This past week, for the first time in my life, I fell victim to the art of procrastination. I know that sounds unheard of, but I am genuinely scared of missing a deadline. Some call me a teacher’s pet, or a try-hard, others just say my parents raised me well. Either way, this past week I chose, instead of studying for my midterm on Monday, I will shop on Sunday afternoon, relax Sunday night, AND SLEEP IN MONDAY MORNING (as you can tell this clearly was not intentional.)
Waking up in shear panic, seeing the sun shining through my windows, a sight I rarely saw unless it was because I never slept in the first place. I quickly grabbed my phone, and there it read 10:06 AM. My exam was at 10:35, and a rough 20 minutes away, and I was in bed in my pajamas. In that moment, it is as if time stopped — I seem to have an out of body experience, looking down at myself and questioning if it’s time to run.
If you know anything about me, I am the last girl to be running to a class. Although, I am rarely in the situation where running would be necessary.
Needless to say, it was a bad day. So please, if you learn anything from me, do not spend the night before your midterm in bed with a mud mask on, watching Sex and the City. Instead, here are the steps I usually take in preparing for anything from a homework assignment, to a final project. It is never the size of the problem, but the way you tackle it. I approach every assignment, reading, or exam in the same way, and it is a bullet proof plan — except for when I fail to follow it.
- In the beginning of the semester (yes, I am telling you to do something syllabus week), actually read your class syllabus, when reading through, add all important dates into your calendar.
- As weeks go by throughout the semester, plan ahead. It is always nice to have one stress-free week, although it tends to come back to bite you. Rather than taking an easy week, look ahead through the next two weeks, anything you are able to start, start. Do this every week, keeping a long term (the next 2-3 weeks), and short-term list (that week to early the following), in order to stay on top of what is coming up and hopefully avoid weekends of drowning in homework.
- Find a study space away from your bedroom, you should never be cramming for a test in the same place you try to unwind from a stressful day. Your safe escape should remain just that. Although it is annoying to relocate, it will get your mind in the right place to study and get work done.
- Actually read the class readings. Personally, my major requires a lot of home reading, and “a lot” as in 100 pages per class per night. Yes, stressful 100%, but even more stressful when you try to catch up on all those readings the night before the final. Reading ahead of time will keep you informed and up to date on the topic of the class. It will allow you to connect the material read to the material lectured by your professor, and will help you better retain the information given.
- If you are ever struggling in class, or sleep in too late, email your professor. Nine times out of ten, they will appreciate that you said anything at all. Imagine you were teaching a class and no one showed up? You would be pretty upset, apologize to your teacher, and don’t make up a lie. Lies will never get you anywhere other than in a bigger hole you’ve already dug yourself into. Be honest, say you slept in, or had a bad day, your professor is a person too, they will understand (though you still may not be excused — but hey that’s your fault.)
- When a test is approaching (as you should have written down in the first week of the semester and should be aware of), get ahead. Go to office hours, ask for clarification on topics you are unsure of, as well as show interest in learning the topic, it never hurts. Make a study plan, if a test is covering six chapters, do not wait until the last night, your mind simply cannot retain that much in such a short period of time. Break it up, do a chapter a day for six days leading up to the test. This way you will be able to fully understand and absorb the material you are reading.
Unlike myself this week (as I have learned I do not like this new-found side), I am not usually the one to procrastinate. These steps have made me the successful student I am today, and have allowed for me to receive opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. This past week has allowed me to come back to reality, put my goals into perspective, and realign my study habits.
This week has been nothing but real-life confirmation that if you follow the steps I just told you, you are more likely to have a positive and smooth semester. If you veer from that, or neglect to do any of it, you may face challenges. Lesson learned: get ahead in life, tackle the problem, before the problem is even a problem.