Treat Yourself Like a School Project: Managing Stress Through Intentionality
Published 10 November 2024
(In Ep #0 of the Professionall Pathways Podcast | Cal’s Journey into Teacher Education)
“For those people currently in college, I think the best thing they can do to be prepared to manage the responsibilities and stress of a career would be to treat yourself like a school project. I think it’s a way to use skills you already know and have practiced throughout your career in school to better organize your life and reduce the amount of stress of last-minute things popping up. Some things take a lot of time to plan and a lot of details that you have to figure out. So, I think looking at things like a research project that you have to be diligent about really helped to trick my brain into putting things on the calendar and being intentional with not only my day-to-day but also planning my future in a way that allows for flexibility.”
For college students preparing to transition into their careers, the prospect of managing work responsibilities, deadlines, and personal growth can feel overwhelming. The advice to “treat yourself like a school project” offers a powerful and practical mindset shift. By leveraging organizational and time-management skills already honed through years of academic experience, students can reduce stress, plan effectively, and create a flexible yet intentional path to success.
The Power of Project-Based Thinking
Think about how you approach a major research project. You start with a clear goal, break it into smaller tasks, establish deadlines, and allocate time to work on it consistently. This method isn’t just for academics; it can be applied to personal and professional goals alike.
Consider the Benefits
Clarity and Structure: Breaking down big-picture goals into manageable steps prevents overwhelm.
Accountability: Establishing deadlines and benchmarks helps track progress and stay on course.
Flexibility: Project-based thinking encourages reevaluating and adjusting plans as new opportunities or challenges arise.
Time management expert Laura Vanderkam explains that intentional planning is the key to finding balance. "Think about the hours in your week as a puzzle," she suggests. "You decide where the pieces go, and by prioritizing the most important pieces first, you can create a balanced and fulfilling picture" (Vanderkam, 2018).
Intentional Planning in Action
An example of this mindset in action is the use of digital tools like calendars and project management software. College students already familiar with tools like Google Calendar or Trello can repurpose them for life management.
For instance, treat your career search as a research paper. Plan out deadlines for updating your résumé, researching companies, and practicing interviews. Approach budgeting like a math project. Set clear goals, track spending, and evaluate adjustments monthly.
Reflecting on this method, education consultant Dr. John Spencer notes, “When students learn to plan their time with precision, they develop a skill that goes beyond the classroom. It's about building the future they want” (Spencer, 2021).
Building Resilience and Flexibility
Another benefit of the “school project” mindset is its adaptability. While structure is important, so is flexibility. The ability to pivot when plans change is critical in both academic and professional settings. By framing life challenges as projects, students can learn to adapt while maintaining momentum.
One inspiring example comes from Amanda Hill, an educator and career coach. Hill advises her students to "always leave room for the unexpected. If you treat every opportunity as a learning experience, you’ll never feel like time is wasted—even if things don’t go as planned" (Hill, 2020).
To help jump-start your professional development, here are five practical tasks to organize and prioritize your growth:
Set SMART Goals: Identify Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives for your career progression.
Create a Professional Development Plan (PDP): Outline skills you want to develop, resources you’ll use, and timelines for achieving these goals.
Build Your Network: Dedicate time each week to connect with mentors, peers, and industry professionals via platforms like LinkedIn or professional associations.
Document Your Achievements: Maintain a portfolio or journal to track milestones, accomplishments, and lessons learned.
Commit to Lifelong Learning: Identify courses, workshops, or certifications aligned with your career goals and schedule regular time to pursue them.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
As Benjamin Franklin wisely noted, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" (Franklin, 1817). This quote underscores the importance of proactive and intentional planning in both personal and professional contexts. Taking these small, consistent steps not only creates a clear path forward but also builds confidence in navigating the uncertainties of the future.
Treating yourself like a school project may sound like a small mental trick, but it’s a game-changer for managing responsibilities, stress, and long-term planning. By borrowing familiar strategies from academics, students can prepare for the demands of a career with confidence and adaptability.
Discussion Question
What academic habits or strategies have you found most useful for managing stress and planning your career? How can these skills be adapted as you transition into your professional life?
Related Posts
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Franklin, B. (1817). Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin: Written by himself, and continued by his grandson and others. Philadelphia: T.S. Manning.
Hill, A. (2020). Strategies for career planning: A guide for young professionals. Career Development Journal.
SMART Goals Framework. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm
Spencer, J. (2021). The power of student ownership: How planning builds resilience. Education Innovation Quarterly.
Vanderkam, L. (2018). Off the clock: Feel less busy while getting more done. New York: Portfolio.
