During and after my internship at a Big 4 firm, many people approached me with a common question: how do I manage my work-life balance with college and an internship? It's a challenging task, but I found using Eisenhower's matrix to prioritize tasks to be highly effective.
Inspired by Dwight D. Eisenhower, a renowned military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States, Eisenhower's matrix is a powerful tool for organizing tasks based on their importance and urgency. Here's how I interpreted and applied it:
Delegate:
If a task is urgent but not important and you lack the bandwidth to complete it, consider delegating it. Asking for assistance from colleagues can go a long way, so building good relationships with your team and colleagues is crucial.
Advice: Be a team player and maintain positive relationships with your colleagues to foster a supportive work environment.
Prepare for the future: (Not 'Delete' for my case)
If a task is not important or urgent but may come up in the future, consider preparing the basic foundations of the task and setting it aside. Anticipate possible tasks by participating in discussions with the client and team, and actively analyzing the working environment to identify potential future tasks.
Advice: Stay proactive and anticipate future tasks by actively analyzing the situation and collaborating with your team.
Decide:
If a task is important but not urgent, schedule a time for it and inform your mentor. For example, in my case, I had to physically collect documents from college, which was important for my internship but not urgent. I analyzed my schedule, selected a less busy day, and informed my mentor in advance.
Advice: Communicate proactively with your mentor and plan ahead to ensure smooth task completion.
Take action:
When a task is urgent and important, get it done. However, sometimes juggling multiple tasks in a stressful environment can take a toll on your mental health. It's important to take short breaks, both individually and with the team, to maintain sanity and strategize for efficient and effective work completion.
Advice: Prioritize self-care and take breaks to avoid burnout and maintain productivity.
By utilizing Eisenhower's matrix, I was able to effectively manage my tasks during my internship. I hope these insights help you too in managing your work and personal commitments effectively.
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