One of the first skills college students learn is how to juggle. Classes, homework, social engagements… somethingâs got to give, right, if you add an internship to the mix? Not at all! Time management and organization are the solutions, and here are some tips to help you succeed.
4. Â Â Be more organized than youâve ever been with your coursework. You donât want to be cramming for exams and trying to work a job at the same time. That school stress will follow you to work and chip away at your productivity and performance. For your classes, build your study materials as you go rather than frantically compiling them right before an exam. Refresh yourself on course material at the end of every week. A great online tool for this is called Quizlet, where you can make virtual study guides, flashcards and study games. You can share information with classmates, you can get the app on your smartphone and itâs all free.
3.  Plan, plan, plan. What work hours will best coordinate with your class schedule? Your internship mentor went to school too, so he or she understands the juggling act youâre doing and will likely accommodate your work schedule to fit your needs.
Another time waster if you work in a busy area is heavy traffic. Find the quickest route to work and the optimal times to commute. Thereâs an app for that!
2.  Stay on task at work so you can leave on time. Find the best ways for you to work efficiently. Make priority lists and schedules (ever tried the Evernote app?). Donât try to do too much at once â focus on one thing and complete as much as you can before switching to something else. And of course, stay off sites like Facebook and Twitter for personal use.
1.  Remember to sleep! Lack of sleep is a productivity killer for school and internships. Professors and internship mentors expect you to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed every day, just like your future boss will. Other people in your dorm may stay up for midnight Taco Bell runs or 3 a.m. Monty Python marathons, but thatâs probably not in your best interest. Save the crazy hours for the weekend (assuming you donât work on weekends!).
