How can I accomplish my tasks in time without sacrificing my health?
September 3rd, 2009 | by Anthony |joselle_delgado asked:
Good day!
This past few weeks really stressed me out. Being a third year BSE (Science major) student is really stressing. My body already wants to give up. There are the countless sleepless nights, paperworks, and lined-up exams. I’m sure that I’ll be more restless next semester.
I do time management but it seems like its not enough, I’m still loaded with lots of things to do, never-ending. Any advice or word from you would be so meaningful to me. How can I get rid of the tyring weeks and at the same time finish all the tasked that are needed to be done in time.
Hoping for your kind responses. Thank you so much.
Joselle Delgado
College of Education
University of Santo Tomas
joselle_delgado@yahoo.com
NICOLAS
3 Responses to “How can I accomplish my tasks in time without sacrificing my health?”
By Frankie B on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
I know how you feel - my law course requires endless reading and writing, enormous essays, endless tasks… I guess if you just can’t fit it all in without getting tired, you’re going to get tired. Just grab sleep where you can, prioritise and try to eat healthy to make up for it. Take care of yourself.
As a third year, you can’t be going for much longer, right? Just keep the end goal in mind; when you graduate, all this will seem worth it.
By sventhedog on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
balance. i know its easier said than done. but you have to have time for everything. manage time and find ways to make work easier. some people just tend to think too much, they keep thinking their too busy but the truth is they’re just trying to show people they are. i know people who do this to get attention. in short. stop thinking about it.
my professor who also works as a nurse manager uses his laptop and microsoft excel. after every exam, he encodes all grades of every student. of course he pre-programmed the formula for computing the grades. but in doing that, no checking of papers at home or at work. everything is done by the time he goes out of the room. i mean take advantage of resources and technology. it’s there for a reason.
find time to relax. while sitting find time to close your eyes and refresh or imagine a beautiful scene. you don’t have to go out of town to do this.
exercise also helps but for busy people like you that’s hard. i’ve read a book that says exercise can be done anytime. for example while writing or sitting, you can try pushing your stomach in as far as you can while holding your breath. try repeating it and you’ll get used to if. while talking on the phone. try moving some parts of the body. or try to bounce on your chair. this helps tighten your buttocks and thighs. i think you get the picture. do it as long as your alone and you won’t look stupid. exercise relieves stress.
try to enjoy food while you chew it.
i hope this helps.
By winwoodau on Sep 7, 2009 | Reply
I am a published research psychologist (PhD) with a special interest in work stress and recovery. From this perspective I can tell you (and I sympathize) that you ARE very much ‘at risk’.
You REALLY have to think about your situation and contemplate making some changes NOW!
This contemplation should include such devastating things as:
Am I a square peg in a round hole? (Am I really suited to the study I am taking on?) Am I faced with such a terrible work load because my area of study isn’t REALLY for me (Do I have to work so much harder than everyone else to get by because I really should be doing something else that comes more easily.
I know you don’t want to hear this, but if it’s this tough now, why do you imagine it’s going to get better once you graduate?
OK, that’s the nasty bit. If you are sure it’s just the same for all your friends ; you’re just in a tough course, then we need to think of something else because chronic enduring stress exposure with associated significant sleep disturbance is a KILLER! (I’m serious).
Can you reduce the load by dropping a subject, even if it lengthens your course?
Can you reduce your expectations and aim for ‘credits’ instead of ‘distinctions’?
How good is your time management, really?
What IS essential is that you organize your time so that there is definite part of EVERY day for you to downregulate the stress cortisol constantly floating round your system. If you don’t your immune system is going to dysfunction and you’re are in REAL trouble.
Direct advice:
Get at least 20 minutes strong exercise every day (that raises your heart rate above normal) more is better.
FIND the time to spend socializing with friends at least an hour a day.
FIND the time to work on any hobby or creative activity you have EVERY day.
Don’t watch ‘cop shows’ on TV to relax, find DVD’s of whatever brand of humor you have. LAUGH at least 10 minutes a day.
Make sure you have a meal of lightly cooked red meat (preferably pork) every day. Next chicken or fish.
Get hold of some 5HT (tryptophane) dietary supplement to take before you go to bed to aid with sleep. Also Valerian and/or St John’s Wort can be helpful.
Do your work/study to your time plan and then STOP (whether you’ve finished or not) and go into the ’stress downregulation’ mode.
If you will try this regime for at least 2 -3 weeks I guarantee you find that overall you will actually get MORE done, more effectively.
In your circumstances you have to WORK at stress downregulation as hard as any other subject or course you are doing. If you don’t, you are going to continue in the slow downward spiral you are currently in and end up ‘cactus’.
Sorry, buddy, but them’s the facts!
Good luck.