Setting up a System
The "to-do list" is a simple tool that can make a world of difference in a day in the life of a medical student. Some people keep a running list that they constantly update. Others prefer to make a new list every day. Either way, prepare your list each night before you go to bed. When you wake up, you'll be fresh and focused, and you'll know what needs to be done that day. Your list can include everything from the urgent to the mundane -- reminding yourself to do laundry or to send a birthday card to Mom can keep you from feeling buried in the minutiae.

Every medical student faces the same dilemma: how to make the best and most productive use of time. If you constantly feel pressured, if you're always worrying about all that you have yet to accomplish, you won't be able concentrate on the task at hand. That's why time management is an absolutely essential skill for a successful medical school career. Time management is based on organization, priority, and focus.

• Organize your tasks so that they fall into a logical sequence. This frees up your time so that you're not always running around asking yourself, "What should I do next?" You have a plan for the day, the week, and/or the month. When you organize your tasks, you can stop berating yourself for not doing what you think you should be doing.
• Prioritize your activities so that what must get done does get done. Some activities are more urgent than others. List your activities in terms of importance; that way, if some less important things don't get done, they can be shifted to another day without affecting your overall productivity.
• Focus on the activity that is most important right now. After you've organized and prioritized, pay attention to the task at hand and give it 100 percent until you're ready to move on to the next activity. That includes recreation and relaxation; both your mind and body need time to rest and rejuvenate. If you haven't organized and prioritized, you'll always be wondering if there's something more important you should be doing.

The most important rule in time management is this: Don't let anyone tell you there is only one way to manage your time. Devise a system that works for you, and keep it simple.

Each of us has unique, individual priorities. Purchase a daily planner or notebook in which you can keep your schedule. Write down how you plan to spend each day, and be sure to incorporate every aspect of your school schedule, including classes, labs, and exams, as well as adequate time to study. Then allocate time for those individual activities you have promised yourself, including time for your significant other, spouse, and/or children, time to participate in sports or hobbies of interest to you, and time to socialize with friends. Unless you have written down a practical schedule, you will constantly be wondering where the time has gone and why you have not gotten to one thing on your to-do list.