A Student's Guide to Staying on Track

Staying organized as a student can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. It’s a balancing act that requires strategy, discipline, and a dash of creativity. This guide will walk you through essential tips and tricks to keep your academic life on track, so you can juggle those torches like a pro.

I’m going to let you know that it gets really cliche from here and so I’m going to apologize now (I’m so sorry). The truth about the cliche nature of this article, however, is that these tips-- however boring they may be-- actually work. That’s the only reason I feel the need to share them. So without further ado, let’s get this over with so you can get back to your YouTube time. 

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Goal Setting and Time Management

We all know that time management is one of the most difficult things to get a handle on in college, especially when going to parties is a far less boring option to studying for class. It’s important to know that you can do both. It’s just that lots of folks choose to allow the dread of getting work done to actually get in the way of them… well, getting work done. 

In this section, I’m going to give you guidelines on how to manage fun and work so that you don’t exchange your happiness in order to pass your classes. We’ll start with setting clear goals so that you know what you want to do, then we’ll work on making it so that your schedule allows for you to have your cake and eat it too. 

Setting Clear Goals:

• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals: Think of short-term goals as stepping stones and long-term goals as the final destination. For instance, completing your weekly reading is a short-term goal, while acing the semester is a long-term goal.

You’ll want to keep these goals in mind throughout your entire time in college, or life in general. And it’s important to note that these goals can change throughout your life, so you need to allow yourself the grace of changing things up without beating yourself up for doing so. 

• SMART Goals Framework: Ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Instead of "study more," aim for "study biology for one hour daily at 7 PM." 

So this is where it gets cliche. I know you’ve heard of SMART goals before (and I’ve already apologized so I don’t want to hear it) in elementary, middle, and high school, but there’s a reason it always comes back up. It’s because, when used correctly, it works.

 When you set goals that adhere to the SMART guidelines, you find yourself knowing exactly what goal you want to complete and how to complete it. The only thing that’s annoying about it (in my opinion) is that it was only preached to us in school. There was no passion behind it. 

Teachers only told you to do this because it was on the curriculum, and having us write down needless goals didn’t help make us want to even use SMART goals in the first place. 

Now that we’re in college, it feels like the world is moving while we’re stuck in the same place. Whew, I feel like I should take that apology back because I am spitting straight bars! To cheesy? Okay, I’ll calm down. Moving on…  

Time Management Strategies

• Prioritizing Tasks: Tackle the most critical tasks first. These tasks will usually include studying for exams or completing homework. After you’ve prioritized your tasks, you can put these tasks in a schedule so you know what you should do every day. 

The biggest factor in this, however, is that you have to actually do these things. It’s so easy to write down what you’re going to do. But when it’s time for you to actually get things done, you feel like it’s okay to put the task off for another day. I know, right… it’s almost like there’s not a single original experience in life. 

I get that it feels easier to put things off than to get things done when you say you will, but honestly, it causes more harm than good. I’m not sure if you’ve experienced panic attacks because you’ve let so many assignments pile up on you but I can tell you they’re not fun at all. 

Here’s a trick though. All you have to do is get started it. I’ve said this before about working out and networking, but in every case, getting started is the best way to put you in the mood to get things done. Heck, you might even find yourself completing extra assignments just because you’re “in the zone”. 

So you’ve got to just start doing the work, as boring as it can be because that’s the key to making sure you’re staying on track. 

• Creating a Schedule: Craft a daily or weekly schedule to keep you on track. Incorporate study sessions, breaks, and leisure activities. That’s right, this is where the fun comes in. 

If your friend is having a party then make sure you implement that into your schedule after your study session. It’ll be like a reward for getting things done. But remember, these schedules still need to be SMART. 

Make sure you can actually get these tasks done when you say you can. So don’t go forcing yourself to complete two essays within one hour on your schedule. You’ll just stare at your computer and eventually navigate to YouTube or Netflix. 

• Utilizing Tools: Planners, digital calendars, and apps can help you organize tasks and deadlines efficiently. I’m an old-school type of person so I prefer to write all my tasks down on my Legend Planner. 

But there are plenty of apps you can use, like the Calendar app that comes on your phone or even other apps like Classify which is free and made just for students. 

By the way, if you decide to check out the planner I recommended, I challenge you to collect all the colors like I am. If you’re a pack rat like me, this series of planners is right up your alley. 

Study Techniques and Habits

Effective Study Habits

• Consistent Routine: Establish a regular study schedule to create a habit. Same time, same place, every day. Establishing habits is very useful and there’s a whole psychology to it that I may get into in another article. 

If you’re interested in learning about it sooner rather than later, though, there is this fascinating book called The Power of Habit… by Charles Duhigg. It is most definitely more for the nerds in this community so I won’t judge you if you don’t read it. It’s a really good read though, and not as hard to digest as you may think.

