This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter.

Managing time can be a daunting task. No matter how much work gets finished, there’s always another task on the horizon. Luckily for you, there are tips that can help you survive the semester:

1. Use a planner

You’d be surprised how helpful it is to write down all assignments and due dates in your planner during syllabus week. For each individual day, write assignments that you know are honestly feasible. Each morning, create a daily plan. Too often, we overextend ourselves by creating a list of work that we want to do in one day instead of what we can do. Don’t fall into this trap. Plan a time limit for each assignment then stick to it, and set alarms if you have to.

2. Prioritize

Figure out which tasks are most important to you. This will help you stay focused and motivated because you’ll know how they will help you reach long term goals.

3. Reward yourself

A good habit is to treat yourself whenever you finish a difficult assignment or paper. Each day, do one thing that you like, not school related, that will make you happy. You could hang with a friend, buy yourself a cupcake, or play with your dog.

4. Know your goals

Think about what motivates you and why you are doing what you do. Write it down and keep it close by. Whenever you get stressed and want to give up, it will serve as a reminder to keep you going. It can also help when finishing a project you’re lacking motivation for. If you don’t have at least one good reason for doing your work, there is nothing that will convince you to do it.

5. Do your least favorite work first

Most of us fall into a bad habit of procrastinating when there is work we aren’t interested in doing. By starting with your least favorite, you are giving yourself time to ease into it. The best work usually comes from a process. You will be much happier and focused when moving onto the work you do like.

6. Set reminders

Do this for each task. Try reminding yourself 20 minutes before you run out of time to complete an assignment.

7. Don’t burn yourself out

It’s important to take breaks when doing work. You need to give your brain a resting period so it’ll be at its best when you’re working. It’s also important that these breaks are scheduled.

8. Take it one step at a time

You should never try to finish projects all at once, but you should try to complete one step a day.

Finish this semester strong, collegiettes!

Time Management Tips to Get You Through the Semester