How to Squeeze Two Days of Work into OneFor our College Treps series, Michelene Wilkerson provides time-management tips.

ByMichelene Wilkerson

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For any entrepreneur, especially those with other responsibilities, like school, a day job or family, being a master of time management is a necessity.

As a second-year student at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., I am constantly juggling the challenges of schoolwork, while simultaneously trying to get my media-publishing website Back to Black off the ground.

For a while, it felt like there are were not enough hours in a day, weeks in a month, and months in a year to do it all. Tasks, big and small, became so overwhelming, procrastination seemed like the best alternative. I knew in order to make it all work, I had to get my act together. So I became organized and starting making every second count.

Related:The 15-Minute Strategy to Get More Done Everyday

For those struggling with the balancing act, here are some time management tips I learned:

Have a to-don't list.All my life I've heard everyone say, "You need a to-do list." How about a to-don't list? Same concept as a to-do list, but instead, you write down all things you should not be doing. We all have our triggers that can make it tempting to stop doing our work. Some people fall prey to friends wanting to hang out, while others get distracted with social media.

What should a to-don't list include? I recommend writing down all of the people, places and things that deter you from your goals and devise a strategy for dodging these distractions. Building this list is going to challenge you to be both self-aware and honest with yourself but will help you stay focused.

There are apps for everything these days and time management is no exception. If you need to block out distracting websites try Chrome'sStayFocused. If you just get distracted with social media sites like Twitter or Facebook, you could tryAnti-Social.You can also monitor your productivity levels while on the computer withRescueTime.

Related:The Procrastinators' Guide to Time Management

Know your responsibilities.Everyone has roles in life -- be it a student, parent or an artist. You need to make sure you define your role and what it means to you and others. By doing so, you understand how to leverage your decision-making process to become more advanced in those roles.

例如,我的角色包括作为一个学生,aspiring entrepreneur, mentor and head of civic engagement for my black student union. With so little time, I make sure I have a clear definition of what these roles entail, so I know not to accept offers that don't correlate with my objectives.

If you say yes too much then all you are doing is spreading yourself thin on things that will not help you grow. On the contrary, accepting opportunities that align with the things you do can be fulfilling and perhaps open doors for the future. That said, make sure you monitor how many offers you accept, so you do not burn out.

Utilize SMART goals.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be involved in a bunch of tasks to be deemed successful. You just need to be smart about how you use your time, making sure activities are relevant and will advance your roles and goals.

Related:How to Get Everything Done By Doing Less

I follow the advice I learned in school and approach each task using the SMART method. Every task I set needs to bespecificto a role, ismeasurable, beattainableconsidering my resources, isrealisticpertaining to my schedule and has a set completiontime.

Purchasing a project planner or storing your tasks on an e-calendar can help you stay organized.

As an entrepreneur, you should do things to advance your goals every day. There will be times you fall off track, but when that happens, just dust yourself off and continue doing what you need to do.

What other tips do you have for starting up?Let us know in the comments below.

*Apply Now** Are you an enthusiastic college- or graduate-student entrepreneur, eager to share your on-campus experiences? Apply to be aCollege Trepscolumnist.

Wavy Line

Born and raised in New York City, Michelene Wilkerson is an entrepreneur, social justice advocate and mentor. In 2012, Wilkerson became both a Posse Scholar and a Gates Millennium Scholar. Michelene is a sophomore at Babson College and works as a research fellow with the University of Pittsburgh’s Information Science School, a Community Ambassador for Public Allies New York, and recently became an entrepreneur in residence with WIN (Women Innovating Now). By the end of this year she hopes to launch Back to Black, a social venture that looks to deconstruct negative stereotypes of Blacks in America.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Business Process

The Strategy You Need to Make Sure Your Company Can Keep Up in Today's Business World

Discover a superior alternative to a traditional business strategy that prioritizes adaptability, innovation and speed in execution, explores its benefits for entrepreneurs, see real-world scenarios and learn core principles and rules to propel organizations forward with clarity, simplicity and action.

Devices

This Versatile MacBook Is Only $299.97 During the Back-to-School Sale

Fid out how to get a MacBook Air that's sleek, portable, and reliable for a great price.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Thought Leaders

I Pitched 300 People a Day For 1 Year — and Learned This Impactful Entrepreneurial Lesson

After working myself to the bone pitching 300 people each day for one year, I came out of that experience as a new man — but surprisingly, an unhappier one. Here's what I learned.