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10 Time Management Tips for Success in Pharmacy School

By Brooke Schinkal posted 12-30-2016 13:06

  

To my fellow students – I hope you are enjoying the last week or two of your holiday break! As I sit down to write my first ASHP blog post with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, I can’t help but feel both excited and anxious to start my LAST semester of pharmacy school before I go on to my APPE rotations! As the beginning of a new semester is almost here, I thought that I’d share some time management tips that I have found helpful in pharmacy school thus far.

1. Map It Out

Invest in a good planner or make an electronic calendar – whatever works for you! Put exams, assignments, organizational meeting and community service dates, work, and social events on there – write it ALL down! This will allow you to look ahead and plan ahead, putting all of your commitments into perspective.

2. Get an Early Start

We all fall into the trap of procrastination. Make a firm pledge to start some assignments (or exam studying) WAY ahead of the due date and you’ll thank yourself later.

3. Get into a Groove

Having a routine is good. Maybe you do Pharmacy Calculations homework every Monday night. Or brush up on recent Therapeutics lectures for an hour at a specific time each day – even when you don’t have an exam coming up. This doesn’t mean you have to be inflexible with other things that come up, but having some sort of routine is VERY beneficial.

4. Set Time Limits on Your Tasks

We all have had the mentality – I’m sitting down and finishing this assignment today, no matter how long it takes. Usually, too much time on one task makes us become inefficient at some point and breaking up the tasks can help us become more efficient with our time in the long run.

5. Avoid Spending Time with Unimportant Details

If you identify as a perfectionist, then this tip is for you. Make sure that the majority of an assignment is completed before focusing on small details that are bothering you and may not be important. Also make sure to focus on studying big concepts first before small details that you may not even remember in the long run. Trust me, it’s worth it!

6. Be Aware of Your “Time Wasting Habits”

We all know our “time wasting habits” – maybe its Facebook, Twitter, TV, or gaming to name a few – and they can be SO draining on productivity if we let them be. Simply being more aware and conscientious of the time we do spend on those activities may help you to do them less.

7. But… Make some Time for Yourself (And Sleep)

Everyone needs a break or we’ll burn out! Have a favorite weekly TV show? Well then plan ahead so you have time to watch it before you see all of the spoilers on social media! If working out helps you to de-stress – make sure you plan it into your schedule!

8. Utilize the Weekends

While weekends in pharmacy school earn some much deserved R&R, just a little bit of schoolwork on the weekends can go a long way in decreasing your workload and stress during the week!

9. Learn to Say “No”

Pharmacy school can throw a lot at you and things can add up quickly with school, work, organizations, and your personal life. Sometimes you just have to say “no” and realize when to stop taking on more commitments you cannot handle without losing your sanity.

10. Make an Effort to Attend All of Your Classes

Skipping class can be tempting... If you do decide to skip class, make sure it’s for a good reason. It can be a slippery slope in catching up on missed lectures. Missing classes a day before an important exam to study for that exam usually isn’t a good idea as again, it’s hard to get caught up!

 

 

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