Next, check the syllabus for each of your courses and write important dates in the planner. If you're using an outside planner that has pages for the whole term, write in all exams and deadlines. Use red ink or a highlighter for these key dates. Write them in the hour slot for the class when the test occurs or when the paper is due, for example. (If you don't yet have a planner large enough for the whole term, print a separate copy of Figure 2.1 Weekly Schedule Planner and write any deadlines on that. You n eed to know what's coming next week to help schedule how you're studying this week.) Remember that for every hour spent in class, plan an average of two hours studying outside of class. These are the time periods you now want to schedule in your planner. These times change from week to week, with one course requiring more time in one week because of a paper due at the end of the week and a different course requiring more the next week because of a major exam. Make sure you block out enough hours in the week to accomplish what you need to do. As you choose your study times, consider what times of day you are at your best and what times you prefer to use for social or other activities.

### Your Daily To-Do List

Many people find it useful to create a daily or weekly to-do list and check off the tasks as they are completed. A to-do list can be useful on an especially busy day, during exam week, or at any other time that you anticipate being overwhelmed. To make a to-do list, write down what you need to do, code it, and organize it according to how important each task is. You can do this by coding the tasks with numbers, letters, color coding, or in an electronic format, by highlighting and font color tools. Prioritization helps you to focus the bulk of your energy and time on the most important tasks. Because many top-priority tasks occur at designated times, such as a due date for an assignment, coding helps you lock in these activities and schedule less urgent items around them.

#### Prioritizing levels:

- • 1 : these tasks are the most crucial. You must do them! These include attending • 1 : these tasks are the most crucial. You must do them! These include attending class, working a job, or paying a bill. Enter these obligations in your to-do list and planner first.
- • 2: these tasks are important but more flexible parts of your routine. Examples • 2: these tasks are important but more flexible parts of your routine. Examples include study time, working out, or getting an oil change. Schedule these tasks around priority level 1 obligations.
- • 3: these tasks are least important. They are 'nice to do' tasks but are not critical • 3: these tasks are least important. They are 'nice to do' tasks but are not critical to complete. Examples would be calling a friend to catch up, or picking out a new book to read.

People use to-do lists in different ways, and you should find what works best for you. As with your planner, consistent use of your to-do list will make it an effective habit. Some people prefer to copy the key information for the day from their planner onto a to-do list. Using this approach, your daily to-do list starts out with your key scheduled activities and then adds other things you hope to do that day. Some people use their to-do list only for things not on their planner, such as short errands, phone calls or e-mail, and the like. This still includes important things -but they're not scheduled out for specific times. Although we call it a daily list, the to-do list can also include things you may not get