Tips to stay on top of your due dates!
1. Create a master syllabus!
This tip saves my life on the daily. Because of my course load, I was constantly fretting over forgetting little assignments or showing up to class unprepared on quiz day. To fix this, I sat down at my computer, opened all of my syllabuses, and put all of the dates into two documents: one is sorted based on the month, and the second is sorted by what kind of assignment it is. I wrote all of the assignments out with the due date, the class, and what it is. (Ex: 9/26 – Stats Exam 1 (Ch. 1-4)). It is optional to include how much the assignments are worth or grades you get/need to get to keep your grade up in the class. Hang it somewhere you can look at it every day!
2. Have the due dates written in multiple places!
I have three planners- one I carry in my backpack, one I keep on my desk, and one I have on my phone. This helps me by always being able to check what I have to do at any time. That way, there is a less of a chance of me forgetting anything!
3. Get small things out of the way!
If you know you have a simple reading assignment or a short essay due at the end of the semester, get it done before it gets difficult. This is specific to things that you don’t need to learn things about in the class. For example, my final paper for my sociology class can be about anything, as long as it’s not something we covered in depth in class. This is an easy assignment to do before the semester gets really busy!
4. Read book assignments as early as possible!
My little brother kept putting off his summer reading by using the excuse that he would forget it by the time school came around. While he did have a point, he ended up having to finish the book and the assignment in the last few days before school started. Books generally take a long time to get through compared to other assignments. Instead of sitting and reading a book for six hours straight and still having to finish the assignment, reading it early on in the semester can make it easier and less stressful. You will be ahead of the class and be able to knock out the big assignment easily!
5. Do quizzes/online homework as you finish the chapters.
It’s very easy to procrastinate and save homework and quizzes for the night before they are due. The perks of online assignments are that they are open book and generally have open turn in periods. An easy way to stay on top of these is to do the assignment right after you cover that topic in class. This way you are studying and finishing assignments at the same time!
6. Find a time for group projects as early as you can.
The general college student population can all agree that group projects are the worst. Part of what makes them so bad is trying to find a time that everyone can get together. Figure this part out as soon as you get the assignment information and knock it out in one work session. This way, you won’t have to stress about it later on in the semester.
7. Make sure to prioritize.
Remember to sort assignments by how important they are. By doing this, you can get things done in the right order. For example, you should finish the paper that’s due at 8am first, rather than the math homework due next Tuesday.
8. When looking at due dates, don’t forget to look for important things going on around the big assignments.
This is super important for college kids because we have to think about things outside of just classes. If you are flying home the weekend before a big test, study ahead of time rather than having to stress about it at home!
9. Have a healthy procrastination style.
While this seems strange to have in this list, it is important to allow yourself to have some fun. If you have a major assignment due in a week, tell yourself it is okay to go out with you friends for the night- as long as you make up for it. Don’t miss out on fun opportunities because you were trying to get ahead. However, it is important to remember why you’re in college in the first place!
10. If you make it to the night before and still haven’t started, grab some coffee, another procrastinating friend, and hunker down.
Everyone knows that no matter how hard you try to stay on top of your due dates, life sometimes just gets in the way. The best thing to do in this situation is to accept that you just have to get it done. Try to make it fun! If you are going to do it anyway, might as well try to enjoy it. Find your go-to procrastination snacks and drinks, play some quiet music, and just relax. You will get it done!