Some days, your to-do list might seem like it’s a mile long: On top of your dance commitments, do you really have time to sew new pointe shoes, squeeze in cross-training, tweak your resumé for audition season, meal-prep and clean your apartment? Trying to stuff too many things into one day can only leave you frustrated when every item doesn’t get crossed off.
If this sounds like you, you’re what’s called a “time optimist.” But you could benefit from teaching yourself to be a “time realist,” a concept coined by productivity and time management expert Julie Morgenstern. It involves using simple math to figure out how long each task will take and how much you really can do with your time. Here’s how it works: