If you are feeling overwhelmed by homework, or you just know that you have tons of stuff to do but you dont know exactly what, make a list. Write down all the things that are making you feel bogged down and their due dates or deadlines, including everything from doing laundry to studying for that big test. As you finish things, cross them off. It will make you feel better knowing that you are getting things done, no matter how little they may seem. Just dont lose the list!
If you dont know what you want or where you are trying to go, you can never get there. Write down short- and long-term goals and keep track of your accomplishments. This way you can find out if you are wasting time on an activity that doesnt contribute to your ambitions and replace it with something that does. Remember to reward yourself when you reach your goals!
Plan your day, week, or month:
Buy a daily planner, wall calendar, or a marker-board that has the month outlined. Write down all assignments and their due dates, exam dates, meetings and conferences (dont forget to note the time and place!), and other activities. This is also a good place to keep track of important or useful phone numbers, such as professors office numbers.
Prioritize homework, jobs, and other activities:
If youve already made a list of things to do, this will be even more helpful. Use the due dates youve noted, calculate the approximate time the activity will take, and prioritize the things you need to do. Be sure to also include the things you want to do, and reward yourself for getting things done. If you need to, say, do your laundry, study for Statics, and you want to watch Seinfeld, put Statics at the top of the list, and then put your laundry in and watch TV.
Everything doesnt have to be perfect!! Repeat this to yourself as you go over the first-draft of your English paper for the fourth time! Being a perfectionist can reap great results if you learn to control it, but otherwise you will only end up feeling second-rate. You may let yourself miss deadlines and turn in late work just because you thought you could do better. The most important thing to remember is that something is better than nothing, and its better to turn in your assignments on time, even though they may not be "perfect," than to feel even more guilty because it was too late. Make sure to set aside enough time for a certain activity, but keep it realistic.