Be Intentional About Managing Your Time in Residency

Last fall, Melissa Straub Hogan, MD, an AP/CP-4 resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, attended a lecture for chief residents where the guest speaker talked about the importance of being intentional in managing one’s time.

That was an “ah-ha!” moment for her. Since then, her mantra has become: Be intentional!

“The speaker asked how those of us in the audience use our time and how that will lead us into the next stage of our careers,” she recalled. “I now prioritize my time in terms of what is important for that day, the week and the long term.”

For Dr. Hogan, a typical weekday begins when she arrives at work at 7 a.m. before her rotation starts. This month, she is on a clinical pathology rotation called immunopathology. She tries to get any administrative professional or personal work done before the work day begins. Often her day involves chief resident meetings, meetings for resident recruitment and her lecture schedule for her monthly rotations. On top of that, she is studying for her board exams.

Dr. Hogan also schedules free time into each day and often uses that time to catch up on emails and other non-essential tasks. Her volunteer efforts, which includes serving on the ASCP Resident Council where she is Chair-Elect, focus on activities that will help propel her career forward.

“I just handed off my chief resident duties, so that was a nice transition into the next part of my career and as I prepare for the boards,” she explains.

Her advice to help other residents manage their time?

“Knowing what works for you is most important part of time management,” she advised. “I work best with a list of priorities. Some people prefer to set aside blocks of time to work on specific projects. Be sure to politely say no to projects and opportunities that don’t advance your career trajectory. The key is, be intentional with how you use your time. Focus on things you enjoy and that will set you into next phase or your career.”