Most students don’t realize the importance of time management. Lets take a look at how most people forget this paramount concept.
When you were born, you subconsciously demanded what you wanted from your parents. As a neonate, you cried excessively until your needs are met, regardless of what the conditions are. if you wanted to eat, you demanded it, if you needed your diapers changed you cried until it was done, if you are running a fever, you cried until the doctor did something about it, which means you never procrastinated.
So why have most people evolved over their growth phase into people with procrastinating attitudes? Well the answer to that question lies in the fact that somewhere along the way, we lost the passion and drive we were born with and started making decisions based on how we want others to view us or try to fit in with other peoples agenda and then we make excuses daily for our lack of progress. If you want to take control over your life, its all about choices.

Making choices is what we do daily. we chose to wake up and go to classes, chose to go dinner with friends, chose to eat, choose to study, choose our friends, chose our what we eat and drink. So why don’t we make choices about TIME? well, its because no one emphasized the concept to us. when they say time is money, its true, but a few of us understand it. TIME is the most expensive currency in the universe, but because we cannot see it, we lose track of it, we can only retrospectively approach it to gauge our progress in life. It then reminds us of how far of our goals we have derailed or how good we are at maintaining pursuing our purpose.
Now, this is NOT by the stretch of the imagination, easy to do. At the same time, it is a simple thing. How does this apply to medicine, one may ask?
Becoming a physician is by far one of the longest training you will ever have, it is so long some do not even want to think of it. But the rewards are so great that no one can imagine except you (the physician).
On your journey to becoming a doctor, I want you to keep track of your time. You cannot manage TIME but you can only manage yourself and the choices you make. Start making right choices today. Here are some tips.
1. Before you begin your day, start with a plan of what you want to accomplish today.
2. Write all your plans on a piece of paper or your phone to do list.
3. Set your tasks in priority from the most important to the least important.
4. Check them off as you go.
5. At the end of the day see how much you got done.
This is the beginning of how you can manage yourself. Try this for 30 days and it will become a habit. Till next time. We will talk about more tips
Dr. Adeleke Adesina, DO
Emergency Medicine Resident