Fold Your Shirt in Two Seconds!

All college students want shortcuts for their mundane chores so there is more time for studying, right? Well, fold-your-shirt.com has step by step instructions for folding t-shirts in only two seconds . . . which means more time for homework!

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Keeping an Organized Schedule

There is nothing worse then going to class when everyone one has an assignment to hand in and you forgot all about it! Agendas allow you to keep a record of important due dates, test dates and to do lists. This way tests, and the like, won’t creep up on you unexpectedly.

I highly recommend writing a detailed schedule for everything in your life. If you are not used to keeping an agenda, just follow these guidelines and you’ll have no problem getting into it.

Buying an Agenda: Look for ones that have spiral binding so that it is easier to keep them open on the page you need. Make sure they have the required months for the school year and are of the correct year. Buy one that has a lot of space to write in. There are some agendas made specifically for students. I bought one called the Original Student Calendar a few days ago. I got it for half price (boxing day sales) and it looks like it will be very useful.

It also includes pages for recording your expenses, months at a glance, timetable page, goals, contact info, and grades.
Creating your Own: Last semester I made my own agenda. It worked really well and I was going to use it again (with a few modifications) but I found the Original Student Calendar and decided to try it out. Try making your own (on the computer) if you cannot find an agenda that you like or you want to save some money.
Keeping it Organized: The info you write is the most crucial part to being organized. In the "Appointments and Assignments" section of my agenda I will write that a test or group meeting takes place on that day or if there is an assignment due that day. In the "General Study" section I will write tasks that need to be completed by next week (i.e. print slideshow notes for the next class, read the next chapter). I will also write specific goals that need to be completed that day, like: complete research for the first argument of the essay. The "Rest of Your Life" section will be for other things I need to do or want to remember, outside of school.


Completing a Task: You can cross things off your list as you complete them. I find that doing this allows you to see that you are making progress and accomplishing your goals. And it makes it easier to see what still needs to be completed.


With so many things to do and the assignments piling up, you will find that keeping an organized schedule will allow you to manage your stress with more ease. Winter semesters begin soon for most programs so don’t wait to get started. If you have any questions leave a comment and I will reply ASAP.
Discussion: What techniques do you find are crucial to maintaining an organized lifestyle?

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Don’t Wait to Write Study Notes

Complicated Exam Schedule: This semester I had an unusual exam schedule. I had an exam on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm and another than night from 6pm to 9pm. The next morning I had an exam at 8am to 11am. Because the exams were so close together, and my work schedule wasn’t too flexible, I had only two days to study for all three exams.

Study Recommendations:

* I recommend at least 8 hours of studying per class for final exams.
* Focus on areas that the professor had highlighted during lectures/review and omit material that is not included on the exam. When you can, do self-test questions via the Web, your text book, past tests and assignments.
* I find it helpful to write study notes that highlight areas of difficulty. Or if it is a complex class, I will write summary notes on every chapter/lecture.

The Challenge: I did not have enough time to study as I would have liked.

The Solution: I prepared for this challenge by writing most of my notes near the end of the semester (before exams began). I am going to follow this tactic next year by writing study notes each week to avoid the panic and distress of trying to scramble down notes. This will also result in better quality notes because they are written as the material is learned and more time is available to write them. At the end of semester you can go over the notes and make changes (ie crossing out unnecessary info, or adding more detail).

Discussion: Do you recommend any quick study tips?

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8 Exam Preparation Tips

EXAMS ARE HERE! I hate this time of year. But there are some ways to reduce the stress. These tips/hints are some strategies that I use when preparing for college exams.

Conflicts: As soon as you know your exam schedule make sure there are no conflicts (i.e. exams overlapping or more than two in one day). Do not panic if this happens to you. It is usually very easy to change an exam date due to conflict. Contact either your professors or program coordinator immediately.

Create a Study Schedule: I find this to be the most crucial part. It is important, especially during high stress times, to have a structured plan of attack. Determine how many hours of studying you will need each day until the exam. And for every day write down specific study goals.

Example: Monday December 3rd: 2 hrs to finish writing notes for Organizational Behaviour, 4 hrs studying for Organizational Behaviour – Chapters 1- 7

Try to leave some flexibility in your schedule in case you underestimated your needed study time or something unexpected comes up. I try to leave one day a week open for an opportunity to catch up if necessary.

Writing Study Notes: It is always helpful to write concise study notes for each class. They can be really short (fitting the whole course on one page). You may only need to write keywords or phrases so you can go over as a refresher or to test yourself. But it is also a good idea to write a little more detail about things you have trouble remembering.

Remove Distractions: This is very important. While studying, do not listen to music, watch TV, play games, talk to friends, or think about anything but studying.

Study Groups: This is something I do not usually do because I prefer to study alone. But you may find it very effective to test one another after you have done some studying, or swap study notes.

Other Responsibilities: Don’t neglect your other responsibilities like your job or cleaning your apartment/dorm. Plan your study schedule around these duties.

Take a Break: Be aware of info overload. Studying for too long of a time can make your brain become numb so that you cannot possibly pack any more knowledge into your head. Plan to give yourself short, interval, and frequent breaks so you can refresh your mind.

Personalize: Use the study strategies and techniques that work for you. Everyone studies differently and that’s okay as long as your idea of studying isn’t drinking beer and gambling online.

Making a plan will allow you to put your studying needs in perspective so you will reduce the likelihood of running into problems. These techniques should help you to study without the panic attacks or pulling out your hair.

Good Luck on Your Exams!

Discussion: What studying tips do you recommend?

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I'm a List-aholic!

One thing you may like to know about me is that I like to write lists. I write lists for everything even if it may seem redundant to some people. This helps me to organize my thoughts and allows me to be prepared as possible. I am not very spontaneous so I plan out almost everything that I need to do in a day.

For example, if I am going to the school library I will write out a list of everything I need to get done there. This also helps me to manage my time so I have more time to do other things.

These lists are often very detailed. When I go shopping I do not just write out a shopping list I write out which stores I am going to visit, in chronological order, and even the exact times I need to be waiting for the city bus.

And I do not only write lists and plans to be prepared. Sometimes I do them for fun, which I know sounds pathetic, but it helps me feel more confident about my future and events. For example, I plan on moving out of my parents house soon and into an apartment with my fiancee. This has resulted in a lot of lists! I have written dozens of projected budgets so I will have an idea of the money I will need under different circumstances. I have written grocery lists including every item I could possibly need to start out. And lists of all other things I will need to buy at first like kitchen supplies and toiletries.

I will likely post some of these lists in the near future because maybe they will inspire you.

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