Student Blog: Time Management as a Musical Theatre Major

Pursuing performing arts in college can be incredibly overwhelming, no matter whether it’s a degree requirement or an extracurricular activity. As a Musical Theatre major, I know from experience that balancing class, rehearsals, personal practice time, a part-time job, and more can sometimes seem like an impossible feat. Now that it’s summer, things have died down for me a bit, but there have been plenty of times throughout my college career where I’ve felt like my head was spinning trying to keep up with everything. Looking back on the past couple of years, there are things I definitely would have done differently. However, I’ve worked out a few tools along the way to keep up with all my responsibilities– without losing my mind in the process. 

Making lists. This may seem simple, but I have found that I feel much more motivated to keep up with my work when I have a visual guide to keep me on-task. When I know I have a busier-than-normal day ahead of me, I take time the night before to make a game plan and organize my priorities. I start by listing the mandatory responsibilities (aside from class) that are time-sensitive: work, rehearsals, auditions, and/or meetings. Once I do this and find the small time gaps in the day, I write in smaller responsibilities that may not be as urgent: finishing an essay, studying for an exam, learning ensemble music, practicing my solo repertoire, etc. Then when all of that is done, I look to see what time is left in my day, which leads me to my next point…

Scheduling breaks. Over the years, I have repeatedly made the mistake of trying to achieve hyper-productivity, and every time, I end up feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and frustrated. I become so consumed by the list of tasks I need to complete, that I fail to use my time efficiently and often don’t even come close to completing it all. Because of this, I’ve learned to schedule small breaks, outings, or rests throughout the day. This habit has allowed me to feel significantly less anxious, more in-control, and sufficiently energized to complete my bigger responsibilities. With the time I have leftover in my schedule, I intentionally make plans to meet a friend for coffee, go for a walk, or watch an episode of my favorite show. This isn’t always easy when the day is already chock-full of classes and other responsibilities, but I’ve found that is necessary to my wellbeing. Not to mention, I end up completing a lot more than I did on days when I “powered through” with little to no breaks.

Maintaining perspective. When I do get overwhelmed by everything, it helps me to take a step back and see the big picture (something I’m still learning how to do). I think about the future and remind myself why I chose to go to college and why I want to pursue Musical Theatre. I listen to my favorite cast recordings, write out my feelings in a journal, or talk through things with a friend. Sometimes when I’m caught up in everything, I feel like I’m just treading water, but when I take time to reflect, I realize just how much progress I’ve made since starting undergrad, both within my degree and in a personal sense. I’ve found that staying connected to my goals, both big and small, allows me to be proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, while feeling motivated and excited about the future.

While it can be stressful to juggle all the classes, rehearsals, assignments, and other responsibilities that come with being a performing arts major, my love for what I do has only grown since starting college. Learning how to manage my time has definitely been a process, but I’ve learned to give myself some grace and savor my time in college as much as possible, taking it all one step at a time.