1. Purpose
   Why is what I’m working on important? What is the reason that I’ve chosen or been assigned this task? How does it fit into my larger sense of purpose? If it doesn’t fit, what can I change to make it purposeful?

2. Planning
   What are my general goals for my studies? What am I committed to completing this semester? This month? This week? Today? What is the reality of my schedule in terms of hours committed to classes, appointments, unbreakable commitments? Planning from the end of the semester back to the current moment can be a great way to lay out the landscape of your commitments. For more info on backwards to forwards planning see The Now Habit by Neil Fiore.

3. Fun
   Prioritize fun, friends, and passions by scheduling at least 30 minutes of time for them everyday. At a minimum, target 10-20 hours each week of playing guitar, going to a ball game, hanging out or lunching with friends, or whatever brings you joy and fulfillment. This will help you to maintain your balance and energy levels and keep you from being weighed down by the burden of commitments. Prioritizing fun is the ultimate dread-buster.

4. Asking for Help
   Successful students always ask for help. They eliminate uncertainties as best they can by clarifying deadlines with professors/teachers. They ask questions to exactly define assignment requirements. If there are materials they might need, topics they don’t understand, if they’re feeling sick or depressed, or just have questions about life- successful students ask for help from professors, parents, mentors, and administrators. Learning to ask for help can be difficult, but it is amongst the most important skills one can develop. “Ask and ye shall receive.”

5. Regular Habits
   You will be working and living at your best if you can develop regular habits. Keeping a stable sleep schedule and eating healthy foods on a regular basis will bring remarkable gains in energy and awareness. Regularly study and reading habits will help to prevent the anxiety of tight deadlines. Working on assignments in short blocks of 30 minutes of work with 5 minute breaks will reduce your fatigue. If you have 2 hours of work to do, cut it into (4) thirty minute sessions which are split by breaks. Students who sit down routinely for short bouts of reading and studying can knock out assignments in 4 or 5 brief sittings. Best of all, is the habit of beginning work as soon as assignments are given and topics are fresh. You’ll keep from cramming and strike while the iron is hot.

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