Skip to main content

Why Checking Your Weekly Schedule Can Save You from Last-Minute Stress

Have you ever realized too late that you have multiple tests or big assignments due on the same day? Suddenly, you’re up way too late, trying to finish everything at once. Or, you run out of time to do everything at a high level of quality, and your grades ultimately suffer.

A simple habit—checking your weekly schedule in advance—can help you avoid this kind of stressful situation.

Plan Ahead to Stay Ahead

At the start of each week, take a few minutes to look at your schedule. Check for:

  • Upcoming tests or quizzes
  • Big homework assignments or projects
  • Any after-school activities that might take up study time

If you notice a heavy workload on a certain day, plan to start working on assignments earlier in the week. This way, you can break up your studying into smaller sessions instead of cramming everything into one exhausting night.

Avoid Late-Night Cramming

Trying to finish everything the night before often leads to exhaustion, poor focus, and lower-quality work. By spreading out your studying and assignments over multiple days, you’ll feel more prepared and less overwhelmed when deadlines arrive.

Use a Planner or Digital Calendar

Write down your deadlines in a planner or use an app like Google Calendar or Notion to track due dates. Setting reminders a few days before a big test or assignment can help you stay on top of things.

Make Adjustments as Needed

If you notice a particularly busy day coming up, adjust your schedule. Maybe you finish a homework assignment early so you have more time to study, or you ask your teacher for clarification on something while there's still time to review the material properly.

By regularly checking your schedule and planning ahead, you can avoid late-night stress, improve your grades, and make school life much more manageable. A little preparation goes a long way!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Double Check Your Work

Sounds simple, but so many students forget to double check their work.  Spending 5 or 10 extra minutes here and there will really make a difference. Especially on tests and quizzes, use the time productively if you finish early.  Rather than socializing with your friends, be sure to look over as many answers as possible.  Correcting one or two careless mistakes might be the difference between receiving a B or an A. It's also not just about tests and quizzes.  Do it with your homework as well!  At the end of the evening, be sure to do a quick final check.  Did you finish all the work for every class, and did you remember to put every assignment neatly into your backpack?  Don't give away these easy points by forgetting to finish something -- or worse yet, finishing it but leaving it at home!

Use the Process of Elimination

On multiple choice tests and quizzes, all that matters is picking the right answer.  Obviously, the best way to do well is to figure out the right answer to each question.  But sometimes you won't know the right answer to certain questions.  What should you do then? One of the best approaches is to use the process of elimination.  Take a look at all of the multiple choice answer options, and see if there are any obviously incorrect answers.  For example, if you can estimate the answer to a multiple choice math question is between 50 and 100, then you could eliminate the choices for 25 and 150.  Then, make a guess from the remaining options.  If you manage to eliminate 2 out of 4 options, you've significantly improved your odds of making the right guess. Of course, use process of elimination guessing as a last resort.  The best approach is always to study hard and avoid the need to guess in the first place.

Focus Your Studying

In order to ace your tests and succeed in school, you obviously need to study. Studying can sometimes be a grind, so in order to be both efficient and effective with your time, you need to be ultra-focused in your study habits.  Unfocused studying can be nearly as bad as no studying at all.  Here are some best practices for how to stay focused while studying: Find a quiet study environment : It's hard to concentrate and absorb your study materials if there's loud music, a television, or talking friends and family in the background. Establish a clean workspace : It may be hard to believe, but having a clean desk is a simple way to get yourself comfortable and into a good frame of mind for studying. Avoid the computer and cell phone : You will learn at a faster pace when you can focus for a reasonable period of time without distraction.  Don't break up your thinking by continually checking your text messages or status updates on your favorite social network. Take perio...