I know this probably sounds like the most boring post you could ever read in your entire life. Who wants to read about time management? Well, no one OR someone like me who has something scheduled for every part of the day. There really is nothing in between. If I am being honest, this is very fitting for this weeks article because here I am, writing this post, two hours before it is supposed to be sent into review. Why did this happen? It's a simple answer. I jam too much into one week and have become very forgetful. Which is sad because writing for Odyssey is a relaxing time for me and this week it feels like the exact opposite. However, that is beside the point. My point is that time management is very important and I haven't realized that until college happened and I was on my own.

The first key to success when it comes to time management is planning and writing it down. I have always been someone that wants to have the cutest planner and color coordinate everything with $20 markers and posted notes. Let me tell you, that is UNREALISTIC for me. I can't keep up with them. I have learned I need a $5 planner and a black pen. Not only is this saving me from scheduling things at the same time, but it is also saving me very precious money that could be spent on makeup. Even starting with your calendar on your phone will do wonders. During the summer, that is the platform I use since it's just too hard to pull out a planner everywhere I go. Planning and writing things down will take the biggest weight off of your shoulders, trust me.

The second key to success when it comes to time management is not packing your schedule to tight to the point where you can't breathe. Time management isn't something to mess around with people. You have to take into consideration the fun things in life that keep you from exploding due to stress from selling your soul to daily tasks and jobs. Know your limits! You can set a time frame that you dedicate to jobs and stick to it. This is a smart thing to follow because it allows you to make sure you are only doing things you have time for and making sure you are prioritizing what is important. Along with that, it allows downtime when you are done with your tasks.

The last tip, remember to just say no. It is okay to not be able to fit something into your schedule. It is okay to feel too overwhelmed and say no to something that just doesn't work out. Putting yourself first, and taking care of yourself is okay. I have always been someone who can never say no to anyone. I am a people pleaser. I will fit anyone in at any time to my best ability. Although that is a good trait, it can be very stressful. Over the last year, I have learned to say no when I know it is truly not going to work out and it has benefitted me greatly. Do what is best for yourself and your time because it does fly by and it will matter down the road.

Although time management isn't the most exciting thing, it is crucial to living your everyday life stress-free and fun. It is definitely something that should be taken seriously until mastered. I believe these tips if practiced, will bring someone one step closer to being more organized and better prepared for everything thrown their way.