Grab a Coffee, It's Last minute Studying Time!!

Unless times have changed and I wasn't aware, most students who will even bother studying, will do it either the entire night prior to the exam of even the hours before the exam. While you're studying you tend to think, "Damn, I should have probably started studying earlier than this!" But every time, the book opens the night before. As much as the following goes against our nature as students, here are some ways I feel, ease the pain of studying.

In order to avoid frustration of last minute studying, I always make a “things to do” list. I write down every deadline of the projects, assignments, mid-terms, and final exams that I have. This can certainly help a student manage their time. It also has the extra benefit of clearing your mind and saving you energy and stress.

I've found that if I spend 5-10 minutes each day on planning my activities with a daily to do list, I get a lot more done within that day. Give it a try! It sounds corny, but it works. Even better, every night, write a plan for the next day, listing your daily things to do. It is important that you actually write your tasks. That way you have a hard copy to see whether you decided to be lazy or actually accomplish the tasks you set for your day.
Nobody said that you have to write this list on paper, use your computers, cell phones, whatever you have. Try and see what works better for you. After you've listed what you want to do during that day, go over your list and put what is most important first; prioritize the list. Give higher priority to the tasks that get you closer to your goals.
One important tip to keep in mind!
If during a day some new unplanned task comes up, don't do anything until you put that new task on your list and rate it by priority. See it written along with the other things to do and put it in perspective. Once again, sounds corny, but do it, it helps!
Also don't forget, when making a to do list, break down your harder tasks into smaller manageable pieces, and focus on them one at a time.
Finally, after completion of a task take a moment to look at the result.
Did you get what you wanted to get done that day?
If you did, pat yourself on the back! You have written proof that you weren't useless that day!
If not, you have written proof that you are lazy!
You will see that if you organize yourself you will have time to study just a little bit so that when it comes time for the test, at least some of the things that you studied, stuck in your mind.


By Anastasia