Students blog

No matter what learning platform you use in college, it's easy to have the same fear: forgetting to turn in an assignment. While it may seem possible to remember everything at the beginning of the semester, it’s a lot harder than it seems.

Between your school's website and the other applications where homework is posted, it's easy to get lost. I was constantly worried I would miss an assignment or an important deadline, but that was before I learned how to maximize my calendar!

Find the Right Fit

The first tip to making the most of your calendar is finding what apps or websites work best for you. For me, the apps I like to use most are Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders.

What I like about them is that they are compatible with each other. This means that when I schedule a reminder, it shows up on my calendar, so I know I won’t miss anything.

Some other apps that my friends use include Google Calendar and Notion. If you are someone who likes to have a physical schedule, I recommend a paper planner and a wall calendar.

Color-Coding Your Calendar

I love to color-code my calendar. I do this by creating a different calendar for each of my classes and extracurriculars.

In most virtual calendars, there is an option to assign each calendar a color. I give each one a different color, so when I see it on the month view, I can tell what subject it's for. If you are using a physical calendar, you could try using highlighters or different colored pens.

Study Your Syllabus

My next piece of advice is to put every single thing from your syllabus onto your calendar. This is the easiest way to ensure that you will never miss a deadline.

Your professors give you this wonderful document that outlines your entire semester. Use it to your advantage. Doing this as soon as the syllabus is published gives you a head start on a successful semester.

Keep It Up to Date

Things change, and deadlines can shift from what they were at the beginning of the year. Remember to regularly update your schedule, so you don’t make decisions based on outdated information. I check my school’s learning platform weekly, making sure to add or delete assignments as they come due.

It’s also important to add things that aren’t just schoolwork, like clubs, work, or dinner with friends. Having these marked on your schedule gives you a clear view of your upcoming week and what you need to plan for.

Plan for Future You

Taking the time to set up your calendar may seem like one more task to manage, but it's the key to a less stressful semester. By finding the right tools for you, color-coding your schedule, and using your syllabus, you can trade that fear of missing a deadline for a sense of control.

Remember, your calendar is yours. No matter how you set it up, it just needs to work for you!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Missing My Hobby

Moving to college truly changes your life, and in my experience, it’s a pretty hectic change. I was in a new state, living in a dorm with someone I had met on Instagram, and managing a packed schedule with classes scattered all over campus. About a month in, with all the changes, I realized I had neglected something that made me happy: crafting.

A Mindset Shift

Crafting is my favorite hobby. When I realized I had lost that part of my life, I was disappointed but also understood why. With all my classes and new friends, I felt I didn't have time for my hobbies.

Honestly, that wasn't the case! If I wanted to keep my hobbies in my life, I knew I needed to change how I thought about them and how they fit into my day-to-day routine.

Allocate Time

One way I brought crafting back into my college life was by treating it like a class. I was lucky enough to have a day of the week when my classes got out early. When I realized this, I marked a two-hour block on my calendar that day as my craft time.

Placing that "class" on my calendar held me accountable. Every time I started to make plans, I knew that my crafting had its time, and I couldn't reschedule that special part of my life.

Join a New Group

Another thing I realized about college is that there is a club for everything. This means your hobby most likely has an entire club dedicated to it! I recommend finding those organizations and getting involved.

This not only allows you to continue your hobby in college but also lets you meet many new people who already have at least one thing in common with you.

I also remind myself that hobbies don't have to be done solo. Host a craft night with your roommates or ask people in your class to play basketball later that day.

Start a movie club that meets in the dorm common room. Do your hobby and create a community around it!

Enjoy the Little Moments

My last piece of advice for continuing your hobby in college is to use the small moments of free time you have. Reading is another hobby of mine. I bring a book with me in case I get to class a little early. This may be difficult with some hobbies, but it's still time you can use for yourself.

These small moments are also opportunities to build community. Use the five minutes after class to text your hobby group and ask them to meet up later that week.

Most importantly, your hobby should be your happy place. Fit it into your life in a way that makes you the happiest!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!