Strategize With These Great Tips

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• Recognize when you are most productive and schedule accordingly
  Are you a morning person or a night owl? Everyone has an internal clock that regulates when he/she is the most alert. Schedule studying of your most difficult subjects at your most productive time of the day.
• Consider ALL your responsibilities
  Don’t forget to schedule time for jobs, family, recreation, exercising, socializing and personal care (hygiene, sleeping, eating, etc.).
• Set Priorities
  Get the highest priority items done first, even if they are the ones you enjoy the least. Revisit your list of priorities and don’t be afraid to drop unimportant items.
• Make action plans
  An action plan is simply a detailed list of things you need to do to get a job done. Decide what you are going to do, when and where you are going to do it, and how long you need to finish each step. When you have a list of tasks in front of you you are more likely to get started and stay focused on completing the work.
• Always go to class
  Reading the presentation later is no substitute for attending the lecture. The professor will be teaching what he/she considers important and your notes taken in class are useful for studying later.
• Use spare time wisely
  Look for small gaps in your schedule and make use of them. Even small chunks of time can be valuable.
• Don’t procrastinate
  Avoiding work or problems generally just makes things worse in the long run. Break onerous tasks down and start with the easiest part. You may try working in a group. If you are having trouble getting started, seek help early.
• Delegate if possible
  Perfectionists have trouble delegating, but trying to do everything by yourself can be exhausting. Take advantage of help that may be offered, and remember, no one is perfect.
• Reward yourself and stay motivated
  Use leisure activities as rewards for achieving goals to help keep motivation high. Make deals with yourself, e.g. if you get your chapter finished you can watch TV. Under normal circumstances, decide to work for a specific length of time (no longer than an hour) and take a short break before continuing.
• Be flexible
  Changes to your life can and will happen; what is important is how you deal with these events. Use your critical thinking skills to come up with solutions to problems.  If you find yourself getting stressed due to changes in your schedule, try using positive thinking and maintaining balance in your life.
• Be committed
  Time management is self-management; remind yourself of your goals and how good it feels to accomplish them. Break goals down into manageable pieces if the big picture is overwhelming. Being in college means you are now fully responsible for yourself. Be responsible and take initiative.