√ All moved in.
√ Enrolled in classes.
√ Books purchased.
√ Reconnected with friends.
√ Determined to start the quarter RIGHT.

But how?

Step 1 – Get a planner

Get a planner. Better yet, print out this planner, write in your class schedule, make ten copies, staple it together, and call it a day. It’s free and it’s perfect for you. I know this because I made it especially for you. It’s not like the ones at the bookstore (which cost money and are, frankly, not terribly helpful). If you don’t like paper, use any online calendar that has gridlines and times of day that can extend out to the wee hours, just like you do.

Here’s why the ones at the bookstore are not so helpful (love you, bookstore!):

1. Managing time is about structure. Structure is about creating boundaries, i.e. lines. Without gridlines that show the size/duration of every hour, you’ll be tempted to simply write in teeny tiny letters to make things fit graphically that have no prayer of fitting temporally.
2. The day only goes until 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday are squeezed into the size of one day. Seriously? In the life of a student, it all happens at night and on the weekends.

Here’s why the one on the ual printables page is gold:

1. It’s free.

   Structure is your friend

2. You only have to write your classes in once at the beginning of the quarter.
3. It provides a structure, like this porch rail→
4. Its design is intended to show you what time is available to you in which to do your out-of-class work.

Step 2 – Read your syllabi

See the whole quarter unfurling before you. See how the course is organized, what it’s intended to teach you, and what you’re intended to learn. See what’s going to be expected of you. Check out when things will be due.

Step 3 – Write in DUE dates

Write due dates in your planner.

Step 4 – Make a plan

Even though you’re new to these classes, you’re not new to Stanford. Think back to your last quarter. How long did things take? How fast do you read? (Try reading a page and timing yourself, then extrapolate based on how many pages are in the assignment.) Even though this first plan won’t be spot on, it will give you a framework and some blessed structure.

Step 5 – Write in DO dates

Now that you’ve captured your due dates, write in your DO dates. When is that pset going to get done? When will you be drafting that paper proposal? WRITE IT DOWN.

Step 6 – Stay calm and stay tuned

Next time: What to do with all those notes you’re taking.