Hi there! My name is Chelsea, I am a self proclaimed foodie, amateur photographer and lover of all things health and fitness, but most importantly, I am a New York SODEXO Dietetic Intern! I am about to step out of my Intermediate clinical rotation and move into my Advanced clinical rotation and I couldn’t be more excited. I have experienced and learned so much so far. It is truly amazing how much I have gained in such a short amount of time. Working in a hospital for the first time in my life and seeing new patients every day with new illnesses was a bit overwhelming at first, but I can tell you it got easier as time went on. I am also in the Master of Science/Dietetic Internship program Sodexo offers with University of Rhode Island. I always get asked how I manage the internship, homework, eating, showering and having a social life. I can tell you it isn’t easy, but it is manageable!
With that being said, today I am going to give you my top 5 tips on how to get it all done:
1. Buy a planner
My planner is my lifesaver. I love a good, neat, planner to write in, don’t you? I invested in a customizable planner because I wanted something that was fitting to my needs and want. I have a bunch of to-do lists in there, I have a monthly calendar, as well as a daily one. Seeing everything I have to do in one place helps me manage my time better. I have a clear vision of what needs to be done for the day and even the week. I am not a big fan of surprises, so writing everything down in my planner helps me stay on track and motivated to get everything done.
2. Time Blocking
Time blocking is something I learned a while back and it has been made a HUGE impact on me this year with the internship and the masters program. One of my favorite bloggers, Inspiralized, has a great post all about time blocking here.
To make my to-do list I use a website called To Do-ist. You can make lists for days in advance and set reminders. The best part is that it sends you reminder emails, so you can always stay on track. It really is a useful tool, especially for those who are constantly on their computers. No need for post-it note lists anymore!
3. De-stressing
YES YES YES! One of the most important things you can do is de-stress. Being in a hospital or the internship in general can be stressful. You are experiencing a lot of firsts and you are surrounded by a lot of moving parts. I time block 30 minutes to an hour a day to de-stress. I sometimes do yoga, just watch tv, listen to music or go to the gym. For a while, as soon as I got home, I would jump right on the computer and get to work. By 7pm I would be so drained with a migraine. Now when I get home, I know I have this time for myself to decompress and reflect on the day. Scheduling some ME time has really uplifted my attitude.
4. Sleep schedule
This is a big one for me. If I don’t get a good night of sleep, watch out! I decided to keep myself and my family smiling, having a sleep schedule will really benefit me and everyone around me. So by 10pm on weeknights I set an alarm, shut off the computer and get into bed. This has been so helpful. I am a morning person so getting a full 8 hours of sleep and being refreshed in the morning makes a HUGE difference. I feel ready to take on the day and I know I will have time to finish everything with time blocking the next day if need be.
5. Meal planning/ prepping
This has helped me big time. I go food shopping in bulk 1 Sunday a month and stock up on chicken, frozen fruits, veggies, and so much more. Every Sunday I cook some chicken and vegetables for the week, that way I always have something nutritious to eat for lunches. I personally don’t plan my dinners because I like having the freedom to have something different every night, but you can always prep all of your meals in advance. This will make getting ready for the day a lot easier. Just cook it, divide it into containers for the week, and grab and go!
With that being said, today I am going to give you my top 5 tips on how to get it all done:
1. Buy a planner
My planner is my lifesaver. I love a good, neat, planner to write in, don’t you? I invested in a customizable planner because I wanted something that was fitting to my needs and want. I have a bunch of to-do lists in there, I have a monthly calendar, as well as a daily one. Seeing everything I have to do in one place helps me manage my time better. I have a clear vision of what needs to be done for the day and even the week. I am not a big fan of surprises, so writing everything down in my planner helps me stay on track and motivated to get everything done.
2. Time Blocking
Time blocking is something I learned a while back and it has been made a HUGE impact on me this year with the internship and the masters program. One of my favorite bloggers, Inspiralized, has a great post all about time blocking here.
To make my to-do list I use a website called To Do-ist. You can make lists for days in advance and set reminders. The best part is that it sends you reminder emails, so you can always stay on track. It really is a useful tool, especially for those who are constantly on their computers. No need for post-it note lists anymore!
3. De-stressing
YES YES YES! One of the most important things you can do is de-stress. Being in a hospital or the internship in general can be stressful. You are experiencing a lot of firsts and you are surrounded by a lot of moving parts. I time block 30 minutes to an hour a day to de-stress. I sometimes do yoga, just watch tv, listen to music or go to the gym. For a while, as soon as I got home, I would jump right on the computer and get to work. By 7pm I would be so drained with a migraine. Now when I get home, I know I have this time for myself to decompress and reflect on the day. Scheduling some ME time has really uplifted my attitude.
4. Sleep schedule
This is a big one for me. If I don’t get a good night of sleep, watch out! I decided to keep myself and my family smiling, having a sleep schedule will really benefit me and everyone around me. So by 10pm on weeknights I set an alarm, shut off the computer and get into bed. This has been so helpful. I am a morning person so getting a full 8 hours of sleep and being refreshed in the morning makes a HUGE difference. I feel ready to take on the day and I know I will have time to finish everything with time blocking the next day if need be.
5. Meal planning/ prepping
This has helped me big time. I go food shopping in bulk 1 Sunday a month and stock up on chicken, frozen fruits, veggies, and so much more. Every Sunday I cook some chicken and vegetables for the week, that way I always have something nutritious to eat for lunches. I personally don’t plan my dinners because I like having the freedom to have something different every night, but you can always prep all of your meals in advance. This will make getting ready for the day a lot easier. Just cook it, divide it into containers for the week, and grab and go!
