Are you a registered nurse struggling to balance work and study, a mature-age student hoping to resort back to study, or a working psychologist wanting to change your scope of practice? Whatever healthcare sector you work in, it’s critical to have a work-life balance; the same applies when you start studying.
This article will be your ultimate guide to a study routine, how you can implement this into your busy schedule, and why it will benefit your mental health in the long term. After all, it’s important to put your needs first to help others.
Creating a Plan – Time Management Techniques
If you work full-time in healthcare, you’re dealing with a demanding schedule, and adding study can be incredibly overwhelming. But why bother putting effort into a time management plan?
According to the National Institute of Health, time management has a moderate impact on performance at work, increasing overall well-being and academic achievement, and reducing psychological distress.
Time management works for busy professionals who also study to upskill. What comprehensive, productive techniques can you use in your daily life?
1. The Pomodoro Technique
Created by author and entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo, the Pomodoro Technique uses a timer to break your study time into intervals. Every interval period is known as a Pomodoro, named after the tomato-shaped time Cirillo created.
So, how does it work? Firstly, choose a task you want to complete (for example, writing down notes for a lecture or putting together an essay outline) and set a timer for 30 minutes. Focus on the task at hand for this time, and when the timer goes off, draw a checkmark on a piece of paper.
Next, take a short break. Have a tea, take the dog for a quick walk around the block or do some light cleaning. After giving your brain a break, repeat the first few steps, increasing the length of your breaks after doing so a few times.
This technique will benefit creative thinkers and those who feel burnt out from work. Give it a try!
2. The Eisenhower Matrix
Known as the urgent-important matrix, this technique was created by Dwight Eisenhower. Before he became president in 1953, he served in the U.S. Army as an Allied Forces Commander during World War II. How does it work?
Organize your task list into four categories, Important vs Unimportant and Urgent vs Not Urgent. Urgent tasks must be assessed immediately, important tasks contribute to your long-term values and goals. Work on tasks within the top two categories, and aim to delegate or delete others.
Critical thinkers and people in leadership positions–such as a Director at a psychology practice–will benefit from this time management strategy.
3. Pareto Analysis (80/20 Rule)
Have you just graduated with a health science degree or are a nurse wanting to transition into a specialized focus such as a PMHNP post master’s certificate online?
Created by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, this technique is the idea that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of outcomes. If you want to prioritize your lecture and seminar learning, this is one way to go about it. So, how does this work?
Take note of the types of problems you are facing. Are you struggling with learning new nursing skills such as psychiatric care?
Identify the causes of your issues. Are you distracted? Is work stress and shifts taking up most of your time?
Next, identify a score for each problem, giving higher numbers to problems most important to you, such as a lower grade for a class presentation. Group your numbers together by the relevant cause. If both are caused by excessive social media use, put them under that umbrella.
Finally, add up the score of each group. Your group with the highest score is what you should work on first.
If you’re an analytical thinker or problem solver, you’ll benefit from this time management tip!
4. Parkinson’s Law
Do you want to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time? Parkinson’s Law–when understood–can help you work more efficiently. What tips can work with this law in mind?
Pick a time to get work done and strictly stick to it. For example, set a goal to wake up at 8 am and get your essay written by noon.
Cut back time when completing tasks. Give yourself only an hour to work on university lecture notes, or 10 minutes to brainstorm ideas for a presentation.
Work without your laptop charger. Finish your educational psychology essay before your laptop dies.
Procrastinators and people who work well under pressure will benefit from this study strategy. If you work long shifts as a nurse, dedicating a short time frame is an excellent way to increase your productivity when studying.
5. Getting Things Done Method (GTD)
Prefer to record tasks on paper, feel overwhelmed with work and study, or struggle to focus on one thing at a time? Created by author David Allen, this time management technique helps you break tasks into actionable work items.
What actions have your attention the most? This could be work, study, or personal. What do they mean to you? If it isn’t actionable, ignore it temporarily. If they are, aim to do it, delegate it, or put it aside for a later date.
Organize your actions! What do you need to get done, and when? Prioritize a to-do list according to this.
It’s important to reflect on your list of actions to determine what to do next. Mark off tasks you have completed and update the list. Finally, engage and take on small tasks you can complete straight away.
Make Work and Study a Breeze
From using a strict schedule to structure your day or making use of your downtime, life is easier juggling work and study with a proven time management technique.
Whether you’ve been struggling with mental health during clinical placement, work-life conflict, or stress, building a solid plan during your work-study week is proven to boost well-being and life satisfaction. Upskilling while you’re working full-time is possible.
