Scheduling
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Keep a strict sleep schedule.
Those who dropped out often struggled to get to class or fell asleep during lectures.
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If you struggle with burnout, try maintaining productivity for three days in a row followed by a fourth day dedicated to recharging.
One person found this schedule made it easier to avoid burnout.
- This approach still has some consequences.
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Start your day with a workout to relieve stress, keep your mind sharp, and gain an energy boost.
Working out relieves stress, keeps you sharp, and provides an added energy boost.
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Use Shift+Alt+Tab to switch to the previous window quickly.
It avoids the need to cycle through multiple windows with Alt+Tab.
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Add extra time to each task when scheduling it on your calendar.
People are often overly optimistic about how long tasks will take.
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Build discipline gradually by starting small, such as exercising two or three times a week, and increasing frequency over time.
Winning more small battles makes you more disciplined; starting small avoids the failure of min-by-min schedules from day one.
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Clean your room regularly to prevent misplacing items, which causes frustration and adds stress.
A clean room is good for the mind; failing to clean leads to losing things, frustration, and increased stress.
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Save all syllabi as hard copies or scanned digital files in a safe place.
You may need them years later to prove you completed prerequisite courses.
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- Keep your college syllabi to prove prerequisite coverage for credit exemptions later.1
Highlight all major project deadlines from syllabi at the start of the semester to plan long-term steps and finish work ahead of time to avoid feeling rushed.
Finishing things ahead of time prevents being rushed.
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Schedule personal activities like cooking, relaxing, and seeing friends on your calendar.
It transforms unspecified time punctuated by obligations into days full of things you look forward to.
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- Color-coordinate your calendar for client meetings, leadership meetings, rituals, and personal tasks to allow for quick scanning and focus.1
- Schedule recurring fixed commitments like sleep, work, school, commute, and routines on your calendar first.1
Create a detailed weekly schedule including morning chores, evening duties, and pleasurable tasks.
The goal is to develop a routine and imagine what being a better version of yourself looks like.
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Recognize that taking notes or making lists does not automatically make you productive; willpower is still required to follow through.
Making a list is often mistaken for being productive, but follow-through requires willpower.
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Complete simple assignments ahead of time when you have free moments.
Allows you to enjoy weekends without pending work
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Break large projects into smaller parts with earlier internal deadlines.
Avoids last-minute crunches
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Plan lighter workdays around known draining events to prevent energy crashes.
It helps avoid overcommitting when an energy crash is foreseeable.
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Read all syllabus documents, addenda, and online platform posts thoroughly.
Finding answers prevents looking bad for not reading
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Focus on tasks based on urgency and order of operations rather than just difficulty.
Draining willpower on easy tasks makes hard ones harder; urgent tasks take precedence over distant ones
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Check the syllabus before emailing your instructor with basic questions about homework or logistics.
The syllabus serves as the contract for how the class operates and contains this information.
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