Tips for Time Management in Residency

Written by Aqsaa Chaudhry, MD, MBA

July 1 is the day that all medical graduates look forward to; it marks the unofficial start of residency for many residents. This day represents the culmination of four years of medical school, the endless nights of studying, and days of rounds during rotations. With all the excitement comes many new responsibilities and challenges. 

As an intern, you are often the first point of contact for medical staff and are expected to effectively create patient care plans. In addition to patient care, there are lab orders to review, messages to answer, and a pile of administrative tasks, all while trying to stay on top of your didactics and learning. As a senior, the responsibilities only increase. Your faculty expect you to work more efficiently and aid in teaching the interns and medical students. 

But you are also expected to take care of yourself. ‘How are you going to take care of your patients if you fall ill yourself?’ is anecdotally utilized by many. Nonetheless, it has merit. It is important to have a work-life balance for your own mental and physical health. 

So how can you manage a busy schedule while taking care of yourself?

1. Prioritize 

Just as you would triage your patients and take care of those with emergent conditions first, you should prioritize which tasks need to be completed first. There are several ways to approach prioritization. You may choose to complete time-sensitive tasks first, or you may choose to complete simple, fast tasks first and then focus on longer, more time-consuming ones. Utilizing a to-do list and checking off completed tasks can make the process simpler. Knowing which tasks to prioritize can be tricky, but gets easier with practice. 

2. Organize 

Your daily schedule will be very hectic. Most programs require mandatory attendance at morning reports, noon conferences, grand rounds, and didactics. All of these educational experiences are on top of your patient care responsibilities. Maintaining an updated calendar, whether it is a paper calendar or a digital one, will ensure that you do not miss any important events. Also, blocking off time in your schedule to complete tasks can aid you in staying on top of things. In addition to maintaining a calendar, having an organized, tidy space will allow you to locate important documents and notes more easily. 

3. Delegate 

As an intern, you will most likely have tasks delegated to you by your attendings and seniors. However, if there is a task that could be completed by a nurse or medical assistant, you should delegate it to them. As a senior, you will have the responsibility of teaching your interns and maybe some medical students as well. If there is a simple task, such as orthostatics or grabbing some equipment for a procedure, it can be delegated to the medical student. More involved tasks can be delegated to interns. This not only reduces your task burden but also allows others to be actively involved in patient care, especially medical students who often want the experience. 

It takes time and practice to become proficient and time management is a skill that will serve you not only in residency but also in your medical career. 

Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions and may not be representative of all residents, nor do they reflect the opinions of my employer.