Calendar

Create a plan for the quarter

• Why this works: The 10-week quarter goes by quickly, and it’s easy to fall behind if you don’t plan ahead. By anticipating the ebb and flow of your workload, you can reduce the amount of “cramming” you have to do in a single week—and reduce the anxiety that comes with it. For instance, if you know you’ll have multiple projects due in week 6, you can front-load some of that work earlier in the quarter. 
• How to do this: At the beginning of the quarter, make note of important deadlines and exam dates using the Quarter-at-a-Glance sheet. Remember: almost everyone falls behind at some point, so don’t panic if this happens. Instead, make a plan for when and how you will catch up using the weekly calendar below. You can also meet with an Academic Coach for help. 

Create a realistic weekly schedule

• Why this works: Writing things down on a digital or paper calendar helps free up your attention for learning by eliminating the worry of having to remember them. Planning for a full week rather than one day at a time gives you more time to work with, so you can create a more realistic schedule for yourself. 
• How to do this: Pick a calendaring tool that lets you plan by the hour. Include your classes and other fixed obligations like meetings, appointments, practices, and so on. Include when you’re going to eat, sleep, and exercise. Take 30 minutes each weekend to plan the upcoming week, looking at what work you need to do and scheduling time for specific assignments. For more details on how to create a realistic weekly schedule, check out our time management video.

Put all of your event details in one place 

• Why this works: Having everything in one place saves time and reduces stress by not requiring you to check multiple sources for information or relevant links. This can be especially helpful during a remote quarter, when you’re required to use specific Zoom links to access your online classes. 
• How to do this: Consider integrating your different calendars. For information on how to connect your Canvas calendar (complete with Zoom links) to another calendar, check out this game-changing tip for remote classes. To connect your Outlook calendar (which automatically inputs events from your Stanford email) to your Google Calendar, read our post on digital calendaring.