How to be Productive during MBA?

MBA is one of the most demanding courses in terms of effort and commitment. For two years, you are not only going to learn business jargon but also how to be an effective manager. As the admission season is coming to an end, a lot of people must be thinking about how to make the most of their MBA days. Also, with the pandemic being over as of now, all the MBA education is going to be offline. So, here we present to you some of the ways how to be productive during your MBA journey. Hope you like it.

Have a workstation

What we meant is to separate your study corner and resting space. It is easily one of the most effective ways to be productive in your hostel. Simply put, don’t study in bed. Rather, create a study-friendly corner and equip that space with proper set-up. Have adequate lighting, proper equipment, and maybe some plants, posters, or photographs. Living in a hostel may sound difficult, but trust us, this corner of your room will be the most productive corner of your MBA life.

Write, Write & Write

There’s no alternative to writing things down, maybe typing. But the point is that always try to take down notes of things as much as possible. It may sound like an unproductive and time-consuming habit, but trust us, during your MBA, there is going to be a multitude of fundas, and noting them down is the best way to revisit them. Also, taking down notes brings clarity and frees up our mental RAM.  So, try to keep a pen and paper with you always and note down all the things you can.  

Professional Inbox

During your MBA, you will certainly receive thousands of emails. Most of them are going to be junk, but some of them will be extremely important. Managing your inbox takes up several minutes of your day which could have been used productively. Therefore, unsubscribe from any unnecessary mailing lists and separate your personal email id from that of your educational. Also, use categorization and labels to sort and filter your emails. Lastly, don’t keep your emails as unread as they always distract you whenever you open your inbox.

Plan, Plan & Plan

It’s easier said than done, but believe us, planning your day ahead is going to save you a hell lot of time. It can easily declutter your day’s routine and help you focus on the most important tasks at hand. MBA days are unpredictable as several things are going on at the same time.

But, having a plan of execution for the immediate tasks is always better than an ad-hoc approach. So, if you are an early morning bird, wake up, check your calendar, check your inbox and make a to-do list for all the day’s tasks. Even if you are a night owl, make a to-do list before going to sleep and adhere to it the next day.

The Art of Prioritization

Once your to-do list is ready, it’s time to hustle up. But, trying to complete your entire to-do list can be too much of a time killer sometimes. So, you will have to master the art of prioritization. Tackle the most important stuff early on as you will be fresh at the start of your day. Don’t try to multitask and juggle between things. Always try to finish one task at a time as that’s more efficient and effective.

Sort your to-do list as per importance and effort required and set the deadlines accordingly. Also, try to break your tasks into achievable milestones in order to have a sense of accomplishment. Along with it, try to block your calendar for important tasks. Therefore, once you have mastered the art of prioritization, productivity is bound to increase.

Be proactive, not reactive

The greatest regret you can have during your MBA is to realize at the end of the day that you have accomplished nothing. Your to-do list is pending, your inbox is full, deadlines are near and you missed your dinner. So, to avoid this regret, just try to be active and engaged throughout the day. This doesn’t mean burnout, but rather take active participation in some form of activities. Join clubs, go to the gym, play some sport, volunteer, organize something, develop a hobby, write a journal, publish a blog, take part in competitions, etc. Staying proactive is the best way to be productive during MBA.

Procrastination and Stagnation

Always remember these two words. During your MBA, they are going to be your arch-nemesis. You may feel like relaxing a little bit, but if unnoticed, that can lead to extended deadlines and missed opportunities. So, try to finish your tasks within your set deadlines. Always engage in exciting activities and try out new experiences. Avoid too much social media and distracting applications. Lastly, stay active and aware of your surroundings, because opportunities can randomly present themselves. You can easily grab these opportunities, but only if you are awake.

Take a chill pill

The day-long hustle and bustle of MBA life may cause burnout. You may feel like giving up and quitting your initiatives. It’s a pretty common feeling which will stay with you during your professional life. But, don’t worry, there is a simple hack for it. Just take a break from this hustle and free up your mental RAM.

Take a few deep breaths, go for a walk, jog a little, have a snack, listen to music, do your laundry, take a bath, catch up with your friends and family, etc. Maybe you can always set aside some slots in your schedule for relaxing. But always remember to relax regularly, as it will certainly recharge you for a productive period ahead.

Socialize

Networking is one of the most important skills you will learn during your MBA days. The network you will develop during your MBA will always reap benefits for you throughout your life. So, simply don’t forget to socialize. Introduce yourself, talk to your peers & seniors, and even your alumni about their experiences and learnings. Not only you will create your network from this, but learn invaluable insights from their life. Be part of various clubs, committees, societies, and groups. Seek people from different backgrounds and develop new perspectives. Along with this, connect with industry leaders and professionals, follow them, engage with them on whatever platform you want, and build your network for days ahead.

Read, Learn and Grow

Being updated, aware, and relevant is one of the major challenges for any MBA student. In the ever-changing world of business, the only way to stay ahead of the curve is to upgrade yourself on a regular basis. Reading is the easiest way to do it. Read the newspaper, articles, research journals, blogs, books, etc. as per your convenience, but never stop reading. Allocate 15 mins of your schedule for reading about a new thing every day.

If reading is not your game, then watch videos, documentaries, listen to podcasts, etc, but don’t stop learning. Take up a hobby and focus on it. You can always take up courses and certifications for specific skills. If nothing of these suits you, try to learn a new language. So, don’t stop learning and always try to upgrade yourself. Keeping yourself engaged in reading and learning will certainly make you productive during your MBA.

Lastly, MBA is not just about education, but a lifelong experience. So, try to make it as memorable as possible. Learn the most from it and achieve your dreams. Hope some of these pointers will come in handy and help you to be as much as productive during your MBA. All the best folks and enjoy the journey of a lifetime – Purvesh

Purvesh is a bibliophile currently pursuing MBA at IIT Madras