Time Management Is a Plus at School and at Work by Lindsey Novak on Creators.com

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Time Management Is a Plus at School and at Work

Q: I am in my first year of college and majoring in film production, which is my passion, but I have to work part-time in addition to school. Doing both is exhausting. Scheduling is an important part of creating the film, but scheduling when working on projects with other students who also have part-time jobs is next to impossible. We are making a street racing film, and I needed to sign out for the equipment. We finally coordinated our work schedules and were going to start this last weekend. After reserving the equipment, signing out for it, picking it up and lugging it home, my classmate/film partner calls to say he has work to do for another class instead of filming. I got all the equipment for nothing.

On the last film project, I had to call in sick for work because that was the only way the three of us could match our schedules. Is there a trick to time management that would make it easier? I need to work while I am in school, but working and dealing with other students who work makes it very difficult.

A: Working and going to school is exhausting for most, and developing time management skills can help. Not every method works for everyone, so you may have to learn through experimenting with different methods. While some people are naturally organized and efficient time managers, others always find themselves breathless to the last minute of completion. Creating a schedule is more than writing due dates on a calendar. It is learning how to judge the length of time an activity will take and then adding the right amount of time to that to allow for recovery time from problems. Just as certain students are always late to class, certain adults are always late to work, even to appointments with clients. You will also encounter people who repeatedly cancel, using countless excuses, most simply due to poor planning. Eventually, you will learn to stay away from those types in school and on the job.

As you complete more projects, you will become more efficient at time management, and you may benefit by teaching your method to your film partners.

The problem not easily resolved is finding a part-time job with flexible hours so school projects can come first. Though most students only get minimum-wage jobs, those are usually the jobs where employers cannot compromise their schedules to suit a student's classes. You may need to go from job to job until you find an employer willing to accommodate you. Ultimately, your level of motivation, effort and prioritization of what is and what is not important to the big picture will help determine your success. When you're exhausted, drink orange juice and cut out your social life. If you live to be 70 or 80, four years in college is not a great sacrifice to make for the career of your dreams.

GROUNDSKEEPER PROUD OF HIS RESPONSE TO ACCIDENT

Q: I had a job as a groundskeeper for a casino and was working near the front entrance. They were constructing another building and making temporary modifications to a bridge. One day at work, the bridge began to slowly collapse and some of the construction workers fell from the main building into the water. There was a loud crash as the bridge collapsed. I had to immediately stop cars from entering, block the entrances to allow for the emergency vehicles and redirect traffic. Watching the accident was pretty scary. Everything happened so fast that it was hard to believe what was going on, but I am glad that no one was hurt and that I handled it all very well. We never know what we can do until we are in a situation.

A: Accidents and disasters affect all of us — those who are in it, those who just witness it, and those who just hear about it. Your quick and productive response to the emergency showed your capabilities. It is good to reflect on an experience where you can feel proud of your performance.

Email Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com with all your workplace questions. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.