How To: Schedule
9:59 PM
There's no point in lying; scheduling is hard. Whether it's your school work, your free time, or anything else, a good scheduling system is always the key. And if you're like me, using an actual planner doesn't necessarily work, so here are seven tricks you can use to keep your life in order.
Create a Word document.
It might sound crazy at first, but I cannot live without my Word document. Every semester, and I've done this for the past four years, I create a new Word doc with important dates, such as tests, due dates, days off, etc. I make sure to write the respective course, the class number, and the percentage worth. And once I've handed in a paper or finished an exam, I cross it off. That way, I can keep track of what is when, and everything is in one single document that I can access from my computers, my phone, and even my eReader.
Set up reminders on your phone.
You have a doctor's appointment? An important meeting? A presentation? Set up a reminder that will remind you a week in advance, as well as a day in advance. There's no point in writing it on a piece of paper. Chances are, that paper will end up in the trash before you know it. Your phone, however, has a longer life span. And if you also avoid the risk of scheduling two things at once!
Write it down too, though.
So the pieces of paper might get lost, but post-its are always a good idea. It's okay if your computer screen has a frame of post-its, you know? It just shows how organized you are! Or you can stick them to your favorite One Direction calendar. Color code them if you need to. Exams and essays: pink. Work schedule: yellow. Appointments: green. Interviews: blue. Whatever it is that you have to do during the day, make sure you write it down. Your hand has a brain of its own, so you have fewer chances of forgetting if you actually write it down. Just make sure to write it on your phone, too!
Try a planner, and decorate it.
If you're a girl and you watch YouTube, you're probably aware that the new trend is to decorate your planner. It might work for some, so if you're struggling with scheduling, try it. Get yourself a cute planner or use your school one, and purchase a bunch of adorable stickers at the Dollar store. The more interesting and attractive your planner looks, the more you'll want to look at it. Once again, color code everything; it might help you remember.
Write it down too, though.
So the pieces of paper might get lost, but post-its are always a good idea. It's okay if your computer screen has a frame of post-its, you know? It just shows how organized you are! Or you can stick them to your favorite One Direction calendar. Color code them if you need to. Exams and essays: pink. Work schedule: yellow. Appointments: green. Interviews: blue. Whatever it is that you have to do during the day, make sure you write it down. Your hand has a brain of its own, so you have fewer chances of forgetting if you actually write it down. Just make sure to write it on your phone, too!
Try a planner, and decorate it.
If you're a girl and you watch YouTube, you're probably aware that the new trend is to decorate your planner. It might work for some, so if you're struggling with scheduling, try it. Get yourself a cute planner or use your school one, and purchase a bunch of adorable stickers at the Dollar store. The more interesting and attractive your planner looks, the more you'll want to look at it. Once again, color code everything; it might help you remember.
Plan your free time.
A trick to have more free time is to plan it in advance. Make sure you schedule a few hours to yourself every week, just so you don't get overwhelmed by your pile of work. It can be for an activity, a sport, or just to binge watch your favorite TV show. Having some time off doesn't mean you're procrastinating, it means you're smart. And the less free time you have, the more tempted you'll be to procrastinate.
Sleep.
Unlike what most people think, university does not rhyme with sleep. Well, it kind of does, but it doesn't mean they go hand in hand. When your brain is tired, it won't absorb and remember information correctly. Some parts of your brain actually fall asleep even if you're awake, so you might think that studying until dawn is the key to good grades, but it can actually be the complete opposite. So make sure you sleep well and don't overwork your brain.
Party!...but not too often and not too hard.
It's Saturday night and you know there's a party, and you haven't partied in a month, but you really, really have to study for Monday's exam? Go to the party. Drink a beer or two. Stop at one or two shooters. Go home and sleep. You can still have fun without drinking too much, and it will also avoid the dreaded hangover the next day. That way, you can focus on your school work the next morning, and you won't dwell all night on the fact that you couldn't go to the party because of school. And if you've been organized, you're probably already ready for Monday.
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