Student Blog: Tools, Trackers, and Time Management

Last Thursday, I ended classes at 5:10 and immediately ran to eat dinner. I knew I had no time to waste, because from 6:30 to 9, I was fully booked. In hindsight, it wasn't the best idea scheduling two interviews around a cabaret rehearsal, but I managed to make it all work. I'm interning for a small publisher currently, so I hosted an Instagram livestream with one of their authors. Directly after I headed to rehearsal for "38 Planes (Reprise)/Somewhere In The Middle of Nowhere" from COME FROM AWAY, where we went over the harmonies in the first half of the song, before I promptly returned back to my room for a zoom interview with a young adult author. This particular interview was special to me because not only do I adore this author's writing, the specific book we were discussing releases on the same day as my own.

My debut novel, THE GOSSIP GAMES, is being published on April 18, 2023, which is completely crazy to think about. Not only am I publishing a book, I also have to think about book two, which is slated for release in January 2024. My editing timeline was unexpectedly moved up to this month, meaning that I'm currently juggling school, work, my internship, my Etsy shop, the cabaret, and edits for my upcoming novel.

It's a lot to manage, and I make lists to keep track of it all. In my Notes app, I plan out my weekly schedule, marking down which assignments are due when, any meals that I'm getting with friends, and any other important upcoming events. Each day, I sit down and create a list for that specific day, outlining both immediate goals and projects that might not be due for a while. Together, they help me keep track of what's going on in my life. I block out specific time for homework, which helps keep me on track for my school assignments, and I primarily work on my Etsy shop and writing in the evenings. I also like to reward myself when I complete assignments - for example, I complete my econ homework after my Tuesday dance class, and I always make sure to stop by Dunkin for my favorite frozen hot chocolate.

It was definitely not an easy process to figure this schedule out. I tried using reminder apps and planners, but I always forgot about them. While basic, I like the Notes app because it's right there in my phone (which, as a teenager, never leaves my hand). The daily paper schedules are helpful because they're a physical reminder of what needs to be completed that day, but also because they won't be needed again and it won't matter if I lose them (which I do, frequently).

The other thing I make sure to do is take breaks! One of my favorite ways to relax is by diving into a new read. I have Kindle Unlimited on my phone, so I'm never far away from a good book. I keep track of my reading on Goodreads and with physical trackers, and I especially like these little book trackers (see above photo!), which I use for both my reading and writing. They're so much fun to make, and it's so satisfying to finish one.

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