Academic Success Center

Reflect

You know yourself best. Think about what has or has not worked in the past. Consider the following:

• What time of day are you the most productive?
• What other time commitments have you made?
• Which assignments, readings, or courses need to be prioritized for each study session?
• What are some positive or negative influences on your study success?

Plan!

Planning is one of the keys to success as a graduate student. Some ways to achieve successful planning are:

• Study schedules and routines
• Semester calendars with important course dates marked
• Daily or weekly "to-do" lists 
• Excel spreadsheets with assignments, readings, and quizzes

Use Tools

Having easy access to calendars, to-do lists, or receiving reminders on your phone or computer can be a helpful method for staying on task. 

Maximize Efficiency

Make the most of your time while you have it. Implement learning and study strategies that help you streamline your studying. Acknowledge when you are feeling fatigued or find your focus drifting. Consider task-organizing methods, such as the Pomodoro Method. This method breaks up your time into 25-minute increments of working, followed by a five minute break. 

Ask yourself Questions

When falling into a trap of procrastination, first consider what may be the underlying feelings so you can start to address the root cause. Are you feeling tired, hungry, unmotivated, anxious, or perhaps unsure of where to start?

If you need any assistance, reach out to the ASC to help you get back on track with your writing. 

Create Time For You ❤️

When time is not wisely managed, there are no times for scheduled breaks, meals, or self-care. Schedule time for yourself to maintain positive well-being, especially while in grad school.