This week I'm getting ready for university again. It requires setting up my timetable, working how much I can realistically procrastinate, and crying over my self inflicted workload.
It will be my last year of doing my Bachelors degree, which makes this the end of an era as well as the start of something new. I'm not sure still how I feel about this. I'll keep you updated.
When I plan out my timetable, I make sure I'm realistic. I know that I'm not likely to wake up before noon, so I'm not going to start my day at 9am. I also make sure I plan in a lot of breaks. I need to move around, take time to throw myself into something mindlessly entertaining. That said, I also have to make sure I get my work done, and find time to eat, update various social networks, and socialise.
At the moment my timetable includes an hour of Netflix/DVD watching every day, with time set aside of a Friday and Saturday (my weekend) for a movie or two. I'm also going to use the pomodoro technique for studying - read for a set time, write for a set time, break for a set time, repeat - so I'm not draining myself of energy trying to get through each chapter.
I'm also going to colour co-ordinate my timetable, so I have one colour for crafting, another for studying, and so on. I know how long I can work for without getting tired, but I'm not going to reach that point; I'm going to aim for not doing one task for longer than 15 minutes without a break, despite knowing I can go for 20 minutes. This means that even on low energy days I can still get my work done.
I can't wait to go to Paperchase and buy all my stationery for the year. I love new notebooks. I can't often write by hand, but I love knowing that if I need to scribble something down I can.
Timetables help me feel organised, but I know that they are completely flexible. If I cannot do x activity followed by y activity for whatever reason, I know that I can change it up a little if necessary. I know that there are set things that need to be done at set times - namely sleeping - but everything else is flexible. I don't need to punish myself for straying, but if I need a set routine I have one planned.
Let me know how you organise yourself too, I'd love to hear other suggestions. Also let me know if you want me to do a haul of stationery products, and all the other things I have bought in the last six months. There's a lot.
See you next Tuesday!
E