This school year is beginning to wind down. Which means it’s time to finally take a break from the obligations normally required of you and enjoy some freedom. Many, however, may still find themselves struggling with the hectic stress of having to fulfill some hanging projects or upcoming deadlines. For those who find their responsibilities closing around them, we can offer some tips to stay ahead of the game before your time’s up.
1. Avoid Procrastination
Too often, we find ourselves with pressing deadlines leaving us little time because we waste the plenty of time we had. Procrastination is an all too easy pit to find yourself in. The constant cycle of putting something off until you have no choice but to meet it head on. It’s something we’ve all been guilty of at least once, but you don’t have to let it rule you. Put anything that might distract you and just get it done now. You’ll thank yourself later.
2. Set a proper work schedule for yourself
Dealing with multiple, individual deadlines that you need to meet is a headache. Your first instinct might be to knock out everything at once but if anything, that’s just more stress. it’s best to handle things one at a time. First, make a list of all the upcoming deadlines you have. Then, put them all in a descending order of highest priority to lowest priority, based on things like: How close the deadline is, how long it’d take to finish, and how far you’ve gotten on it already.
3. Ask for help
If you think you might not be able to get something done on time on your own, maybe the issue is that you chose to do it alone in the first place. You should consider having someone help. Granted, this isn’t an invitation to have them do your work for you. You still must do your fair share of work. But, in the end, you’ll be able to finish in half the time. Never be afraid to reach out to those who can help.
4. Consult with your Professor
Speaking of not being afraid to reach out, if you think it’s truly not possible for you to realistically meet your deadline, don’t lose hope. If you feel like they’d hear you out, you could try getting in contact with your professor about it. Talk to them about what’s troubling you regarding the deadline and see if you can’t reach some agreement to ease your burdens a bit. As a side note, it can also help to look over your course syllabus and take a read the policies regarding deadlines. There might be leniencies that could help you out.
