Effective Time Management: How I Balance Nursing School, Hobbies, and Content Creation

March 15, 2025 | By Rossein Zaynah A. Paglala 

Being a nursing student is already a full-time commitment. Add extracurricular activities, hobbies like singing and dancing, and being an affiliate content creator on TikTok, and suddenly, my schedule looks impossible to manage.

I used to struggle with juggling all my responsibilities. Assignments  such as readings, physical assessment, nursing care plan, drug study, case presentations would pile up, deadlines would sneak up on me, and I often felt overwhelmed. But over time, I discovered a few game-changing productivity apps that helped me stay organized and manage my time effectively. I’ve tried many apps, but these three remain the best for me.

Here are my top tools; 

1. Microsoft To Do – My Daily Planner

I’ve tried several to-do list apps, but Microsoft To Do is by far my favorite. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that helps me:

• Create structured daily plans
• Prioritize tasks based on urgency
• Set reminders for assignments, exams, and content deadlines
• Check off completed tasks for a sense of accomplishment

Every morning, I list down everything I need to do for the day whether it’s reviewing for an exam, or filming a TikTok video. Breaking tasks down into small, manageable steps makes them less overwhelming.

2. Google Calendar – The Ultimate Time Blocker

If I don’t schedule things properly, I tend to procrastinate or overcommit. That’s where Google Calendar comes in.

I use it to:

• Block specific times for study sessions, content creation, and hobbies
• Set reminders for upcoming deadlines and events
• Plan out my week in advance to avoid last-minute stress

For example, I set study blocks for nursing school, content creation slots for filming TikToks, and “me time” slots for singing and dancing. This helps me balance work and play without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Folderly – My Top App for Staying Organized

This is a lifesaver for someone like me who juggles multiple responsibilities. Folderly helps me:

• Organize my nursing notes, PDFs, and research papers
•  Sort my content ideas and brand deals for TikTok
• Store all my extracurricular-related documents in one place

Instead of scrolling endlessly through my phone or laptop looking for files, I can just open Folderly and instantly find what I need. Less clutter  more focus

The Reality of Time Management: When Plans Don’t Work

Even with all these apps and careful planning, there are days when I don’t accomplish a single thing on my to-do list. And I think thats competely normal. Prioritizing rest and self-care is just as important as being productive. But when skipping tasks becomes a habit, it can lead to procrastination, missed deadlines, and unnecessary stress. The key is balance listening to your body when you need rest but also staying disciplined enough to get back on track. Instead of feeling guilty for unproductive days, I remind myself that progress isn’t about perfection it’s about consistency. As long as I pick myself up the next day and keep going, I know I’m still moving forward.