Work on assignments between classes. By the time you are finished with classes for the day, you have that extra time during which you could rest, relax and feel more refreshed. By using the time between classes, you may already be in the study mind frame and feel more motivated to get the work done, rather than waiting until the end of the day when you want to relax, which can result in procrastination.
Do not procrastinate. Create mental deadlines and beat those deadlines. For a procrastinator, the motivation for getting an assignment done is knowing the deadline is soon approaching. Once you begin this process of moving up the deadlines, you will soon be in the habit of completing projects early; thus, creating more free time for relaxation or concentration spent on another assignment.
Create note cards. By reviewing them daily, information will be reinforced in your head, and when it comes time to take an exam (especially the final), you will already be well prepared. Use your notes from each class to write out your cards, and review them before the particular classes. If this is hard to maintain, get creative with the process. Tape note cards to random objects throughout your living space, such as the bathroom mirror, refrigerator or television set, so that each time you face these objects, you are forced to read each term and definition.
Avoid dedicating too much of your time to extracurricular activities. Being part of clubs and activities in college looks good on your resume, but many employers will focus more on your undergraduate grade record, such as your GPA. If you donate too much of your schedule to activities, it provides you with less time to focus primarily on your school work. You can still participate in extracurricular activities by balancing the time properly with your assignments.
Avoid going out with your peers frequently throughout the week. Weekends are a time for students to break free from their schoolwork, but sometimes the higher priorities get pushed aside for this period of freedom. Before planning out your weekend, focus on what needs to be finished before the coming school week. If you wait to complete all of your assignments the day before classes, you fail to provide the full attention to those assignments, which can result in disappointing grades.
Join a study group. By joining a study group or pairing up with a study partner, others may have information that you have forgotten or did not have time to write down during class. Additionally, another student may be able to help you understand a specific topic with which you struggle. Sometimes, hearing two explanations of a subject will provide you with a better understanding of how a process works within that subject. Never rule out the option of a study group even if you are the type of individual who prefers to study alone.
Record the lectures. Purchase a voice recorders to tape class lectures; however, this is not an alternative to writing notes. If you tend to be a slow writer, this may be an option for you. Recording a lecture allows you to briefly jot down the terms and their main points. When studying, you can review your notes as you listen to the recorded lesson, while writing down key points that you may have missed when you were in class.