Respond to at least two of your colleagues, on different days, by suggesting an additional strategy each colleague did not consider and explaining how and why you think that strategy may contribute to their success as an online doctoral student.

Reply from Richard Chukwuma Ekeke

One strategy that has been a huge help to me both academically and professionally is time-blocking. Through my seven years at bedside, I’ve learned how important it is to stay organized and to manage my time wisely. On a typical shift, I would start my day by setting aside 30 minutes to review patient charts and create a prioritized task list for the day. This routine helped me stay focused and more productive, even on days when unexpected events arose. It also made it easier to ensure I completed everything I needed to for my patients without feeling overwhelmed.

In undergraduate and graduate school, I’ve taken that same approach by setting aside specific blocks of time for studying, assignments, and discussion posts. For example, I dedicate two hours each evening to coursework, breaking it into manageable chunks to stay on track. I also try to finish assignments a couple of days before they’re due, just in case something comes up. This strategy helped me balance my work, school, and personal life smoothly. This will become even. More important as I move through the DNP program and tackle big projects like my clinical practicum and capstone.

A strategy I haven’t tried yet, but am strongly considering implementing, is the use of digital tools like Trello to manage tasks. I’ve always used a basic calendar or Apple task list application, but I can see how an advanced application tool could help me stay more organized and flexible. For instance, with a tool like Trello, I could create a board to track the progress of my capstone project, breaking it into sections for proposal writing, data collection, and final submission. Having everything in one place with deadlines and reminders could help me avoid last-minute stress and stay on top of multiple tasks at once.

I think this could be especially useful for me because, though I’m good at planning, I do at times struggle with adapting when external factors affecting my schedule through my plans out of wack. A digital tool would let me move things around and reprioritize quickly, which could be a game-changer with the unpredictable demands of work and school. By combining time-blocking with a digital task manager, I’m confident I can stay organized and succeed in both my DNP program and professional career.