Begin each school semester with a new monthly calendar. Write all major assignments, exams and projects for each class you are taking in your calendar on the dates when they are due. Note assignments that contain multiple parts and multiple due dates. Place all of your due dates on your calendar.
Add goal dates for each assignment. This may include research goals, writing goals or dates when you intend to begin studying for exams. You must assign your own goal dates, but make sure to give yourself enough time to prepare for each exam and complete each project with time to revise. For long reading assignments, assign yourself reading goals based on how quickly you will need to work through your reading to be ready for its due date.
Transfer your upcoming week into a separate weekly calendar every Sunday evening. This gives you enough to time to catch up during your weekend, should you fall behind, and keeps you accountable to your overall schedule. Some projects may require you to adjust your schedule, and some instructors may adjust your schedule throughout the semester. Address these changes from week to week and keep your schedule updated.
Mark through completed assignments, exams and goals as you complete them. Do not mark off goals or assignments if you have not completed them, even if the due date passes.
Reward yourself for success. Large rewards such as a night off, trip to the movies or evening with your friends are perfect for large assignments. Smaller goals should be rewarded too, but with reasonable rewards such as special food, watching your favorite television show or sleeping in on a Saturday.
Frontload your daily work. Begin your daily work as early as you can with a goal to finish before the evening. Keeping up with your classroom activities can be a long and frustrating task, and you have to avoid letting yourself feel burnt out. The best way to avoid burn out is to plan to give yourself some personal time each day for activities you enjoy or things that are important to you.