Page 73 - Keys to College Success

the day and needs long blocks of time, for example, his schedule might read: “Classes
bunched together on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays free
for studying and research. Study primarily during daytime hours.”
Of course, very few people are able to perfectly align their schedules to their profile
and preferences. Use your ideal schedule as a tool to make choices that fit your prefer-
ences as much as possible. The student in the example, looking to schedule next term’s
classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, may find that one class he has to take meets
only on Tuesday and Thursday. He has a choice of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., though, so he
chooses 4 p.m. because that will give him a bigger block of time to study and do research
during the day prior to the class.

Choose a planner
Find a planner that works for how you live. There are two major types:
■ A book or notebook, showing either a day or a week at a glance, where you note
your commitments. Some planners contain sections for monthly and yearly goals.
■ An electronic planning app or calendar app on a smartphone. Basic functions
allow you to schedule days and weeks, note due dates, make to-do lists, perform
mathematical calculations, and create and store a contacts list. Because most
smartphone calendars have companion programs on computers, you can usually
back up your schedule on a computer and view it there. If you have a computer
and find that you are using it constantly, you might prioritize a computer-based
calendar app like iCal or Google Calendar.
Although electronic planning tools are handy, powerful, and capable of all kinds of
functioning, the software can fail, and smartphone batteries can die. Analyze your pref-
erences and finances and choose the best tool for you. A blank notebook, used consis-
tently, may work as well as a top-of-the-line smartphone.

Build a Schedule

Scheduling is your central life control strategy and a necessity for goal achievement.
The most clearly defined goal won’t be achieved without being put into a time frame,
and the most organized schedule won’t move you toward long-term goals unless it is
2 populated with tasks related to those goals. Be detailed and methodical about building
CHAPTER your schedule, using the following strategies.

Prioritize tasks and goals
Prioritizing helps you focus the bulk of your energy and time on what is most impor-
tant to you. Prioritizing is also where you consider the value of making trade-offs. Are
you willing to trade an hour a day of Facebook time for an hour a day of study time
that will help you improve your grades? Are you willing to trade a night out for an
opportunity to get on top of a paper deadline? Think about what results your risks
might bring, and what may result from taking no risks.
One way to assign priority is to use these three basic levels:
■ Priority 1. These are crucial, high-reward items that you must do, usually at a
specific time. They may include attending class, working at a job, picking up a
child from day care, and paying bills.
■ Priority 2. These are important items that have some flexibility in scheduling.
Examples include study time and exercising.
■ Priority 3. These are less important items that offer low-key rewards. Examples
include calling a friend or downloading songs onto your iPod.
Once you have set priority levels, schedule tasks using these steps. (Key 2.4 shows
parts of both a daily schedule and a weekly schedule.)

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