September 10, 2007 | Vol. XI, Issue 4

No Time to Waste: Time Management Skills for First-Year Law Students

by Whitney Nobles, Resource Counselor

The fall semester is under way and the pressure of the first term is kicking in for many of the new law students. Thoughts such as, "How will I ever find time to do all of this?," and "What have I gotten myself into?" are probably on the minds of most incoming students. Although there is much work to be done, there is a way to manage stress through good time management skills. This week I will be offering a session on how to manage your time wisely. If you don't have an opportunity to attend the session, I hope, through this article, to provide an overview of how to learn stress-free productivity as well as what to do if anxiety arises. Learning effective time management skills is an important asset for students old and new.

Everyone struggles with stress

It is normal during times of change that stress levels will be high. Changes such as moving to a new city and starting a new program can make anyone feel overwhelmed. It is not uncommon that an anxiety episode would be triggered by a lack of organization or poor time management skills during times of high stress. Don't feel that you are the only one struggling with change and stress about the workload. I can guarantee that many of your cohorts feel the same way.

The new face of time management

Since work in this day and time no longer has clear boundaries, it is important that we adjust the way in which we view time management. Work for many of us does not stop at the door of the law school. More people these days have a job while in school, have children and a family at home, and have multiple tasks that need to be completed between dawn and dusk that have nothing to do with school work. Because of all that we are trying to juggle time management skills have become an ever pressing need to us all.

Plan every day in advance

Alan Lakein, a Harvard MBA graduate, says that, "planning is bringing the future in to the present so that you can do something about it now." Lakein's quote holds value in helping to take the stress out of what lies ahead. Planning is one of the best ways to manage stress and the first step in efficient time management. The key is to make lists and add to them as necessary. Trying to remember all that has to be done will drive a person to insanity, and only keep you awake at night. Writing things down not only keeps track of what has to be done, but is also a proven way to improve the memory and decrease anxiety.

A few tips for productivity

Start your day with high value tasks, those that are the most meaningful. This will take some of the stress off for the rest of the day, knowing that some of the big stuff is complete. Set priorities, and label them in order on your list. There will never be enough time to do everything, so prioritizing can help you to weed out what is least important. Be efficient and make your time count. Take breaks and make them useful. Don’t try to do other work while you are taking a break from one task. In essence, don’t burn the candle at both ends. We all need time to relax. Be organized and be prepared. Nobody can work in a dirty workspace or accomplish a task that they are not prepared to take on. Know what you are going to do before you start to work to avoid procrastination. Most importantly, take time for yourself. You are human and need some down time. Don't be afraid to indulge yourself every once in a while.

Recently I was able to present this information at an academic success discussion. I decided to submit this article for those of you who were unable to attend or wanted a little refresher. For more tips on time management, please stop by my office in Holland Hall Room 164J in the Office of Student Affairs. I have books and other resources that you can use to gain more knowledge on this issue. I would love to get to know you as well. If you are feeling anxious or stressed about the upcoming semester I would be glad to talk to you individually. Feel free to e-mail me for an appointment at wnobles2@ufl.edu, or stop by my office if the door is open. Even if you don’t have a particular problem, just stop by and say hello. Have a wonderful week and use your time wisely.

Home | Email to a friend | Print article | Contact FlaLaw Online