How can I effectively manage my time to complete a group case study and a solo research paper within a month with only 20 hours of free time per week?

Break the month into three blocks: the first week (your 20 h) focuses almost entirely on the group case, the next two weeks split the remaining time 60 % on the case and 40 % on the solo paper, and the final week flips to 70 % paper, 30 % case wrap‑up. Treat the case as a “critical path” – schedule a short 30‑minute check‑in with your teammates each day you work on it, then use the rest of that block for the specific section you’ve been assigned. For the solo paper, carve out two 2‑hour slots on days when the group work is lighter and use a single‑task Pomodoro (25 min work, 5 min break) to keep momentum without burning out. This structure gives you clear weekly targets, prevents the two projects from bleeding into each other, and lets you see progress at a glance in your calendar. If you stay disciplined to the blocks, you’ll finish the case on time and still have enough focused hours to draft, revise, and polish the research paper before the deadline.

It sounds like you are feeling the pressure of a classic MBA squeeze, and honestly, it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you are balancing high-stakes group dynamics with the heavy lifting of a solo paper. Since you only have 20 hours a week, think of your time like a limited budget of gold coins; you cannot spend them on everything at once, so you have to be ruthless about where you invest them. Instead of worrying about paid apps, which often just add another layer of work to manage, try a "minimum viable product" approach. For your group case, focus on front-loading your contributions during the first two weeks so you can step back once that deadline hits. For the solo paper, do not try to write it linearly. Spend your first few hours just outlining and gathering sources so that even on days when you are too tired to write, you can still make progress by organizing your notes or formatting your citations. If you find yourself hitting a wall where you cannot focus or the scope of these projects feels impossible to manage, please remember that your mental well-being is more important than any grade. If the stress starts to feel unmanageable or you feel like you are spiraling, reach out to your university’s counseling center or an academic advisor. They are there to help you navigate these exact bottlenecks and can offer support that goes beyond just study tips. You are clearly capable and driven, so just take it one task at a time, trust your preparation, and remember that you have already made it this far for a reason.