I somehow managed to make it through my first 18 years of life putting everything off to the last minute, but I learned very quickly that procrastination in college does not lead to to the success that I somehow managed to achieve in all the years prior.

Procrastinating is something I have always done, so it was extremely hard to shake the habit. In the beginning of my first semester at college I would put off studying for tests until the day before, I would put off finishing essays until the day before they were due, and I would put off other assignments and speeches until the day before they were due.

The problem was that I would get really upset with myself for procrastinating [sometimes even self-hatred] because the day before something was due would be stressful, but I would still get very good grades, so I wouldn’t stop; it was a vicious cycle. In the back of my mind I knew I could produce higher quality work and do better on exams if I was a little more prepared for them, but my mindset was, “Why should I stop doing what I am doing if I am good at it?”

Little did I know, I could be so much more successful and productive and feel much better about myself. It took a lot of organizational help and motivation from my friends and family to get me to change my ways.

Getting organized was a major step in the quest to end my unhealthy procrastination ways. I always relied on my organized mother or sister or my dependable memory to remind me when I had to be some place or get something done. However, in college, this obviously does not work.

But I learned two things that did work: Google Calendar and iOS reminders. I like both of these platforms for organization because they are suitable for both my computer and phone. When I change the google calendar on my computer or I add or complete a reminder on the todo list, it immediately makes the update on my phone and vice versa

Now whenever I have a long term assignment or an exam in the future, I immediately add it to my calendar. If I have a meeting for something, I immediately add it to my calendar. Each of my classes have their own color on Google Calendar, the psychology lab I work in has its own color, and all the clubs I’m in have their own color. I also always make an effort to put times 

and locations. If something is close to happening, I get a reminder on my phone and computer. For short term things, like homework, shopping lists, laundry, and other random stuff, I use the iOS Reminders list.

Both of these things help me look forward to stuff and plan accordingly. Time management is a skill that I have to practice, but with these apps, I am becoming a pro fast. I still let things slip too close as I would like, but I am not nearly as anxious or stressed that I will not do something or be somewhere.

I hope this helps and stay healthie!