If you read my last blog post, you’ll know I’m trying to manage my time better in the last half of the semester (and my last ever semester as an undergrad!). I’m pleased to report that it’s going well so far—even as I write this blog post, I have a timer going to remind me of how long I should spend writing. That said, remember when I said I was going to start working at 8:30? Well, the good news is, I am sticking to about 8 hours per day of work, but the bad news is, I can no longer wake up at 8:30. I don’t know what it was about first-year Emma, but she was always up at the crack of dawn. It turns out fourth-year Emma needs more sleep, so I’ve been starting work closer to 9 am and finishing around 5 or 6. Yes, I know that’s longer than 8 hours, but what can I say? I’m working on working less!
And my time management lately hasn’t been easy. A lot of my hours have passed with me figuring out how to navigate campus on wheels. You may remember earlier this year that I shared my experiences as a student with a disability. I recently started using a wheelchair part-time to accommodate for some changing aspects of my disability. It’s been a massive adjustment to say the least, but I’m grateful to my friends and family for being there to support me—and to my friend for giving me the best idea for my wheelchair’s name. (It’s Sarah Jessica Parker, if anyone’s wondering. And no, it’s not supposed to make sense!)
As I go through this transition, there have been days when I haven’t felt like working on the next assignment or reading the next article. At first this was so, so stressful; and I would push myself to work even if I wasn’t in the right headspace. I’m slowly coming to realise that this is not the best approach—at least, not for now. Right now, I need to take a little more time for myself, spend a little more time with friends, and read some books just for fun. And that’s okay. So, consider this your reminder to take time for yourself too, no matter what you’re going through.
On that note, as we come up on exam season, I’ve been thinking about how to balance everything that’s been going on in my life and all of the extra school requirements that pop up at this time of year. Like a lot of arts students, I have fewer exams and more final assignments or papers. For most of my courses, I’ve only just started to think about those final essays.
One thing that is really helpful for me is breaking down the final projects into small steps and doing one step per day leading up to the deadline, as opposed to cramming into the last week of class. “Small steps” might mean reading a couple of papers, writing an outline, drafting a thesis statement, or editing just a page of writing.
Even though I might not feel much like working now, I can handle one or two of these small steps, and I know that this will set me up for success as we get closer to the end of the semester. I’m also looking forward to taking some time off for Easter, and I’d be lying if I said that Easter chocolate wasn’t a huge motivator! In fact, I might even go buy some Mini Eggs now to keep me going until then…
Before I go, I want to say thanks for reading my blog this year! This is my last post as a SASS Blogger, as I am graduating in a few weeks and heading off to graduate school to study English literature. It means a lot to me that you’ve taken time to read my posts, and I hope you’ve found some value in them. Wishing you a great exam season, an even better break, and—whether you’re a first or a final year—best of luck for the future.
- Emma