How to manage time: A busy student survival guide
Three months in and I still can’t believe I’m interning at Mila (Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute). As mentioned previously by Yasmeen in her last post, it’s been really hard for all of us to wrap our heads around the fact that our project from the summer AI4 Social Good lab has flowered into a long-term internship at one of the most prestigious AI institutes. It doesn’t finish there, we are participating in NeurIPS, one of the oldest (and largest) AI and machine learning conferences. Sounds crazy, eh?
I am very proud of my team and all the hard work we’ve done in the past few months, but I’m especially grateful for all the opportunities that have been put in our way lately.
All of that being said, it has not all been a walk in the park. These past months, not only have I learned a lot about ML and gender bias in text but, I also learned how to manage my time while being a full-time student, a part-time intern, and a 20-year-old with a social life. But guess what? I survived! So here are some tips that have helped me along the way and have kept me away from a nervous breakdown.
1- Schedule EVERYTHING!
Take time to plan your week: from meetings to the time you need to complete all your homework and tasks as well as your meals, social time, and especially “me time”. Having a clear idea of what my day was going to look like has helped me meet my deadlines and avoid wasting time deciding what to do next.
And be realistic.
In the beginning, this can be hard. You might allocate too much or too little time for something but don’t worry, you will learn more about yourself and the way you work the most productively.
But above all, don’t forget your “me-time”.
Whether it is watching Netflix while cooking dinner, meditating, going for a walk, or going to the gym, we all need a couple hours a day to disconnect from life and stress and just be with ourselves.
2- Sometimes, it is impossible to do everything
And it is fine.
Saying yes to everything is not possible. And most of the time, saying NO to something that is not important is saying YES to something that is. Do not overstress if you didn’t have time to do something because you were caught up finishing an important assignment or studying for a midterm. People have priorities and you shouldn’t apologize for it.
3- Keep work with you at all times.
Especially during busy periods (due deadlines at work, midterms or finals season). Take advantage of your downtime, whether you have a long bus ride or you are in the waiting room for your doctor’s appointment, you can always read something quick for school, or answers some emails on your phone. If you always have work on you, you can always be making the most of your time.
4- Don’t forget to have fun
Yes, you need to study to get a degree; yes, you need to work to have experience and build a career; but you can’t forget to enjoy life and have fun. Whether it is hanging out with your friends, going to the movies, or going on a date with that person you met at work. Remember you are young and life passes by quickly so take advantage of it! Grades, work, and money are not everything.
