This past week has been jampacked with action. I started working, and I went on a trip to London. On Tuesday we went to watch a national soccer game between Ireland and Hungary. Although it was only a friendly match, it ended in a very exciting manner with a last minute goal by Ireland. On Wednesday, I officially started work at the Dail Eireann, the Irish Parliament. I only worked on Wednesday and Thursday last week, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. On Wednesday I even ran into the Prime Minister! Unfortunately I embarrassed myself in front of him by not knowing where to go. My tasks so far have been more administrative but I think that they will get more exciting as time goes on. My biggest task has been updating the website of the TD that I am working for. It has not been super fun or engaging doing this, but I understand its necessity and it has taught me a lot about the Irish Political system by doing it. Because I have mostly been focused on one specific task my time management has revolved around keeping myself on task and efficient.
My best strategy for time management is setting time goals or task goals in order to give myself a break. I will often say that I will work nonstop for 30 minutes or so before even looking at my phone. This way, I put off my distractions and work specifically on my task. I try to work as hard as possible during this time frame in order to justify the short phone break after it. An alternative method to this is setting a categorical goal instead of a time goal. For instance, in this task, I have to complete specific posts, so I could set a goal for myself that says that I am going to do ten posts before I am allowed to take a phone break.
Another important thing in time management is keeping myself fresh in order for my work to still be as efficient as possible. I do this by planning breaks to go to the bathroom and take a walk to refresh myself. This way, I’m still awake and alert even when sitting at my desk. Additionally, I ensure that I stay hydrated and have healthy snacks available. These small steps contribute to maintaining my energy levels and focus throughout the day.
Other time management skills I utilize involve minimizing my distractions in order to stay focused. At work, I keep my phone on “Do Not Disturb” so that I am not distracted by any notifications. Recently, I have also started to cut down on the social media that I use in order to minimize the distractions that are on my phone. I’ve found that reducing my screen time not only helps me stay focused but also improves my overall well-being and mental clarity.
To further enhance my productivity, I use tools like to-do lists and calendars to organize my tasks and deadlines. I prioritize my tasks based on their urgency and importance, tackling the most critical ones first. This approach helps me stay on track and ensures that I don’t miss any important deadlines. I also make use of productivity apps that help me track my progress and remind me of upcoming tasks.
These are just a few of the strategies that I use to manage my time in order to stay efficient and hardworking. I believe that time management is an ongoing process that requires constant adjustment and refinement. By staying mindful of my habits and continuously seeking ways to improve, I can maintain a high level of productivity and achieve my goals more effectively. Whether at work or in my personal life, these strategies have proven to be invaluable in helping me manage my time and stay focused on what truly matters.
This past weekend, I took a trip to London as well. This was an amazing trip. I had never been to London so it was great to experience a new place. We saw a ton of sights like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and the British Museum. The crown jewel of the trip was the fact that the Phillies were playing while we were there. Naturally I had to go see them. They played amazing while I was there and beat the Mets 7-2. It was also so great to just walk the streets of London and see a whole new city and country. I would definitely want to return in the future for a longer trip and hopefully see a show on the West End. I look forwards to this next week full of work and adventures.
