Step Five: Develop a Daily TO DO List

Finally, a daily list should be made each day that includes both academic and personal items prioritized according to their importance. The list of items should be small, specific goals such as "read five pages in psychology" rather than "read a chapter of psychology."

Deena: If you create a daily TO DO list, you will know what needs to be done that day.

Brian: Okay. But what if I have an unexpected exam the day after we have a group meeting scheduled?

Deena: You will have to set your priorities. If you can't find the time to study for it, then you will have to let us know before the meeting. That means you have to add calling us to your TO DO list.

Tips for writing an effective Daily TO DO List

It doesn't matter what your TO DO list looks like, what's important is that you make one every day. A couple key points to remember are:
1. Write a reminder about things you have promised to do, or things you feel you might forget.
- Provide enough detail to jog your memory
- Use key words such as "call"
  4:00--call Judy
- Provide enough information so you'll understand why you're doing something
  3:00--call Fred G. re: dance marathon pizza party
2. Set Priorities
- Set time to study and identify the subject or project
- Block out recreation and leisure time
- Block out time for chores or tasks that you do on an ongoing basis (such as grocery shopping and laundry)
Create TO DO lists for the next couple days and remember to use them. You might want to share and critique your TO DO lists with a friend or another student in your class.

You must learn to stick to your schedule everyday. Here are a few pointers to consider that will help you stick to your schedule.

Tips for making your schedules:

Be specific. Rather than just writing "do Calculus problems," indicate which problems.
Set realistic goals. Schedule what you absolutely must do as well as what you think you will do.
Take advantage of ALL your time, including little chunks of time such as before and after class, when riding on the bus, or waiting in line.
Be flexible, use a pencil when making your schedule.
Schedule difficult tasks for your most alert periods.
Schedule fixed blocks of time first.
Do not forget to schedule time for breaks, errands, and fun.
Schedule time to study two hours for every hour in class (this varies, some people may need more in certain classes than others).
Avoid scheduling marathon study sessions. Study in short sessions or stop and rest a few minutes every hour.
Set clear starting and stopping times for each item.
Schedule time to review your lecture notes everyday.
Schedule each study period as close to that class meeting as possible.
Plan for the unplanned.

Note: Brian included things on his TO DO list that don't show up on the weekly calendar. That's normal. In college, things change everyday. You need to learn to adjust your schedule on a daily basis.

Tip: The ANGEL Calendar is a tool you can use to create a personal calendar and TO DO lists. Using the ANGEL calendar tool, you can combine all of the calendars from each of your courses into one convenient location.

Brian: Well, at least I have a lot of time to complete my semester paper in English. It's not due until after the break.

Deena: Have you started it yet?

Brian: No. It can wait.

Deena: Now that kind of procrastination really stresses me out. I never know when something new will crop up with the family or the farm.

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