How to Deal With a Difficult School Schedule

Balancing a full course load of difficult classes, piles of homework and extracurricular activities is enough to make anyone's head spin. The following steps will help you to manage your time better and crack down on your study habits so that you can successfully deal with your difficult school schedule.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Sit down with a day planner or calendar and keep track of what you need to do each day by writing everything down. Include your test dates, assignment and project due dates, course schedule and extracurricular schedule. Seeing it all on paper will help you to get organized from the get go.
2. Set aside ample time to study for tests and to complete homework assignments and projects. Write down your projected study times in your planner, and allot more time than you think you'll need to prepare for each test or project.
3. Study hard. Prove to yourself that you can handle difficult courses by spending more time on your school work so that you'll start acing those tough exams.
4. Find a quiet place to study so that you can be more efficient with your time. If your house is too noisy, go to the public library or stay after school to get some of your work done.
5. Meet with a tutor or with your teacher for additional help in the courses that you're really struggling with.
6. Talk to your teachers and to your parents if you're having problems balancing your schedule. They're more likely to offer help and guidance if they understand the pressure you're under.
7. Sleep for at least seven to eight hours each night so that you're ready and able to tackle the next day's projects.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid watching the TV or surfing the Internet for excessive periods of time. This will only take away from your valuable study time and from getting a good night's rest.