5 Tips to Getting S#!% Done

If you're like me, you might find it harder and harder to get back in the studying mode after a long summer break.  But now in lieu of the six week grades coming up at Plymouth State, this is the time to organize, study, and get back into the habit of doing work.  Although the workload may be strenuous, you're in college sorely for one purpose, which is to achieve a higher level of education.  After continuously dragging my feet to the library and realizing I need to buckle down, I put together a short list of steps you can take to help better your learning, actually retain information, and filter out the stress.

1. Stop procrastinating   You're only hurting yourself.  If you want more time to have fun, catch a game or get a head start on drinking for the weekend-just make sure everything you need to do is taken care of as soon as you know about it.  
2. Keep a planner and bring it to every class.  As soon as your professor gives you the assignment and provides you the due date, designate a specific day, time and place to complete the assignment- and stick to it.  If you know your assignment is due one week from today, write in your planner that tomorrow you will get it done and you will not have to worry about it until the minute you pass it in.
3. Limit distractions.  For example, I'm attached to my phone, I have to carry it everywhere with me.  I've learned that keeping it on, or even on vibrate is very distracting to me because I feel an urgency to answer it. When I'm trying to read or type a paper, I have to put it on silent, guaranteeing I won't glace over at it or feel the need to pick it up.
4. Stay away from uppers.  Adderall is a huge doctor-prescribed drug on campus.  Many students rely on this drug for all-nighters and keeping focus when studying for an exam.  These pills are usually sold for $2 to $4 dollars depending on the milligram.  This drug which is specifically designed to help people with attention deficit and hyper activity disorders, can affect your sleep cycle, irritability and health problems if taken too much or too soon and when mixed with alcohol.  Instead of using this drug to stay up and focused, go to bed on time, drink caffeine and allow yourself enough time to study so that you do not need to stay up all night.  Don't ever take anything that isn't prescribed to you.  
5. If you need help, get it.  Plymouth State offers a wide variety of resources to make your learning more accessible and productive.  They offer tutors in almost every subject, writing labs and math labs as well as office hours designated specifically to work with a students schedule.  Professors are required to keep a certain amount of office hours per week strictly to ensure students can come and get their questions answered.  Take advantage of it, as part of your tuition goes towards these resources as well as the counselling center, health services and the gym located in the HUB.