Time After Time

Photo by Shanyn Fiske (www.shanynfiskephotography.com)
Dress by Jewul

Maybe she's born with it?

No, I was definitely not born with time management skills. I was the kind of child who would receive a birthday invitation at school, stick said invitation in my backpack only to be found months later by my parents. I remember asking if I could go to the party and they said no because I had missed it (by several months). That was my first rude awakening to the concept of time. I was four.

While it is not something passed on through genes, time management skills can be learned, practiced, and perfected. Several of you #vitastics have asked me how I manage my schedule, from residency life and MBA homework to social media, blogging, and events.



What you don't see from the social media side is the time it takes to edit photos, write content, coordinate collaborations, and prepare for shoots. Not to mention being a doctor and the time it takes to obtain a history and physical exam, write admission notes and discharge summaries, place orders, do medication reconciliations, and lead team conferences and family meetings. All the while I am balancing these commitments with making time to work out, catch up with friends and family, and enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Thank you Ashlee from @tusksandtails for sending this to me (photo by @amr_digital)

Create a Calendar

While I don't need permission from my parents anymore, I do need to be cognizant of dates, especially when it comes to invitations. The first thing I do every year is create a color-coded calendar template. As a visual person, this document helps me see the entire year laid out so I know what rotation I am on, what holidays and birthdays are coming up, and other important events like weddings, fellowship interviews, and on this day next year my residency graduation!

Lucky you, I have included a FREE version of this template HERE: FREE 2019-2020 CALENDAR TEMPLATE

I recommend downloading it on your computer as the formatting may be distorted on your phone.

Click to download the full FREE Calendar Template

To learn more about how you can personalize the calendar, check out my previous post: Maximize Your Time With Minimalism

Set a Timer

The second thing I do is set timers. My friend taught me this and I love it. If I want to clean my apartment, I set a time for 30 minutes with the goal of getting as much done within that time period. When it goes off, my task is as complete as it is going to be for that day and I can move on to the next thing. It's like the ultimate driver of efficiency.

Write a To-Do List

There is something so satisfying about checking off items on a to-do list. It's like celebrating a little accomplishment. Post-It notes have become my best friend when it comes to putting these together but I also like to use the "Stickies" app on my computer. Of course, anything important like a call shift at the hospital, I make sure to add to the Reminder and Calendar apps on my phone.

Learn to Say No

I do have a habit of over-committing myself because it is so hard for me to say no. I've found myself needing to be in two places at once, wishing I had Hermione Granger's Time-Turner. But over the years, I learned how valuable my time is and that if I commit to something, I want to give it 100%. I realized it's not fair to others when you are spread thin. Now, when I am asked to do something I know I won't be able to dedicate everything I have to, no matter how much I wish I could, I feel less guilty saying no.

Photo by Shanyn Fiske (www.shanynfiskephotography.com)
Dress by Jewul

It also helps that as a woman, we are physiologically better at multi-tasking than men based on the prevalence of connections across our brain hemispheres, which allows us to focus on more things at once.



One of the best multi-taskers I know is Shanyn Fiske. She is not only an amazing photographer, she is also a writer, professor, and entrepreneur. Check out her website at www.shanynfiskephotography.com and reach out for a chance to have her help share your story!

Leave a comment if you know of any other time management tips!