When you go to college —no matter how many classes you are taking— you will have multiple deadlines to meet. You will have exercises, essays, quizzes, and exams. Teachers will ask different things of you, and you will have to do everything in a limited amount of time. Some teachers will allow for certain papers to be submitted shortly after the deadline but others will not allow this. For that reason, you should always be prepared to meet deadlines on time. Here are some recommendations for staying inside the time frame you are given:

Get a Calendar/Planner

One of the best things my parents have taught me is the use of a calendar and a planner. Ever since I was little, I have been writing my assignments on my calendar or my planner. By doing this, I am always aware of the deadline and how far away it is. At the beginning of every semester, you should find a way that best suits you to keep up with everything you have to do. My recommendation is getting a calendar for your bedroom and a planner for you to carry around; always write down every deadline on both of them. By doing this, it will be harder for you to forget what you have to do.

Work as Much as Possible

Finding time to do homework between classes and other activities may be really hard. However, if you set aside a few minutes every day to work on your projects, it might be easier to meet deadlines. Every minute counts when you have a lot to do so even if you write a few sentences down or read a few paragraphs for ten minutes a day, you will be closer to accomplishing your assignments. You can even use those minutes to check that your research is done or corroborate your sources. Remember every moment counts and you can utilize it for the better.

Use Your Class Time

There might come a time when your teachers are caught up on their planned schedule, and they give you free class hours for you to do what you want. Some teachers even separate a few hours per semester to allow students to have that time to themselves to work on their projects. I would recommend taking advantage of those moments, however long they may be. If a teacher is offering time without giving a class, use it to write your papers, do your research, and study for your exams. Taking advantage of that will help you be more prepared to meet your deadlines.

Ask for Help When Needed

Sometimes, no matter what you do, the deadlines are overwhelming and you fall behind. If this happens, do not panic. Instead, reach out to your teachers and ask for help. Explain the situation to them, and ask them for a possible extension. If you are honest about your motives and your intentions, most teachers are extremely understanding and will grant you that extension. You will know how your teachers work so I would suggest always reaching out to the most accessible ones.

College life can be very overwhelming at times and you may feel like it is hard to keep up with it. However, you will find ways to stay on track and not lose your way. Try to organize yourself as much as possible when it comes to assignment deadlines and that will make your life easier. Just remember that it is important to stay on top of homework but do not overwork yourself; if you need help, know you can ask for it.

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