Tabs, to-do lists, and timesheets—oh my! This winter, I took on two internships—one at The Journey church and one at UpTrend Creative & Consulting. Fun? Absolutely. Crazy? For sure.
As per usual, I accepted a hefty workload without realizing its weight. However, the lessons learned and the skills acquired are far worth the frantic and frazzled hours I spent flipping between multiple assignments. As Olivia Pope would say, I have it #handled. Kind of.
If you choose to wear multiple intern hats, here are a few of my tips:
- Set boundaries
When you accept one job, you need to set boundaries. When you accept two, you seriously need to set boundaries. How many hours can you work? What deadlines are realistic for you? When can you come into the office? If need be, will you drive in the snow or bad weather? What hours will you be online? How much is too much? You need to think through all of these questions and communicate your limits before you even begin. Remember—you are a human, not a robot. Your boss will understand.
- Stick to those boundaries
Remember those boundaries you set before you 
entered the office? Did you make exceptions to your nonnegotiable rules? I often catch myself caving into requests that are not realistic for me. I will set a deadline that is not comfortably feasible. I will take on more work than I can manage within a certain time frame. I make mistakes and start blurring my boundaries—it happens. Sometimes, we have to make exceptions to get a time-sensitive task completed…but this should not be happening on a daily basis. Be realistic, and respect yourself and your time.
- Unwind
Whatever you do, do not forget about this step. You have to rest. You have to breathe. You have to have fun. When I am home, I split my time between catching up with friends and family, binge-watching Netflix and reading some inspirational books. Everyone needs to recharge his or her battery. You and I are no exception. Settle down, get plenty of sleep, and maximize your down time. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you.
Working double duty can double the fun and double the development—just make sure you double your balancing efforts. Happy interning!
By: Laura Hepp
Laura Hepp is a junior mass communication major with minors in advertising and theatre performance studies. Aside from interning at The Journey and performing in various musical theatre productions, Laura loves running, laughing, and eating far too many vegetables. She serves as Vice President of Professional Development for PRSSA-UD.
prssaud.com 
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