Describe a time when you were very busy

I'd like to talk about the month before my final university exams, which was probably the busiest period of my life. I had four major exams, a thesis to submit and a part-time job that I couldn't give up, because I needed the money for my rent.

A typical day went something like this. I got up at six, studied for two hours, and then went to the university for lectures and consultations. After that, I went directly to work, where I stayed until about eight in the evening. I came home, had a quick dinner and spent the rest of the evening writing the thesis. Most nights, I was in bed after midnight. On weekends, I did nothing but study and revise.

To cope, I became very strict with my schedule. I made a detailed timetable on a large piece of paper, divided into thirty-minute blocks, and stuck it on the wall above my desk. I also learned to prioritise: I focused on the subjects where I was weaker and spent less time on the ones I already understood well. I turned off social media on my phone, which saved me more time than I would have expected.

I felt exhausted and, at times, close to burning out. However, I also felt a certain satisfaction, because I could see my progress every day. When I finally passed everything, it felt like a huge weight had lifted. It taught me that I could handle much more pressure than I had thought, though I'd rather not repeat the experience.