Time Management and Organization

My situation for the professional writing and editing internship is a little different.  I am using my full time job.  Some might think “piece of cake” but it’s really a challenge of time management and organization.  When I approached my supervisor about this course/internship and how it works, she was very supportive.  She knows that since I began taking the professional writing courses, my work and writing/editing skills have improved. The real issue, however, was how can I complete my daily duties and still complete the projects that need to be finished by the end of the semester.  The solution: time management and organization.

On the first day, she and I sat down and mapped out all the writing projects that have needed to be completed but have been pushed back due to other tasks.  We both wanted to make sure that the projects were reasonable and that I would be able to complete them in the allotted time-frame.  Once we established the projects, we worked on the time-frame and due dates.  We made sure that we took into account my other duties and projects that are currently going on and fit them into the calendar of “things to-do.” We set completion dates and meeting times so that we both are accountable for the work that I am doing.  This is a real adjustment because we normally only meet formally once or twice a month because it is a small office and we just pick up the phone and discuss whatever issue or problem that needs resolved.  

Now that the projects have been decided, I needed a plan in place to complete them, so my other tasks would not interfere with this work.  I decided that I need to schedule 2-4 hours, three times a week to only focus on the projects for this course.  My supervisor thought this was a great idea. So I am going to schedule times that I can do my research and writing; whether that means going to the library or somewhere else in the building other than my office (that I share with three others).  I feel this is one way that I can get the work done without interruptions.  

To get organized, I created both an electronic folder and a hard-copy binder of everything that I need for this course.  I printed out a calendar with all my “to-dos” and due dates.  I also printed out hard copies of the weekly work log so I can use them as a daily log to write down thoughts and what I am currently doing on my tasks/projects. I also printed out the readings for the binder so I will have easy access to them. The electronic folder contains all my writings and completed logs and any other important electronic documents that I need to retain.

The projects that I selected to complete are ones that I have wanted to finish for a while now.  With this course it has now given me an “excuse” to have the time to complete them.   I’m looking forward to the work I have to complete this semester and with the time management and organization steps that I have taken, I feel that it will be easier to accomplish.