 As I’ve said before, these schedules need to be SMART in every way. And you have to get these done, otherwise you’re just mindlessly writing down things you need to do. 

• Active Learning Techniques: Engage with the material through methods like summarizing, questioning, and teaching the content to someone else. You don’t have to do this all the time (because who would want to, right?), but it is very helpful to do this, especially with subjects you are having a hard time understanding. 

Get yourself a study buddy, a friend, or a random peer who’s in the same class or subject as you, and make magic through studying. You can try breaking down the topic so that you can explain it to a 5-year-old (this is especially helpful for harder subjects) or you can get a tutor and ask them all the questions you have about the content. 

Whichever way that helps you study is the way that I recommend to you. Remember, it needs to be engaging but also help you understand the material better.

• Note-Taking Strategies: Use techniques like Cornell notes or regular bullet points to organize information logically. I’ve got to be completely honest with you… I’ve never really learned how to do Cornell notes since my brain completely checked out once my teachers tried teaching me about them. So here’s a quick resource on how to do them. There are plenty of other sites that can explain this, but this is one of the most concise explanations I could find. 

I usually just write down everything my professor says since I like to put my writing hand in the most danger possible, but I’m going to assume you’d like another option. Regardless of which way you decide to take your notes, you need to make note-taking a part of your class-going routine. Writing down information is one of the best ways to retain information. 

• Pomodoro Technique: Study in 25-minute bursts with 5-minute breaks to maintain high levels of concentration and prevent burnout. The Classify app has settings just for techniques like this one, so I highly suggest you check it out. By the way, this is so not sponsored by the developers of the app. Like actually.

Managing Distractions and Environment

• Common Distractions: Social media, noisy environments, and even household chores can derail your focus. You may think it’s a good idea to put on headphones and zone out while you are studying, but sometimes the right song can distract you from getting your work done in a timely and focused manner. 

• Minimizing Distractions: Use apps that block distracting sites, set up a dedicated study space (or visit your school’s library or other study areas), and establish clear boundaries with housemates or family during study times.

Motivation and Support Systems

As I said, when it comes to studying, scheduling your tasks, and overall setting yourself up for success, you need to just do these things. Keeping yourself motivated and having support is the key to getting things done with the least resistance from your brain.

It’s hard to get up the motivation to get those soon-to-be-due assignments done especially if you’re new to college. So get the right people in your court and get those assignments done. If you’re unclear where to start, I’ve got some pointers down below. 

Staying Motivated

• Finding Personal Motivation: Connect your studies to your personal goals and interests. Why does this matter to you? Here’s a freebie: You’re paying to go to school. ALWAYS take things seriously when it comes to your money.

• Reward Systems: Treat yourself for achieving goals. Whether it’s a snack, a break, or a small gift, rewards can keep you motivated. Or you could go to your friend’s party that we were talking about earlier. That should’ve been on your schedule (*wink, wink*).

• Study Groups: Joining study groups can provide support, accountability, and different perspectives on the material. It’s honestly not as boring as it sounds. Students are really fun and can reduce the stress that comes with studying. 
  

Just make sure you’re staying on topic. One way to study is to make a trivia game or other fun activity out of your study session. Either way, make sure you find some people that can help you stay on track. 

Seeking Help and Resources

• School Resources: Utilize tutors, counselors, and study centers provided by your school. You should have access to free tutors at your school, so utilize them. After all, you are paying for access to them. The study centers are also included, so you can find your future study group there. 

• Online Platforms: Websites like Khan Academy, Coursera, and Quizlet offer valuable learning resources. Quizlet is a top-tier studying site, and it’s FREE! You need to use these tools whenever you can to help you with studying. 

• Support Network: Build a network of friends, family, and classmates who can offer support and encouragement. As I’ve said before, this network can be your study group or even random peers. Find something you guys have in common and use that to make studying more engaging. 

Progress Tracking and Adjustment

Have you been getting things done even when you don’t want to? Have you been putting things off for later and suffering the consequences of these actions? Be honest with yourself and find what areas you are lacking in. Self-awareness is one of the more important things to keep track of when you want to make sure you are successful in school.

Tracking Progress

• Self-Assessment: Regularly assess your performance and identify areas for improvement

• Adjusting Goals: Be flexible with your goals. Adjust them as needed based on your progress and any new challenges.

• Celebrating Achievements: Celebrate your successes, big and small. Acknowledge your hard work and reward yourself appropriately.

Now Get to Staying on Track

I won’t bore you by repeating everything I’ve said before. Just know that staying on track as a student is a multifaceted endeavor, but with clear goals, effective time management, good study habits, and a supportive environment, you will be able to navigate your academic journey with confidence. 

So take these actionable steps, stay motivated, and remember to celebrate your achievements along the way. And don’t forget that, even though everybody may not like me, they have no choice but to love me because I’ll always be there for them and accept them for who they are. You've got this!