The Top 5 Online Calendar Strategies to Boost Grades

College students are often encouraged to get organized, lectured on time management, and warned against procrastination. Harnessing the technology within many online calendar systems, the average student can tackle all three challenges with these top 5 strategies.

1. Fact Finding

Gather all the pertinent data for the semester. A class syllabus is the best place to start. This type of material is often published on your professor’s webpage and available even before classes begin, so don’t wait. Spend a few hours before the start of each semester to build your online calendar. Enter in class days and times and any scheduled labs with the room numbers, so you know where to be at all times. Next, add exams, quizzes, papers and homework assignments, etc. Each item should be added as a new event on your calendar with a title, brief description, and a start and due date. TIP: If your professor does not provide you with the information needed to plan ahead, be proactive and ask for a syllabus or upcoming due dates.

2. Dominate Deadlines

Stop procrastination in its tracks by managing your deadlines. Don’t just focus on due dates. Include start dates, as well, to give yourself plenty of time to complete projects. Place your assignments on your calendar 1 or 2 days before the actual start and due dates. It actually tricks you into beginning your work sooner, and pads your timeline with extra study time. Don’t forget to schedule in required reading and study hours before each exam. When you’re done, scan each week of the semester. You many notice some weeks are jam packed, while other weeks are lighter. Adjust your social life to accommodate and prepare for these tougher weeks. TIP: Where appropriate, you might even move a few items from a super busy week to an earlier date to spread out the workload more evenly. Most professors don’t have a problem with you turning in something early, but ask first.

3. Realistic Reminders

In most cases you can sync up your online calendar with your PC, laptop and/or smart phone. If you are continually plugged in, alerts or alarms are helpful tools. Setting an alert to “read chapter 3 tonight” is just as important as your daily alarm to wake up in the morning. For key items on your calendar, such as lengthy papers, group projects or exams, use periodic reminders. The key is to keep them realistic. You won’t benefit from a popup alert warning you that an exam is due in 5 minutes, but it might have been useful 48 hours ago. Make sure that a reminder shows up with plenty of time to do something about it. TIP: Keep track of multipart projects by setting up alerts each step of the way. Example: On a research paper, you might have alarms for selecting and checking out resources, reading, quote selections, thesis statement, outline, rough drafts, proof-reading, final drafts, and due date.

4. Plan Playtime

Looking at a daunting academic semester all at once can leave you feeling overwhelmed. It helps to set aside time on your calendar for extracurricular activities. Schedule in social events, relaxation with friends, meals, sleep, exercise, family communication, and other priorities. TIP: If you know there is an upcoming social event that you just have to attend, put it on the calendar, and reschedule academics to earlier days, so you don’t miss out! Planning ahead and putting your work first, makes room for the fun stuff!

5. Adaptable Agenda

Your online calendar is always a work in progress. Professors might adjust their syllabi, assign extra credit, or extend due dates. Your schedule may change, and you must be adaptable and make any necessary adjustments to the calendar as necessary. TIP: If you build enough flexibility into your original calendar, you should be able to roll with the punches.