload. Instead of stressing about the next thing on your to-do list, make sure you do the work you are supposed to be doing at the time you need to do it. For example, train yourself to only think about classwork when you are at home and only check your internship email while at your internship.
Utilize your iCalendar
For all those who use Apple products (which is most of us), iCalendar is a lifesaver. Use iCloud to put your schedule on all your devices. In my experience, you may not always have your agenda with you, but it is pretty much guaranteed you will have your phone. Schedule everything, even your social life, to ensure you will not forget something important. I like to set up alerts two hours before each of my events in case I need to complete a forgotten task at the last minute.
Get some sleep
Many college students ignore the importance of sleep. Running on less sleep makes you less productive, more susceptible to oversleeping, more likely to develop unhealthy caffeine habits and, the worst, accidentally sleeping in class or at work. Going to bed at 8 p.m. may seem pretty lame at the time, but your body will thank you when you are awake and alert early in the morning.
Give everyone a heads up
Make sure to be upfront with your friends, employers and professors about how much you have on your plate. Not only will they be impressed by your motivation and drive, but they will understand, and even help you out, if you get overwhelmed.
Your weekends are yours
After a long week of being pulled so many ways, doing nothing but relaxing on the weekends is okay. Don’t even think about how long your next week is going to be or check your email because, honestly, it can wait. If you do this, you will be refreshed and rejuvenated for the week ahead. Everyone needs a little break!
Having several internships at one time really isn’t hard if you manage your time. Good luck!