About Thea: Having started her career in healthcare across Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Thea Whyte (‘21) decided to move to California to escape the cold and pursue her MBA at UCLA Anderson. In her free time she enjoys strolling the streets of Santa Monica, exploring the doughnut shops of West L.A. and taking the occasional meditation class.
Talk to any MBA student and they will tell you how busy your first fall and winter quarters will be. Between recruiting, academics, and getting to know your classmates, calendars fill up quickly and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some quick and simple tips for making sure you stay on top of everything!
1. Stay Organized
As events and deadlines start to pile-up on your calendar, it becomes especially important to ensure your calendar is kept up-to-date. This will help you make sure you’re on-time to the appointments that matter (interviews!) and will act as a red-flag when you’ve over-committed yourself. Once you have a general idea of what your schedule looks like, to-do lists can serve as a great way of holding yourself accountable and prioritizing your work. With so many great opportunities across academics, social and recruiting, having an idea of where you need to focus your efforts each week will help you make sure you are managing your time efficiently.
2. Practice Self-Care
While it may be counter-intuitive, the more responsibilities you find yourself bearing, the more important it is to take care of yourself. Simply blocking out thirty minutes a day for a run or starting your day off with a quick meditation can help make sure you are putting your best foot forward in all your commitments. Equally important is making sure you get enough sleep. Not only will you physically feel better but sleep will help you think more clearly so you can articulate all your great ideas in your next class. Most importantly, getting a good night’s sleep will help keep you protected during the inevitable flu season.
3. Lean on Each Other
Finally, your best resource when things start to feel like too much is each other. One of the most reassuring things about getting your MBA is that all of your classmates are in the same boat when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. This is the best time to check-in with your peers to see how they’re holding up and to not be afraid to ask for help if things are feeling like too much. One of Anderson’s three pillars is to share success - not just in the good times but also the bad.
Getting your MBA can be an incredibly rewarding time. It’s the perfect opportunity to stretch yourself and grow into the leader you have always wanted to be. Taking care of yourself throughout the process will help you make sure you take full advantage of everything Anderson can offer.
Student Blogger: Thea Whyte ‘21
Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago
Pre-MBA: Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Leadership@Anderson: Director of Conference, Healthcare Business Association; Director, Admissions Ambassador Corps
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