It's only the beginning of the semester, and things might already feel like it's slipping. That's the difficult part of being in college (especially graduate school): because you have a bit more agency over your schedule, it can get overwhelming to decide how your day should look like in order to be the most productive. Hence, we asked our EGSSA secretary and time management queen Abby Cotton how she does it! Here's what she has to say:
As an English graduate student and professor's assistant, people often ask about my schedule . The question comes out in many ways ranging from “What are your day-to-day responsibilities?” to “So, what exactly do you do? Just read?” While some days resemble the 9 am to 9 pm-ish, other days consist of never leaving my house and writing drafts accompanied with hot tea and instrumental lo-fi music. Whether you’re reading this article because you’re interested in graduate school for yourself or you’re already in graduate school and need to know you’re not the only one eating dinner at 9pm sometimes, keep scrolling to see my break down of a weekday.
6.45am: I’m an early bird most of the year, but during the winter months, it takes me a little extra time to decide that leaving the warm cocoon I have woven during the night with all available blanket is actually necessary. I emerge. The day has begun.
7.00am: After coffee or tea is procured, I get ready for the day. Deciding what to wear is a process as I weigh my responsibilities. Will I need teacher clothes? Will I be a student only and get to wear flannel? Will I be at home and therefore in joggers or sweats? The role I play each day dictates the outfit. Today, I teach in-person.Teacher clothes it is. I usually land somewhere between High School Musical’sMs. Darbus and Brooklyn 99’s Amy Santiago.
7.30am: My drive to campus is about 30 minutes which gives me time for most, if not all, of a podcast episode. Might I recommend The On Being Project or Dolly Parton’s America?
8.15am: I’ve arrived at campus, parked, and walked to my office. I share an office with another GA and enjoy this space of collaboration. We often run through our proposed lesson plan for the day and troubleshoot any issues we may be having as first-year teachers. I also use this time to check my email, planner, and Canvas site and do homework that I have for my own classes.
11.15am: You’ll find me taking attendance in my LBST class right about now. Teaching this class is one of my favorite parts of the day. Teaching energizes me, and I have loved the opportunity to be a GA while in my program.
12.05pm: I hold an office hour after class once a week for any students who have questions or need assistance in class. On days when no one shows up, this hour also functions as my snack break/lunch break/email check/coffee refill. Though small, this houris vital for me in refueling myself for the day.
1.00pm: I now switch hats and become the student while heading off to my class. My program offers graduate seminars at night and hybrid undergrad/grad classes in the afternoon –all of which have been small and allowed for open discussion and interaction between various levels of experience.
2.15pm: When class ends, I use the next three hours to eat, study, and go outside. These three things take place in different forms each week, but I try to stick to them since I’ve been in Fretwell the whole morning. As I said earlier, rituals were important for me to establish in school so that I can create a sustainable rhythm that could last me all of the program. Taking even a small walk to the botanical gardens and back or to the greenhouse can help me refocus.
5.30pm: After an early dinner with friends from my cohort, I head to my graduate seminar. These classes are about three hours long; so, I bring a snack and hot tea.
8.30pm: The drive home from campus!
9.00pm: Dinner? Late night snack? What do I call this meal? After eating, I might I do another round of emails, homework, grading, and tasks, ranging from EGSA and school responsibilities to other responsibilities like laundry and meal prep. I also might just watch TV at this point!
10.45pm: Read until I KO.
While everyday has its own rhythm and most days revolve around my class schedules, the day never feels mundane. Between my students, peers, and professors, each day has an exciting twist to it that keeps me challenged and motivated. Some people may find more comfort and stability in a more free-formed day; however, for me, I’ve found that even just a skeleton of a schedule helps me budget my time in healthy and goal centered ways that has prevented burnout and all-nighters.