Do you find it difficult to keep track of multiple assignments and deadlines? Do you feel as though if you just had more time, you could juggle your daily activities a little better?  Students who own and keep a planner often find their time is spent more efficiently when they take a few minutes to organize daily and weekly assignment deadlines and other commitments. The following are helpful suggestions when keeping a planner:

1.      Write down assignments as soon as you get them

• When you receive your class syllabus, record due dates for important projects and tests
•  Record additional assignments as your professor announces them

2.      Prioritize your tasks

• Write assignments in order of importance or use colors to designate the importance of the assignments
• Do the most important tasks first, and work your way down the list

3.      Check your planner daily

• Check your planner at least twice daily (every morning and night)
• During spare time, check your planner for smaller tasks you can begin
• Check off completed assignments
• Move uncompleted assignments to the next day

Some students prefer the flexibility of keeping daily to-do lists instead of planners. If you use to-do lists, be sure to prioritize your list of activities so that you focus on the most important and urgent items first. 

Here are some sample planners and to-do lists to get you started:

Sample assignment planner (Word)

Blank assignment planner  (Word)

Sample color-coded planner (Word)

Sample prioritized to-do list (Word)

... Planner documents composed by Mary Beth Fallin, Drew Tucker, and Lindsey Robinson, 2010.