Finally, it’s 2021. And as the joke goes – hindsight is 2020!
As I head into the whirlwind that is the end of my senior year and The Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), still balancing restrictive COVID protocols and big goals, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my time management hacks.
I ride about 4 or 5 horses a day at two different barns and attend school (in person) from 2:30-6:30pm Monday-Thursday. Depending on my schedule, I hit the gym three or four times a week – and I try to make time for friends, help my mom around the house and get the dogs out for walks or to the dog park (we have three dogs without a fenced yard right now). I don’t like surprises – I am a planner and being organized gives me peace with the ability to focus on my academics and my equestrian goals.
Here’s my list – I swear by it and I hope it helps you too.
I have a routine for everything throughout the day but no matter what’s happening, my morning routine is always the same.
Morning: Wake-up early, make my bed (always), eat breakfast, build in time to check my phone and social media, then head to the barn and arrive early to help with chores or any unexpected needs before riding. I always set out the equipment and materials I need to bring the night before, so I am not scrambling to find things as I’m headed out the door. Most mornings I also take a minute to ensure everything is put away where it belongs, making it easy to find things when I need them. I frequently purge unwanted, outgrown or unnecessary items and just have what I use kept handy.
Afternoon: Lunch – I eat after I am done at the barn since there’s no time in between horses and chores. I either heat up leftovers or throw together a quick sandwich at home. I eat while wrapping up homework or studying for a quiz or test that may be scheduled that day. I usually have a minute to throw in a load of laundry – or start the 24-hour soak cycle for my white breeches if needed (this makes them very clean white). I set my gym bag by the door, so I don’t forget to bring it with me when I head to school.
*On days when I finish riding early, I’ll grocery shop on the way home from the barn to help out my mom and also pick up the food/snacks/drinks that I like best for long show days. Those things stay in an easily accessible little cooler at the barn.
*If there are unscheduled “waits” at the horse show or during the day, I answer and delete emails from my phone, and return missed calls. I try to make calls more than texting/emailing, as I find live communication is more productive and meaningful – and quicker when I’m on the go. I use SnapChat with most of my friends.
Night: I finish school at 6:30pm and typically go to the gym for an hour, then home. Thankfully my mom typically makes dinner so I can inhale some food and we can go over the schedule for the next day, as well as any calendar changes and updates for the month or season ahead. I schedule everything and use the calendar app on my phone with reminders. We have a shared calendar with my parents and siblings, so everyone knows where we are throughout the day – especially important because if I am not answering calls, it’s easy to see if I’m at school, on a horse or at the gym. In between dinner and homework, I’ll switch the laundry and get any other “life stuff” taken care of. I also use deadlines to my advantage. I learned the hard way how easy and unproductive procrastination can be — so giving myself deadlines creates structure to stay on task and “GSD” (get stuff done!). Completing projects early alleviates stress, gives me time to proof or practice and lets me move through the to-do list.
Since I’m currently on Eastern Time and my dad is on Mountain Time, I call him on his commute home at night to touch base. It’s hard when we are far apart. Last – once I’m done with homework, I’ll go through a mental checklist of the day – what did I accomplish and what did I miss? I don’t like to make the same mistakes twice. For things that went exceptionally well, I might add it to “notes” in my phone. It’s really great to end the day with a positive. I also set aside some time to check social media again before going to bed – typically 10-11pm. I work hard to stay off of social media during the day so that I can be most efficient with my training and school plus and reserve everything else for fun and relaxation.
Last key tip: Charge your devices at night – every night. And keep a charged portable phone charger handy! It’s terrible if my phone dies in the middle of the day and I’m on the run, without time to stop for a charge. Portable chargers are a lifesaver – especially for my friends who often need to borrow one !