Living with a hyperactive mind has its benefits and challenges. On one hand, I don’t have the luxury of procrastination, thanks to the constant reminders in my head. When a task pops into my mind, I tackle it immediately to stop it from haunting me. However, on the other hand, this constant mental activity can impact my sleep, causing a significant shift in my daily routine.
Before starting my MBA program, I used to sleep between 8-9 pm and wake up at 4-5 am, ensuring a full 8 hours of sleep. From 4 am to 7 am, I would prepare for work and finalize any pending tasks from the previous day. This structured routine served me well.
However, since beginning the MBA, my life has taken a different turn. I now finish work at 5 pm, attend classes from 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm, and participate in group sessions from 7 pm to 8 pm. Following dinner, my personal study hours extend from 9 pm to 11 pm, allowing me to reflect on the day’s lessons and set a to-do list for the next day. Thankfully, I have Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays to dedicate to my assignments, which is crucial since it’s week 3, and I have three assignments due this week.
In reality, there are four assignments on my plate, but three of them are due in week 3. To manage this workload effectively, I’ve been meticulously planning my schedule. The first assignment involves reading a 5-page case study and writing a report, the second requires researching a specific topic and preparing presentation slides, and the third involves reading a 5-page document for a class discussion.
With a mind as active as mine, I can only rest if I have a well-thought-out plan in place. So, before I went to bed on Saturday, I devised a detailed action plan, starting with waking up at 3 am on Sunday to work on the case study. However, when I laid down at 9 pm, I found myself unable to sleep due to anxiety about whether my plan would work. My mind raced through scenarios of missing deadlines due to unforeseen emergencies or illnesses.
It felt like I was wasting time lying in bed, waiting for sleep to come. After two hours of contemplation, I made a choice: I got out of bed and started working on the assignment I had scheduled for 3 am on Sunday. I ended up finishing it and sleeping at 1 am, relieved to have made progress.
Reflecting on this experience, I’ve come to appreciate the resilience and adaptability that my MBA program demands. It’s not just about academic learning; it’s a transformative journey that challenges not only my knowledge but also my time management skills and ability to cope with an overactive mind.
As I move forward, I’m learning to strike a balance between my academic responsibilities and personal well-being. This MBA program is not just about earning a degree; it’s about developing as a person, mastering the art of time management, and discovering my own limits. While the road ahead may be challenging, I’m determined to navigate it successfully, armed with my hyperactive mind as an asset, not a hindrance.
From Brush-Up to Broader Horizons